CD Review: Ivan Lins, "My Heart Speaks"

 

If you have never heard of Ivan Lins before, get ready to meet one of the most treasured and recorded Brazilian composers in the world.  The promo information about Ivan Lins described him as a world-class Melodist.  I looked up the word, melodist, and its described as "a composer of melodies".  In my opinion, this definition falls short for Lins because Ivan Lins' melodies are sophisticated and lush and reflect on his heros Carlos Lyra and Jobim.  

If you love Brazilian music, this CD will instantly become one of your go to albums.  There are 11 stuningly beautiful  Ivan Lins songs on "My Heart Speaks" backed by the 91 piece Symphony of Tblisi, capital of the Republic of Georgia.  "My Heart Speaks" was released on September 15, 2023 and features Jazz Vocal icons Dianne Reeves and Jane Monheit,  rising Star Singer Tawanda and Trumpeter Randy Brecker.  Ivan Lins has recorded nearly 50 albums since 1970 and has won four Latin Grammy Awards.

This CD was released by Resonance Records and its founder, George Klabin.  Resonance Records specializes in publishing previouly released recordings by Jazz icons, and they deserve recognition for their efforts advancing the cause of Jazz.

Ivan Lins has brought in Los Angeles-based Composer and Arranger Kuno Schmid to write all the orchestral charts and they are all a perfect fit for Lins' compositions.  Lins' core band on this album included  Josh Nelson on piano.  Nelson's playing has been described as lyrical, harmonically rich, and elegant in DownBeat and his performance on this CD validates this praise.  The Guitarist was Uruguayan Leo Amuedo who has played along side Lins for over a decade. Cuban Carlitos Del Puerto was on Bass. He founded the Grammy-winning Latin band, Irakere. 

I have attached two "YouTude" videos for your listening pleasure.  The first is the title tune from this CD, "The Heart Speaks" (Antes e Depois" that is perfomed with guest Jazz Vocalist, Dianne Reeves. This song was first recorded instrumentally in 1995 by Trumpeter Terence Blanchard on his album of Lins' songs.

The second "YouTube" is the tune "I'm Not Alone" performed by the young and very talented Tawanda.  In 2022, Tawanda was the winner of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.  She is a wonderful Jazz singer who I am sure we will hear much more of in the near future.  The English lyric for this song was written by Oscar and Grammy winner, Will Jennings who wrote the lyric for "Up Where We Belong" and "My Heart Will Go On".   

                                                         "The Heart Speaks" (Antes e Depois)

                                                            "I'm Not Alone"   (Anjo de Mim)

PLAYLIST:

1. Renata Maria

2. The Heart Speaks 

3. Nao Ha Porque

4. I'm Not Alone

5. Congada Blues

6. E Isso Acontece

7. Easy Going

8. Corpos

9. Missing Miles

10. Rio

11. Nada Sem Voce

PLAYERS:

Ivan Lins- Composer, background singing

Kuno Schmid- All Arrangements

The Tblisi Symphony Orchestra

Josh Nelson- Piano

Leo Amuedo- Guitar

Carlitos Del Puerto- Bass

Mauricio Zottarelli- Drums and Percussion

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Dianne Reeves

Jane Monheit

Tawanda

Randy Brecker

CD Review: Debbie Spring, "Tocamos"

 

You don't usually hear Jazz musicians playing in a Jazz group including a Viola however, when you listen  Debbie Spring's recent CD, "Tocamos" it is a breath of fresh air.  Debbie Spring is a classically trained Viola player of the highest skill level, and she plays a five-string viola that in itself is rare.  At first glance, the Viola looks very similar to a Violin.  Both are tuned in perfect fifths.  Debbie gives us insight into what the differences are.  The Violin tuning is G, D, A and E.  While the strings of the Viola are tuned one fifth lower than the Violin,  C, G, D and A.  In addition, Debbie has added a high E string to her instrument to be able to play closer to the the range of a Violin. 

Debbie Spring has written all of the compositions for her CD except "Fragile" which was composed and recorded by Sting.   She performs her music in a technically flawless manner and her songs are very lyrical and accessible to the listener.   Her tones on the Viola produce a beautiful, warming and mellow sound.  Her classical background and her dexterity and creativity while playing her Viola reminds us that the line between Classical and Jazz is sometimes hard to identify.  Good music is never limited by genre and Debbie Spring's composing and performing make that point very clear.  One of her favoite gigs was touring with Shakira, "I loved playing with Shakira. I'm a Jazz musician at heart and Shakira didn't dictate what I was supposed to play.  She let me improvise, and I had some of the most fun trading riffs with her on the stage".

