CD Review: James Judson, "Songs Of My Dreams"

Jazz Vocalist and Composer, James Judson has released his debut Jazz album, "Songs Of My Dreams".  James has a very interesting musical life story to tell about his involvement with music. He grew up in a large coal mining family in Boulder, Colorado surrounded by music.  His cousin taught him to sing when he was four and at five years old he made his first public appearance when Frankie Yankovic, aka the "Polka King" came to town and invited Judson on stage to sing.  His first public performance made a lasting impression on him and he started learning how to play drums and guitar.  By the time he was 13, James was working in a rock band as lead vocalist and drummer.  Later in high school, he joined a band playing weddings and state fairs and started developing his songwriting skills.  It looked like his music career would continue to be a huge part of his adult life, however,  he reached a point in his mid-thirties when he had to decide to continue with his struggling music career or focus on raising a family and demands of his construction business.  With 6 kids in his family, he knew he had to put his full energies into his business and he put his guitar and musical talents aside.  While his performing completely stopped, his love for music never died. 

In 2019, Judson was in Los Angeles to help with a construction project his daughter was working on when she introduced him to Don Taicher, a local singer, songwriter and rapper and the two became close friends.  This friendship reignited Judson's deeply buried musical desire and he wound up buying a guitar in LA and when he went back home he started playing again and working on his singing.

"Songs Of My Dreams" contains 13 songs consisting of 11 original songs and two standards.  It's interesting that after all the exposure Judson had to various types of music including rock that his writing style fits perfectly into the age of the crooners and the big bands they sang with.    His compositions have  wonderful melodies and lyrics that would fit Sinatra or Bennett perfectly.  Judson gathered a world-class group of musicians to join him on this CD and  created a CD that is a joyful trip back to the the sounds of the big bands of the forties and fifties and the crooners who sang with them.

I have attached two songs from "Songs Of My Dreams".  The first is a Judson original,  "Is There A Chance" that really swings and is one of my favorites.   The second is the classic, "The Shadow Of Your Smile".  I salute James Judson for having the strength and desire to rekindle his musical fire and sharing his beautiful songs with us!

PLAYLIST: 

1. Is There A Chance

2. The Shadow of Your Smile

3. Stars Past The Milky Way 

4. All Of Me

5. My Imagination

6. Can't Put A Price On Love

7. Kiss Me

8. The Winderful Night Before

9. Eternal Love

10. Holding On

11. Candlelight or Roses

12. Walking A Sidewalk

13. On And On

---

PLAYERS:

James Judson – Vocals, Guitar, Compositions

Gary Matsumoto- Piano Max Haymer- Hammond B3, Fender

Tim Sonnefeld- Rhodes

Mike Gurrola, Dan Lutz, Charles Glenn-  Bass

Leddie Garcia- Percussion

Michael Campagna, Aaron Janik,Dan Fornero, Dave Richards, Mike Cordone- Trumpet

Bob Sheppard, Anton Sushev- Alto Sax

Bob Reynolds, Doug Webb- Tenor Sax

Jason Fabus- Baritone Sax

Erik Hughes, Ryan Dragon, Joshua Brown, Todd Eames- Trombone

Eliza James, Olga Ivanenko,Laurann Woods, Lily Honigberg-  Violin

Jennifer Wu, Troy Everett- Viola

Jean-Paul Barjon, Judy Kang- Cellos

                                                                    "Is There A Chance"

                                                            "The Shadow Of Your Smile"

  

Judy Wexler, "No Wonder"

Multi-talented Jazz Vocalist Judy Wexler has been studying and performing for over 20 years and has become one of the most compelling Jazz Vocalist on the West Coast.  She has learned her lessons well over the years and always surrounds herself with the finest West Coast musicians.  And when she combines these talented musicians with her ability to selecting songs that are wonderful but not played frequently, Jazz magic occurs. Judy has an intense love for lyrics and takes joy in creating her own interpretations.  When she adds her warm voice to a lyric the results create beautiful reborn musical gems.  On "No Wonder" Judy unveils a range of emotions and combines her astute blend of storytelling with subtle melodic variations and rhythmic shifts.  The arrangements on "No Wonder" were created by Judy's longtime Pianist and Arranger Jeff Colella and they are hip and fresh and fit Judy's vocal style perfectly.  This is Judy's first CD of standards and when these songs are combined with Judy's warm voice, her spot- on phrasing and Colella's creative arrangements, the songs seem re-born again.

