CD Review: Orlando Haddad & Patricia King, "Minas Beatles in Bossa

Orlando Haddad and Patricia King Haddad are long time partners in marriage and music.  They formed their group Minas in 1978 at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.  They began playing in the Eastern United States before moving to Brazil.  They returned to the US in 1984 to continue building their reputation as one of the most sought-after Brazilian groups of its kind.  Multi-talented Orlando and Patricia Haddad are Composers, Vocalists and Instrumentalists who are comfortable in Brazilian Jazz, Folk and Classical genres. 

I have always been a fan of good covers of great music.  In their new CD "Minas Beatles in Bossa" this talent duo presents the case very well.  Combining songs written by the Beatles with the Brazilian sounds and American Jazz touches has produced a beautifully listening CD that will please any audience.  The arrangements on this CD are terrific, new and creative, taking traditional rock and roll song to a new level for a new generation.

American Patricia King Hadad's earlist musical influences were formed listening to Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 while Brazilian Orlando Haddad fell in love with the Beatles and credits them as the inspriation for becoming a musician and later immigrating to the the US.   Together they have creative a terrific sound and given new birth to some of our favorite Beatles songs.

PLAYLIST:

1.Blackbird

2.Come Together

3, She Loves You

4. Day Tripper

5. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

6. I Will

7. Can't Buy Me Love

8. Eleanor Rigby

9. Within You Withhout You

10. Here Comes The Sun

11. Norwegian Wood

12. With A Little Help From My Friends

13. In My Life

14. Get Back

PLAYERS:

Orlando Haddad-Vocals, Guitar, Berimbau

Patricia King Haddad-Vocals, Piano, Keyboards

Jim Stager-Acoustic and Electric Bass

Tom Cohen-Drums

John Swana-EVI, Flugelhorn, Trumpet

Andrew Neu-Saxes and Flute

Cyro Baptista-Percussion, Berimbau

Jordan Haddad-Vocals

Rob Hyman-Accordion

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listending pleasure that will give some the satisfying sounds on this CD.  The first is "Eleanor Rigby" and the second song is "Get Back". 

                                                                       "Eleanor Rigby"

                                                                        "Get Back"

CD Review: Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine, "Mazel Tov Kocktail"

The Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine has been performing since 1979 under the guidance of Producer/Conductor and Artistic Director, Ira Liss. The current group of players in this Band are some of the top names in Jazz and have been joined from time to time by Bob Mintzer, Barbara Morrison, Wayne Bergeron, Holly Hofmann and Eric Marienthal.  There are also some really special guests that have joined the Band to contribute to this wonderful Big Band CD:  Nathan East on Bass, Andrew Neu on Tenor Sax, Dan Radlauer on Accordion and Mike Vax on Trumpet.  The Band has two great big band Vocalists, Janet Hammer and Carly Ines.  This is the  Band's 6th recording release and it is packed with new compositions and new arrangements of standards.  Ira states, "The Band is the sum of its parts, and every chair is important. Big Bands need a creative vision to push the music forward, and I like a lot of variety".  Ira delivers on his promise, "Mazel Tov Kocktail" delivers everything any big band fan would be looking for.  The sound is always tight, the Arrangements are fresh and new and the execution by the seasoned members of this Band is perfect.  

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for you to sample.  The first is an up-tempo version of the evergreen "Where or When" that features  Janet Hammer on the Vocal.  This standard was given new life by the Arranger, George Stone.  The second video is a swinging tune, "Gimme That"  Composed and Arranged by special guess, Andrew Neu.  Andrew also plays an outstanding Tenor Sax solo on this song.  I know you will enjoy these cuts!    

PLAYERS:

 PLAYLIST:

1. Gimme That

2. High Wire

3. Key To The City

4. Love You Madly

5. Bass: The Final Frontier

6. You'd Better Love Me While You May

7. Mazel Tov Kocktail

8. I Wish You Love

9. Springtime

10. Joy Spring

11. West Wings

12. Where Or When

                                                                      "Where or When"

                                                                            "Gimme That"