CD Review: Brian Landrus, "Red List"

 

Baritone Saxophonist, Bass Clarinetist and composer, Brian Landaus has released his 11th album as a leader titled "Red List".  The album is dedicated to the preservation of our endangered species.  Landrus is collaborating with the organization "Save The Elephants" to sound alarm and he hopes he can facilitate  "Critical yet uncomfortable conversations about changing our global habit of destroying nature for out own gain".  

Brian has invited a talented group of musician friends to support him on this CD and help present the wonderfully musical compositions he has composed especially for this project.  Landrus organized a "GoFundme" campaign for "Red List", donating 20% of all proceeds and 100% of the profits to "Save The Elephants" which has been working to ensure a future for African Elephants for nearly 30 years.

At the "Red List" sessions, Landrus conveyed to his supporting musicians the sense of urgency he was seeking in his music.  "I told them that I wanted the energy to be very intense, I wanted it to be like,  it's now or never".

The song I selected to attach from the album is titled "Tigris" and it gives the listener the intensity the composer and his supporting cast were trying to capture.  Landrus performs a scorching Bari Sax solo and Alto Sax player Jaleel Shaw follows in suit.  Then Guitarist Nir Felder takes the lead to give it a proper finish.  This is a sensations piece of writing and performances!

Brian Landrus is a major voice on Baritone Sax and Bass Clarinet and a prolific composer.  He wide-ranging credits include playing with some of the world's great Jazz musicians like Fred Hersch, Esperanza Spalding, Rakalam Bob Moses, Billy Hart, Geroge Garaonem the Maria Schneider Orchestra and his teacher and mentor Bob Brookmeyer.  He also has a great resume on the pop-side also, touring with The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Coasters The Drifters and Martha Reeves.

PLAYERS:

Brian Landrus- Baritone Sax, Bass Clarinet, Compostions, Arrangements

Ryan Keberle- Trombone

Geoffrey Keezer- Keyboard

Nir Felder-Guitar

Ron Blake- Tenor Sax

Jaleel Shaw- Alto Sax

Lonnie Plaxico- Bass

John Hatfield- Percussion:

Steve Roach- Trumpet

Rudy Royston-Drums

Corey King- Vocalist

PLAYLIST:

1. Canopy of Trees

2. The Red List

3. Giant Sands

4. Nocturnal Flights

5. Tigris

6. The Distant Deeps

7. Save The Elephants

8. Mariana Dove

9. Bwindi Forest

10. Congo Basin

11. Leatherbacks

12. Upriver

13. Only Eight

14. Laquita

15. Javan Rhino   

                                                                             "Trgris"                                                            

CD Review: Rich WIlley, "Putting On The Ritz"

 Multi-talented Rich Willey has released a tasty new CD, "Puttin On The Ritz".  Rich Willey is very impressive performing on Trumpet and Bass Trumpet.  Willey also plays Valve Trombone, Tuba and Electronic Valve Instruments (EVI).  Rich Willey has an extensive academic Jazz background and a vast performing resume that includes touring with the Maynard Ferguson's Big Bop Nouveau , Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Cab Calloway Orchestra, the Sammy Kaye Orchestra and the Nelson Ridddle Orchestra.  His Trumpet tone and improvisation skills are at the highest level as his arranging skills are world-class.  He performs regularly in the Southeast.  Willey taught at University of North Carolina Asheville for tweleve years and seven years at Clemson University.  His Jazz education background includes being a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music earning a master's in Jazz performance/Trumpet. 

His style and touch on the Trumpet and his arranging are strongly rooted in the traditional American Jazz approach to music.  "Puttin On The Ritz" contains some beautiful Jazz standards and a few Willey original compositions he arranged for four horns  The CD was produced by the phenomenal Trumpeter and gifted Arranger Carey Deadman.  Deadman also arranged the string parts on eight tunes.

As you listen to the songs attached below, it will transport you back to the time when you first started loving Jazz.  They are intelligent understandable arrangements played by highly professional Jazz artists.

I have attached two "YouTube" videos below.  The first is the standard "If I Should Lose You" with a tasty arrangement and solos by Rich Willey on Trumpet and Paul Mutzabaugh on Piano.  The string arrangement was by Carey Deadman.   The second tune is an up-tempo Willey arrangement of "Poor Butterfly". It features solos by Rich Willey on Bass Trumpet and EVI and Paul Mutzabaugh on Piano.  The string arrangement was done by Carey Deadman. 

                                                                    "If I Should Lose You"

                                                                     "Poor Butterfly"

PLAYLIST:

1. Poor Butterfly

2. If I Should Lose You

3. I'll Be Seeing You

4. Puttin' On The Ritz

5. My Melancholy Baby

6. Holy Trinity

7. Song For Janet

8. Uncle Remus

9. Sweet Lorraine

10. Hard Hearted Hannah

11. But For The Grace of God