Judy preforms in Jazz clubs in the LA area to the delight of her many fans.  She has also headlined at performing arts centers and Jazz festivals in Montreal, Dubai, Tel Aviv, San Jose and Temecula where she opened for the legendary Mose Allison,  If you know anything about Mose Allison, then it will help you understand Judy's long-time love of "Off the beaten path" songs and lyrics.

The list of supporting musicians is an A-listing of the best LA musicians.  So, what do you get when you gather a group of fine Jazz musicians in a recording room with a veteran Jazz Vocalist with a beautiful voice and a love for interpretation and phrasing of lyric?   You get a beautiful Jazz CD titled "No Wonder"!

I have attached a "YouTube" video with two songs from "No Wonder". The first song is a long-time favorite of mine composed by Leonard Cohen, "Dance Me To The End of Love".  The lyric for this Cohen gem has always fascinated me, and I always thought about it as a lovely love poem.  I learned from Judy that the lyric is about the Jewish musicians in the Nazi concentration camps who were forced to perform as their fellow prisoners were marched to their deaths.  Now, the lyric of the songs takes on a new, deeper emotional meaning for me.  Bob Sheppard adds a beautiful Clarinet solo and Larry Koonse has a captivating Guitar solo also.  The second song I attached was Judy's up-tempo version of the the 1940 standard, "You Stepped Out of a Dream".  

                                                                "Dance Me to the End of Love"

                                                                    "You Stepped Out of a Dream"

PLAYLIST:

1. No Wonder 

2. The Summer Knows

4. Never Will I Marry

5. Wish You Were Here

6. Firm Roots

7. Slow Hot Wind

8. I Wish You Love

9. Dance Me To The End of Love

10. That Sunday, That Summer

11. A Weaver of Dreams

12. The Night We Called It A Day

PLAYERS:

Judy Wexler- Vocals

Jeff Colella- Piano, Melodica, All Arrangement except, "No Wonder" Luciana Souza and "I Wish you Love" Brian Swartz

Danny Janklow- Alto/Tenor Sax, Flute/ Alto Flute 

Bob Sheppard, Soprano Sax, Clarinet

Jay Jennings- Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Larry Koonse- Electric/Acoustic Guitar

Gabe Davis- Bass

Steve Haas- Drums   

Veronica Thomas, "They Say It's Wonderful"

I have the pleasure of listening to many great musicians as part of my blog reviews but I have always had a special place in my music for Jazz Vocalists.   I know that most of us think we could be a pretty good Jazz Vocalist with enough practice.  After all, we all sound pretty good singing in the shower, right?  But the truth is becoming a truly top shelf Jazz vocalist is one of the hardest accomplishment to master.   