I have attached below two "YouTube" recordings from her album.  The first is a tango titled, "Tango Y Mas".  The inspriation for this song came as a result of Debbie's many trips to Argentina with Shakira where she fell in love with the music.  Debbie brought in two-time Grammy winner, Howard Levy who is a widely acknowledged master of diatonic harmonica to give the tango a different direction.  It's a beautiful piece of creative music.  The second song is "Senegal" which was written in 5/4 time and is supported by Rusty Heck on Bass and David Schanzer on Percussion with rhythms captured in West Africa.     

 

                                                                      "Tango Y Mas" 

                                                                            "Senegal"

PLAYLIST:

1. Mockingbird

2. Fragile

3. Summer

4. Tocamos/English

5. Bossa Minha

6. Tango Y Mas

7. Senegal

8. Tocamos/Spanish

PLAYERS:

Debbie Spring- 5 String Viola, Compositions

Hal Roland- Piano, Keyboards, Vocals Track 2

Rusty Heck- Bass and Compositions Track 4 & 5

Ettienne Fuentes Jr- Drums

Scott Marischen- Harp Track 2

Phil Fest- Guitar Track 5 

Howard Levy- Harmonica Track 6

David Schnazer- Percussion Tracks 2,5,6,7  Keyboard Track 7

Julio Matta- Percussion Tracks 4 & 8

Eddy "Oriente" Balzola: Vocals Tracks 4 & 8, Composition Tracks 4 & 8w 

                                                

CD Review: Mike Jones, Penn Jillette and Jeff Hamilton, "Are You Sure You Three Guys Know What Your're Doing?"

 

Pianist Mike Jones whose day job over the last 21 years has been being musical director and opening act with the legendary magicians Penn & Teller at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas.  Jones is a graduate from the Berklee College of Music and has performed at numerous Jazz clubs in Boston and New York.  He has published more than 12 albums as a leader and is a straightahead pianist whose heros are Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum. He can handle Jazz standards with ease and grace.  Mike would be a perfect lead in any Jazz trio but he is really at his best playing with one of the very best drummers performing today, Jeff Hamilton.  I have done many reviews of Jeff Hamilton on this blog and all his Cds are great.  I think Jeff's work with Diana Krall has been fantastic and "The Diana Krall Live in Paris" recording with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra is still one of my all-time favorite albums.  The third member of the group became famous not because of his Bass playing but because he is one of the most respected and irreverent magician of his generation.   Penn and Teller have headlined one of the most successful Las Vegas shows for over 30 years. However there has been another love in Penn Jillette's life that started late in his life at age 48 when he decided he had to learn how to play the upright Bass.  As soon as Penn honed his skills on the Bass he started playing with Jones as part of the opening of his show.  As you will hear on this CD, he has become skilled at playing upright Bass.

The idea of the CD came about when Hamilton dropped by to see the Penn and Teller Show and suggested that the three of them record together.  One would think that such a seasoned performer like Penn Jillette would not have stage fright playing with anyone, however Jeff Hamilton is Penn's favorite Drummer and he suddenly came down with a case of the jitters.  "Penn freaked out" Jones recalls, "He was as nervous as I've ever seen him with quotes like "This is absurd and I'm out of my league".  Penn's concern contributed to the title of the CD "Are You Sure You Three Guys Know What You're Doing?". Happily for us, this trio recorded this CD and it is a delight to listen to.  The playlist gives all three musicians the room to stretch their musical Jazz imaginations and musical skills.  This Cd is a perfect example of why the Piano Jazz trio has always been a favorite with Jazz lovers.  

Playlist:

'S Wonderful

Doxy

What A Difference A Day Makes

The Girl From Ipanema 

Watch What Happens

On Green Dolphin Street

You've Changed

Perdido

Medley: I'll Close My Eyes and Close Your Eyes

Gone With The Wind

Blues For Burns 

Players:

Mike Jones- Piano

Penn Jillette- Bass

Jeff Hamilton- Drums

   

                                               
                                                               " 'S Wonderful"

                                                                    "Gone With The Wind"