CD Review: Kristina Koller, "Walk On By"

Jazz Vocalist, Songwriter, and Arranger Kristina Koller has published her fourth album as leader.  The Album is titled "Walk On By" and it's a tribute to one of the greatest American composers, Burt Bacharach.

Bacharach's compositions are always strong on melodies and fit perfectly with Koller's love of taking popular songs to new places with her arrangements and her free ranging voice that can be soft or strong but always hip.  As I listened to "Walk On By" on "Youtube" I was able to listen to other Albums that Koller has published and they are very impressive.  Her voice and phrasing are very exciting and accessible. She is a true Jazz vocalist in every aspect.  She won a scholarship at the The Hartt School's Jackie MacLean Institute of Jazz where she turned her attention to full-time Jazz.  She then transferred to City College of New York where she earned a Batchelor of Music in Jazz studies.  Koller says, "I love Jazz because it gives you room to take different approaches to music.  You can add funk or R & B to a song but still keep it in the Jazz idiom". 

Joining Koller on "Walk On By" are a group of longtime and talented bandmates including Brooklyn-based Ukrainian Jazz Pianist and Rhodes player Fima Chupakhin.  Koller is an admired and well-known Jazz singer in all the New York Jazz clubs like Smalls, Smoke, Minton's and Mezzrow.  If you love Jazz vocals you must get to know Kristina Koller, she is a real Jazz pro!

I have attached two "YouTube" music videos for you to sample.  The first Bacharach classic, "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" and the second is "That's What Friends Are For".  Koller is joined on this song by her long-time friend and Vocalist, Rosemary Minkler.

PLAYERS:

Kristina Koller, Vocals, Arrangements

Fima Chupakhin, Piano & Rhodes

James Robbins, Bass, Arrangements

Cory Cox, Drums

Rosemary Minkler, Vocals (4)

PLAYLIST:

1. I'll Never Fall In Love Again

2. Close To You

3. A House Is Not A Home

4. That's What Friends Are For

5. Say A Little Prayer

6. Don't Make Me Over

7. Walk On By

8. Reach Out For Me

9. Loving Is A Way Of Living

10. What The World Needs Now

                                            

                                                              " I'll Never Fall In Love Again"

                                                                "That's What Friends Are For"

CD Review: Deb Bowman, "Reflection"

 

Actress, Storyteller and Vocalist Deb Bowman has just published her 4th Jazz album, "Reflection". The album is a tribute to three of the greatest American songwriters, Michel Legrand, Burt Bacharach and Stephen Sondheim all whom have passed away between 2019 and 2023.  The recording process was done over a few years during which selections were revised to include a wide range of composers.  Bowman is an accomplished Actress who has appeared in many live productions as well as in television and her acting skills have helped her to not only understand the meaning of musical lyrics but also how to phrase them so they tell compelling stories.  .

Bowman has worked closely with her musical director and Pianist, Dean Fransen to create wonderful arrangements that support Bowman's voice and phrasing.  The results are Jazz vocals that sound fresh and new!  

I have attached two "Youtube" video tracks from "Reflection" for your listening pleasure.  The first is "He Was Too Good For Me" a seldom heard song from the pen of Lorenz Hart.  Hart's lyric covers a 😏 wide range of emotions and Bowman starts with a verse that is seldom heard. but is an interesting part of the story in the Lyric.  The second is the classic Michel Legrand song, "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" with sensational lyric from Alan and Marilyn Bergman.

PLAYERS:

Deb Bowman- Vocals

Dean Fransen- Piano, Organ and Arrangements

Jim Donica-Bass

Jakubu Griffin- Drums

Joel Mateo- Percussion

Tom McCaffrey- Guitar

Kurt Bacher- Woodwinds

Bruce Harris- Trumpet

Rashaan Salaam- Trombone

Tim Aucoin- Bass (2,8)

Jared Lanham- Drums (2,8)

Marla Feeney- Woodwinds (8)

PLAYLIST:

1. Send In The Clowns

2.. Moon River

3. Somewhere Over The Rainbow

4. This Girl's In Love

5. He Was Too Good To Me

6. Somewhere That's Green

7. How Do You Keep The Music Playing

8. Till There was you

9. Baby Mine

  

                                                              "He Was Too Good For Me"

                                                     "How Do You Keep The Music Playing"