Veronica Thomas makes my last statement seem untrue because she sings and swings with utter ease and style making it seems easy.  And that's the mark of a true professional not only in the music world but of all worlds.  This summer, Veronica Thomas released her second CD, "They Say It's Wonderful".  The CD has a collection of 12 classic Jazz standards and these evergreens never sounded better.  Veronica has a velvet, soulful voice that she weaves around perfect storytelling phrasing that any of the great composers of these songs could have ever wished for.  When I first listened to this CD it seemed to have a certain balance in emotion that I could not get my brain around.  After several more listening sessions and a chance to consider the supporting cast of players on "They Say It's Wonderful' the light finally went on.   Veronica lives and performs in New York City and New York Jazz musicians have a slightly different approach to Jazz compared to West Cost Jazz players.  I live in the New York Metropolitan area for 6 months and the California desert area for 6 months and listen to live Jazz as much as possible so I can tell you there is a different approach to Jazz on each coast.  What I was feeling when listening to Veronica Thomas' CD "They Say It's Wonderful" was the coming together of this New York City Vocalist singing with a group of top West Coast players.   So it's East coast meets West coast.  The leader of the West Coast group is Pianist, Vocalist, Arranger and Producer, John Prouix.   John Prouix is still young but his skills are terrific.  He would surely be in the group of top 10 pianists in the country who a Jazz Vocalist would kill to have on the piano playing for them.  Also, supporting Veronica and Prouix is Bob Sheppard on Sax and Flute.  Bob Sheppard is and has been one of the top Sax and Flute players performing today and adds greatly to this CD.  The rhythm section is also superb with Mike Gurrrola on Bass and Kevin van den Elzen on Drums.  "They Say It's Wonderful"  is a first class Jazz CD and Veronica Thomas has given us a marvelous performance that makes us want more of her!

I have attached two cuts from Veronica Thomas' CD.  The first is an underplayed standard written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, "Almost In Your Arms".  John Prouix provides a swing arrrangement for this gem.  The second is a classic written by Irving Berlin, "They Say It's Wonderful".  Bob Sheppard shows us why he is considered one of the best reed men performing today with some great Tenor support.

PLAYERS:

Veronica Thomas- Vocals

Piano, Arranging- John Prouix

Bass- Mike Gurrola

Sax and Flute- Bob Sheppard

Drums- Kevin van den Elzen

PLAYLIST:

1. Almost In Your Arms

2. Get Out Of Town

3. Invitation

4. They Say It's Wonderful

5. If I Were A Bell

6. Dindi

7. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

8. Speak Low

9. Stuck In A Dream

10. A Sleepin' Bee

11. Too Late Now

12. Two For The Road

                                                             "Almost In Your Arms"

  

                                                                 "They Say It's Wonderful"                         

CD Review: Adam Schroeder & Mark Masters, "CT" (A tribute to Clark Terry)

 The new CD just released from Baritone Saxophonist and Bandleader Adam Schroeder and Arranger Mark Masters is a tribute to master Trumpeter and Composer Clark Terry.  Schroeder conceived of the recording as a celebration of Terry's 100th birthday.  The plan was delayed by the pandemic, but Schroeder continued to be motivated to complete the CD.  "I wanted to celebrate what Clark gave to me and so many others around the globe for decades-musically, educationally, and as a mentor."  Mark Master has provided some powerful arrangements in a style that is becoming more and more infrequent.  Mark offers,    "So it's always a joy when great musicians come together to make music, and it only becomes music when they bring the music to life."  Mark has produced wonderful arrangements that would have made Clark Terry smile.  All of the songs on this CD were composed by Clark Terrry. The results of these classic arrangements, great songs and the wonderful Jazz players participating on this CD is perfection for any Jazz lover.

Bari Sax player, Adam Schroeder is a giant force in today's  global Jazz scene not only through performances but through his extensive educational efforts including serving as Associate Professor of Jazz & Commercial Music at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.  His solos and the mellow tones he produces out of his Baritone Sax are always sparkling good.  The Baritone Sax has always been one of the tougher Saxophones to play in my opinion.  Adam Schroeder makes playing the Baritone Sax seem easy; the mark of a true professional player!

Mark Masters is a master Arranger in the traditional of Classic American Jazz.  He is a champion of  American Jazz and devotes all of his energies to keep this type of Jazz music alive and current.  He has arranged music for recordings featuring Billy Harper, Jimmy Knepper, Andrew Cyrille, Oliver Lake, Mark Turner, Tim Hagans, Grachan Moncur III, Peter Erskine  and many others. 

