Sax Player and composer Rob Dixon has joined together with Pianist and Arranger Steve Allee to create their newly published CD, "Standards Deluxe" that features Vocalist Amanda King and Trumpet player Derrick Gardner. These two high power mid-west musicians have formed the Bob Dixon/Steve Allee Quintet that performs beautiful straight ahead Jazz which they infuse into some classic standards and some great new songs composed by Rob Dixon. The CD is a perfect mix of old and new songs played by wonderfully talented musicians.
Rob Dixon and Steve Allee both have great resumes and have perfomed with the elite of Jazz master musicians over the years. They have learned their composing, arranging and performing lessons well and with the release of this fine Jazz recording, we all can share the listening results of their efforts.
I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure. The first is the standard "Sway" featuring Vocalist Amanda King and arranged by Bob Dixon. The second tune is a Rob Dixon original compostion, "Flat Tire Blues". This CD will be a delight for Jazz fans!
"Stay" "Flat Tire Blues"
PLAYERS:
Rob Dixon-Tenor and Soprano Sax, Composing, Arranging
If you don't know much about Mark Winkler and you love great Jazz singing, you really need to get to know him. Mark has been performing in the Los Angeles Jazz scene for years and he has released over 20 albums. "The Rules Don't Apply" is his 21st album and it will not disappoint you. In addition to singing, Mark is an accomplished Lyricist whose songs have been recorded or performed by a "Who's Who" of well-known singers including Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Steve Tyrell, Claire Martin, Jackie Ryan, Randy Crawford, Cheryl Bentyne, Kenny Rankin, Jane Monheit, Ben Vereen and Liza Minnelli among others.
For his newest CD, "The Rules Don't Apply", Winkler wrote lyrics for eight of the original songs and then added five of his favorite tunes written by Paul Simon, Lennon and McCartney, Eddie Arkin, Randy Newman and Donald Fagen. He also brought 16 top Musicians who play on his CD in various combinations. Mark Winkler is a song stylist who loves to bring his own personal feelings to new and old songs that give lyrics a new life for his listeners. It is so wonderful that a talented vocalist like Mark Winkler can still fill a room every time he has a live performance. Winkler's appeal to live audiences is his authenticity. He has stayed the course with his music and he has a strong fan base that proves that he has taken the right direction in his long career. Mark feels that many older Jazz artists are not getting the attention they deserve and wanted to represent that on this album. Mark offers "I'm a 74-year old Jewish gay man, and I really feel my creative powers have not diminished in the slightest. When I listen to the radio or see Spotify playlists, the younger artists are rightly getting the attention they deserve, but I don't think that attention should be at the expense of older artists who are still doing great work". Wise words indeed Mark Winkler and I agree totally with them. It's one of the main reasons I started publishing this blog 12 years ago. I wanted to create a balanced spotlight on brilliant musicians both young and old. There should always be room for both in the current music environment.
Mark Winkler is one of only a few "Hip" musicians currently writing and performing today. Yes, he could fit very comfortably into a picture of a smoky Jazz club in the 1950s, and yet, he still fits perfectly into today's contemporary Jazz scene.
I have attached two "YouTube" videos of two songs on this new CD. The first is the Lennon and McCartney gem "Got To Get You Into My Life" , one of Mark's favorite tunes. The second is a New Orleans-inspired song by Randy Newman. As a fellow singer/songwriter, Winker feels a connection to Randy Newman and this arrangement features Errol Thoden on Tuba.
"Got To Get You Into My Life"
"Mama Told Me Not To Come"
PLAYERS:
Mark Winkler- Vocals, Arranging, lyrics
Piano: John Beasley, Rich Eames, Greg Gordon Smith, Jamieson Trotter
Bass: Gabe Davis, Dan Lutz
Drums/Percussion: Clayton Cameron, Dan Schnelle, Kevin Winrad
Guitar: George Doering, Grant Geissman
Reeds: Katisse Buckingham, Danny Janklow, Bob Sheppard, Scott Mayo
Brass: Errol Rhoden, Brian Swartz, Scott Whitfield
Superb Volcalist Trish Hatley has recently released a new CD featuring her Jazz Vocal Trio, Trish, Hans & Phil. Her new CD is titled "Trish, Hans & Phil, Greatest Hits Volume #2" and it is a musical work of art. Trish Hatley is a well-known and loved singer on the West Coast music scene from Vancouver to Seattle to Palm Springs. Trish has a sparkling personality and when combined with her beautiful voice and superb phrasing and understanding of lyric make her one of the most sought-after vocalist performing today.
Joining Trish on this CD is Pianist, Vocalist, Arranger and Musical Director Hans Brehmer. Hans is based inn Seattle where he actively performs on Piano and Vocals. In addition, Hans is an accomplished composer whose Songs and Lyrics relate current-day experiences. His arranging skills are wildly recognized in the music scene today.
Phil Demaree is the third part of this trio. Phil has been playing bass and singing for over 40 years appearing with notable artists like Ray Charles, The Mills Brothers, Dianne Schuur, Joe Williams and John Gary.
Trish, Hans & Phil have honored the Great American Songbook and the artists who have lived in this sonngbook for their entire careers and continue to perform at the highest levels. Their musical sounds are always crisp and new and their arrangements breathe new life into the classic standards they sing.
I have attached a live performance "YouTube" of Trish, Hans & Phil singing Duke Ellington's classic, "Just Squeeze Me" with a terrific arrangement by Hans Brehmer. Enjoy!
