CD Review: Fred Hersch & esperanza spalding, "Alive at the Village Vanguard"

 

I am sure a lot of the readers of this blog are familar with Fred Hersch and esperanza spalding (stylized in all lower case at artist's request).  Both artists are acclaimed as two of the most inventive Jazz performers in music today.  Fred Hersch is the senior of this creative duo, but Fred never shows his musical age because he loves to keep reinventing himself.  He has released CDs as a single, duo, trio and with large bands and orchestras.  In my opinion, his work reinventing standards through his own emotional feelings puts him in a rare group of Jazz performers.  And yet, Fred can and does play all other genre of Jazz at the very top level of performance and style.  I would consider Fred Hersch as the Jazz renaissance man, never confined to any particular area of music.

Joining Fred on this CD "Alive At The Village Vanguard" is esperanza spalding.  While five-time Grammy Award-winner esperanza spalding is much younger than Fred Hersch in age, she is so talented that she performs at a similar creative and musical level as Fred.  On their new CD recorded live at the historic and internationally known Village Vanguard, both performers delight their Jazz audience with beautiful and creative performances that will become Jazz classics in future years.  These two spactacular musicians playing together is a wonderful treat for all Jazz lovers both young and old proving that Jazz at its finest level has no age barrier.  If it is good, it's good for everyone.  The chemistry between these two Jazz giants is very apparent to anyone listening to their CD.    And recording it live a the Villiage Vanguard is a super treat.  Fred offers, "This recording sounds like you're in the best seat in the Vanguard for a very live experience.  You can really feel the vitality of the room, of the audience, and of our interplay.  We decided on the word "Alive" for the album title as you can really feel the intimacy and energy of the performance."

esperanza spalding has this to say about partnering with Fred on this CD, "Playing with Fred feels like we're in a sandbox.  He takes his devotion to the music as serious as life and death, but once we start playing, it's just fun."  In turn, Fred offers this about esperanza, "I don't think anybody's heard esperanza sing like this.  She's a fearless vocalist, and is one of the biggest talents I know.  She's got a huge reach in her intellectual knowledge and is a big thinker in both her projects and in her outlook."

I selected two songs from this album for you to sample.  The first is a well-known Hersch composition with lyrics by Norma Winstone titled "A Wish".  The second song is their particular take on the Gershwin classic, "But Not For Me".  Both songs will highlight the creativity of both of these world class musicians.  

                                                                            "A Wish"

                                                                     "But Not For Me"

 PLAYERS:

Fred Hersch- Piano

esperanza spalding- Vocals 

PLAYLIST:

1. But Not For Me

2. Dream Of Monk

3. Little Suede Shoes

4. Girl Talk

5.Evidence

6. Some Other Time

7. Loro

8. A Wish

CD Review: Jeremy Monteiro, "Sings"

Pianist and Vocalist Jeremy Monteiro has just released his 47th album titled "Sings".  Jeremy is known as Singapore's "King of Swing" and has spent his last 46 years as a performer, educator, and prolific recording artist.  Jeremy Monteiro is a master of Jazz Piano and has performed with many of the world's greatest Jazz instrumentalists including James Moody, Benny Golson, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker and  Lee Ritenour just to name a few.  But Monteiro has also worked with some of the greatest Jazz Vocalists including Jon Hendricks, Bobby McFerrin, Nancy Kelly, Cassandra Wilson and Carmen Bradford. 

"Sings" represents Jeremy Monteiro's first full Vocal album and it's a very satisfying CD to listen to.  "Sings" includes 10 classic standards that never gets old.  The Great American Songbook is always warming and comfortable everywhere in the world and especially in Singapore.  Even though you can hear a slight accent when Monteiro sings, he is no stranger to the meaning of the lyrics.  The story of each song's lyric appears clear and bright.  His phrasing is perfect and shows he fully understands the composer's intent when writing these  beautiful songs. 

As you listen to the two songs from this CD that I have attached, notice Monteiro's gentle approach to each melody that provides the perfect setting for the brilliant lyrics.  Also, notice the musicianship of the group of European and Asian Jazz musicians Monteiro brought together for the album.  They are all master professionals who also understand music from the Great American Songbook. 

Even thought Monteiro published 46 CDs before releasing his first Jazz Vocalist CD, it was worth the wait. Congratulations Jeremy,  on creating this fine CD.  I would also suggest to my readers to do some research to access Jeremy Monteiro's other Jazz Piano albums.   He is a world class Jazz Pianist who every Jazz lover should experience.  I have added a "YouTube" of  a live performance of Jeremy Monteiro and Jazz Brasileiro performing a stunning rendition of "Manha de Carnival "that some know as "Black Orpheus".

PLAYERS:

Jeremy Monteiro- Piano & Vocals

Tony Lakatos- Saxophones

Wesley Gehring- Guitars

Jens Bunge- Harmonica

Ben Poh- Bass

Hong Chanter Techatananan- Drums

The Jeremy Monteiro Jazz Sinfonietta Strings

PLAYLIST:

1. Candy

2. Smile

3. Josefina

4. Moon River

5. Blame It On My Youth

6. Let's Fall In Love

7. You'll Never Know

8. Walkin My Baby Back Home

9. My Romance

10. Softly As I Leave You

  

                                                                               "Candy"

                                                               "Walking My Baby Back Home"

                                                                 " Manha de Carnaval"