PLAYLIST:

1. Serenade To A Bus Seat

2. Ground Hog

3. Ode To Pres

4. Daylite Express

5. Boardwalk

6. Argentia

7. Perdido Line

8. Slow Boat

9. Swingin' On The Cusp

10. Michelle

11. Top and Bottom

12. Boomerang

13. In Orbit

PLAYERS:

Sal Lozano- Alto Sax

Bob Sheppard- Tenor & Soprano Sax

Kirsten Edkins- Tenor Sax

Adam Schroeder- Baritone Sax

Francisco Torres- Lead Trombone

Ido Meshulam- Trombone

Lemar Guillary- Trombone

Dan Fornero- Lead Trumpet

James Ford- Trumpet

Aaron Janik-Trumpet

Edwin Livingston- Bass

Peter Erskine- Drums

All Arrangements by Mark Masters

I have attached two "YouTube" videos of songs from this CD.  The first is the Clark Terry tune, "Ground Hog" where Adam Schroeder gets to show his playing skills.  The second video is Terry's "Ode To Pres" with impressive solos from Kirsten Edkins, Bob Sheppard and Ido Meshulam.

                                                                     "Ground Hog"

                                                                        "Ode To Pres"

CD Review: Rich Willey's Boptism Big Band, "Down & Dirty"

I have a treat for all my Big Band fans.  I have just listened to Rich Willey's "Boptism Big Band's" new release "Down & Dirty" and it's fabulous!  Trumpeter, Bass Trumpeter, Bandleader and Composer Rich Willey has a remarkable resume consisting of performing with many great musicians including Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, Buddy Morrow and vocalists Mel Torme, Jack Jones, and Shirley Jones.  The 11 tunes written by Rich Willey are as good as band music gets and will surely be played by lots of other bands in the future who are looking for fresh, new and inspiring music.  Rich Willey's composing is clear, versatile and understandable.  In addition, the talented musicians in this band are all world class and make for a listening feast.  And lastly, the arrangements are sparkling good.  These three elements make "Down & Dirty" one of the best big-band CDs released this year in my opinion.

Rich's tunes are perfectly written and arranged for the 18-piece band that Producer Dan Fornero assembled to record this CD.  An impressive group of Arrangers were brought in by Rich to create arrangements to bring Willey's compositions to life.  The group included Michael Abene, Gordon Goodwin, Wally Minko and Chris Walden and they truly are magnificent arrangements.   Award-winning engineer Tommy Vicari did the remarkable recording of this 18-piece band to complete this great CD.

This CD contains 77-minutes of musical delights including Jazz, Funk, Latin, Baroque, Reggae and Rock.  I highly recommend it to anyone who loves exciting new Big Band sounds!

Playlist:
1. "Boogie Beast"
2. "Down & Dirty"
3. "Walter The Ferret"
4. "Eyes All For You"
5. "Dancing Hippo"
6. "Ed Zachary Meets Gregory Peccary"
7. "How Bout That?"
8. "Old Folks"
9. "Little Treasures"
10. "Not So Fast"
11. " Funk Heap"
12. "But For The Grace Of God"

Players:
Rich Willey-Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Bass Trumpet, Composer, Band Leader
Saxophones- Dan Higgins, Brian Scanlon, Bob Sheppard, Jeff Driskill, Sal Lozano, Jay Mason
Trumpets- Wayne Bergeron, Dan Fornero, Rob Schaer, Mike Rocha, Tony Bonsera
Rhythm Section- Wally Minko-Keyboard, Andrew Synowiec -Guitars, Edwin Livingston-Bass
Peter Erskine-Drums, Joey De Leon-Percussion
Special Guest Thomas Hooten-Piccolo Trumpet (Down & Dirty)

I can't wait for you to hear the two YouTubes I have attached.  The first is "Boogie Beast" and the second is "Walter The Ferret" both written by Rich Willey.

CD Review: The Doug MacDonald Quartet "Organisims"

Master Guitarist, Composer, Band Leader and Arranger, Doug MacDonald has released his latest musical project,  "Organisms" performed by The Doug MacDonald Quartet.  This new CD is the thirteenth CD Doug has released and the third organ project that he performs as not only the band leader, but as a Composer and Arranger.  Doug has brought together 3 highly talented Jazz musicians on this CD and has included a wonderful mix of classic tunes and three original composition he composed.

