CD Review: Anson Wright, "Only Love"

Anson Wright has just released his new CD  "Only Love" and it's a perfect selection for the tough emotional times we are all going through.  Anson Wright has had an unusual life and educational  background that allows him to create music that projects the emotion of love with great understanding and sensibility.  Anson is a graduate of Princeton and did post-graduate studies at Columbia in New York City.   He lived in the East Village and was able to hear live performances at many New York City Jazz clubs.  These experiences moved him to compose and perform music for the finger-style Guitar in addition to immersing himself in the New York literary and alternative education scene.  This represented a 100 percent change of life from the more formal and structured educational environment where he spent much of his early life.  In addition, during this period in his life Anson worked and completed his first novel "Jericho", taught Guitar and creative writing, ran a trucking company and built cabinets.  How's that for a balanced life background!

I like Anson Wright's composing and Guitar playing because it's very sensitive music that is clear with strong melodies.  It's just beautiful music!  Anson wrote seven of the 9 songs on this CD and two were written by his piano partner,  Jasnam Daya Singh.

Playlist:
1. "Rahway Blues"
2. "Maddie In New York"
3. "Solstice"
4. "Chelsea"
5. "Inner Motion"
6. "Merci Mon Frère"
7. "Warrior"
8. "All Shall Rise To Thee"
9. "Only Love"

Players:   
Anson Wright-Guitar, Composer
Jasnam Daya Singh- Piano, Composer
Brian Casey- Bass
Todd Scott Bishop- Drums

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listening enjoyment.  The first one is a an Anson Wright original "Rahway Blues" and the second one is a Jasnam Daya Singh original "Merci Mon Free".

                                                                   Rahway Blues

                                                                 Merci Mon Frère

CD Review: The Seth Weaver Big Band, "Truth"

Trombonist, Vocalist, Composer, Arranger and Educator Seth Weaver is a new powerhouse Jazz musician who now can add Bandleader to his resume.  Seth has already received many awards including the "Downbeat Student Music Award for Best Vocal Jazz Soloist" and was the winner of the "Texas State Jazz Trombone Competition".  He was also one of three finalists in the "International Trombone Association's J.J. Johnson Jazz Competition" two years in a row.   Seth is a sought-after Composer and Arranger and his music has been performed all over the world.

On his new CD "Truth" Seth has put together a seventeen-piece orchestra comprised of some of the most exciting new players in the New York Jazz Scene today.  Take some time reviewing the members of Seth's band and I am sure you will recognize some of the up and coming young Jazz talents performing today.

The sound and quality of the Arrangements and Compositions on this CD are pure magic for any Jazz lover.  Seth's Compostions are original,  understandable and contain clarity.  The members of the Band perform at the highest level, and their performance is pure joy for anyone who loves the Big Band sound.  I found the playlist Seth selected interesting in that it contains five Seth Weaver orginals and three classic american standards.  Two of the standards were composed by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke and one by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner.  These two composing duo teams are on everyone's top 10 list of all-time composers.  It's refresing to see someone relatively young who is breaking new musical ground in Composing, singing and playing remember and acknowledge the great talents that paved the way for American Jazz Music.

The Seth Weaver Big Band performs in many Jazz venues throughout New York, and if you can catch one of their performances, you will be rewarded by hearing some of the best big band sounds and compositions available today.  Seth Weaver is a winner and this CD is also a winner!

I have attached two "YouTube" videos so you can hear and enjoy this wonderfully sounding big band.  The first is a Seth Weaver original composition "The Hudson" featuring Seth Weaver on Trombone and Aleksi Glick on Guitar.  The second one is "It Could Happen to You" featuring Seth Weaver on the Vocal, Sam Dillion on Tenor Sax, Lukas Gobric on Tenor Sax and Marty Kenney on Bass.  I know you will enjoy this super talented group of Jazz musicians!

Playlist: 
1.  "The Hudson"
2.  "What If'
3.  "Here's That Rainy Day"
4.  "Frost"
5.   "Red"
6.  "On A Clear Day"
7.  "The Last Hour of February"
8.  "It Could Happen To You"

The Seth Weaver Big Band