On Tenor is the highly sought after Sax player, Bob Sheppard.  I am sure Bob needs no introduction to anyone who loves the West Coast Jazz scene.   He is one of the best Tenor players on the Jazz scene today.  Carey Frank who is on the Hammond B3 Organ and Ben Scholz on Drums are relatively younger in Jazz experience compared to Bob and Doug but as you will hear,  are all up to the task.  "Organisms" presents a wonderful refreshing sound of younger Jazz musicians blending perfectly with more experienced players.

Doug MacDonald lives in Southern California but Doug is in so much demand that his gigs take him all over the United States and the world.  He is a very serious and skilled musician and every waking hour is dedicated to creating and performing American Jazz.  Doug has performed live with some of the best musicians in the world including Stan Getz, George Shearing, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Buddy Rich, Scott Hamilton, Ray Charles, Jack Sheldon, Hank Jones and the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra just to name a few! For those readers that live in the California Coachella Valley area, Doug needs no introduction because he performs in many different venues in the area every week.   Doug also makes time to broadcast a weekly Jazz radio show on  KAJI 97.3 FM on Mondays from 2 to 4 pm unless he is traveling.  KAJI is a 24-hour non-profit Jazz stations in Palm Desert, CA. You can hear KAJI anywhere you are by computer by opening this link:  WWW.AmJazzIn.Org.

Playlist:
1. "It's You Or No One"
2. "Jazz For All Occasions"
3.  "L & T"
4. "Nina Never Knew/Indian Summer"
5. "Sometime Ago"
6. "Poor Butterfly"
7. "Centerpiece"
8. "Too Late Now"
9. "Hortense"
10. "On The Alamo"

Players:
Doug MacDonald- Arrangements, Guitar, Composer
Carey Frank- Hammond B3 Organ
Bob Sheppard- Tenor Saxophone
Ben Scholz- Drums

I have attached a "YouTube" of The Doug MacDonald Quartet playing "Centerpiece" from their recent CD release, "Organisims".   I also attached a "YouTube" of the Quartet playing an original composition Doug wrote entitled "Jazz For All Occasions"  I know you will enjoy listening to every song on this wonderful new CD!

CD Review: Joanne Tatham "The Rings of Saturn"

Vocalist Joanne Tatham has released her 4th CD, "The Rings of Saturn" on March 30, 2018 and it's a beautiful musical journey to some great old and new songs combined with some fresh arrangements.  Tatham successfully follows the proven traditions of the great vocalists of past generations: pick only first-class material, write fresh, hip arrangements and ask only the best musicians to join you.  The collection of songs in this CD are so different with unusual arrangements that singing the full playlist could be used as a master class for any Jazz vocalist!  Clearly Joanne Tatham is not afraid to take risks and the result is a beautiful eclectic CD that will please even the toughest Jazz listener.

It was difficult to pick one song from this CD for you to listen to because I liked so many of them, and they are so different.  "Catch Me If You Can" composed by Eli Brueggemann with Lyrics by Mark Winkler is catchy and clever.  Who wouldn't love a Lyric by Mark Winker?  "Jazz 'n Samba" by Antonio Jobim and arranged by Guitarist Marcel Camargo and Tatham is wonderful.  But in the end, I had to give in to my love of standards and I attached a "YouTube"  of Joanne Tatham singing the old chestnut "Love Me Or LeaveMe" as good as you will ever hear this song sung.

Playlist:
1. "Love Me Or Leave Me"
2. "Summer In New York"
3. "Catch Me If You Can"
4. "Poetry Man"
5. The Rings of Saturn"
6. "Can We Still Be Friends?"
7. "If You Never Come To Me"
8. "Anyone Can Whistle"
9. "Nice To Be Around"
10. "Jazz 'n Samba"
11. "It Could Happen to You"

Players:
Joanne Tatham-Vocals
Max Haymer-Piano
Lyman Medeiros-Base
Dan Schnelle-Drums
Marcel Camargo-Guitar
Larry Koonse-Guitar
Kevin Winard-Percussion
Brian Swartz-Trumpet
Bob Sheppard-Sax

Produced by Mark Winkler

CD Review: "Say It" from John Proulx

John Proulx's new CD "Say It" is the first album that he has produced independently and it's terrific!  Pianist, Vocalist, Composer and Producer John Proulx is one of the brightest new stars on today's Jazz scene.  He is a welcome addition to the Jazz world, not only because of his composing, singing and Piano playing but because John has a fine appreciation of the Jazz greats of the past and the wonderful music they introduced to the world.  His musical efforts continue to produce outstanding new music while at the same time, John still addresses some of the great songs of the "Great American Songbook".  On this CD, John has recorded some new songs in addition to recording some gems from the past like "The Summer Knows", Mose Allison's sardonic "I Don't Worry About a Thing" and Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now". 

In addition to John's talents, he is a Jazz star that still is always willing to help other new and lesser-known Jazz players with Piano support, arranging, producing and caring supportive direction.  He is a major Jazz star with no overriding ego!

John asked his old friend and outstanding vocalist, Judy Wexler to help him produce this album along with two other friends that are legendary Jazz musicians, Bassist Chuck Berghofer and the great Joe LaBarbera on Drums.  According to John, "Chuck and Joe have been my musical bedrock. I love the way they inspire me to play and sing."  Also joining John on this CD are two more Jazz giants, Guitarist Larry Koonse and Saxophonist Bob Sheppard.   And the topper to this group is Melissa Manchester who recorded the duet "Stained Glass", a tune that they co-wrote. 

I first met John at one of Pete Carlson's Jazz Concerts in Palm Desert, and I have been a fan ever since.

Playlist:

1. "Gentle Rain:

2. "Scatsville"

3. "The Summer Knows"

4. "Watch What Happens"

5. "Say It"

6. "I Don't Worry About A Thing"

7. "The Last Goodbye"

8. "Stained Glass"

9. "Something To Live For"

10. "Both Sides Now"

Performers:

John  Proulx-Piano/Vocals/Arrangements

Chuck Berghofer-Bass

Joe LaBarbera-Drums

Larry Koonse-Guitar

Bob Sheppard-Tenor Sax/Soprano Sax

Billy Hulting-Auxiliary Percession

Melissa Manchester-Guest Vocals

Alan  Broadbent-String Quartet Arrangements

The Gina Kronstadt Strings

   Gina Kronstadt-1st Violin, leader

   Susan Chatman-2nd Violin

   Rodney Wurtz- Viola

   Stefanie Fife-Cello

Produced by Judy Wexler

I found and attached a "Youtube" of John singing "I've Never Been In Love Before" that from John's album "Moon and Sand" for your listening pleasure.

                                                    "I've Never Been In Love Before"

CD Review: Ron Boustead "Unlikely Valentine"

Ron Boustead has a long and solid reputation as one of the most talented Vocalist and Lyricist performing today.  For the past 34 years, Ron has been performing and writing lyrics since he was just 16.  His many past credits include recording a vocal CD featuring lyrics he had written to tunes by the likes of Chet Baker,  Chick Corea, and Freddie Hubbard.  Over his career, he released three more CDs and learned a new trade. He became a top-notch mastering engineer, worked at the legendary Precision Mastering where he cut CD and vinyl masters for artists like Prince, Rolling Stones, Seal, Kiss, R.E.M., and many others.  After all of these achievements, Ron thought it was time for him to make a CD that reflected his evolving tastes and growth as an artist.  His new CD "Unlikely Valentine" is cool and hip.  Ron put together a mix of tunes that include lyrics he provided and a fresh take on lesser-done standards.  When Boustead began thinking about this project, he decided he wanted the music to be upbeat and bebop-oriented, yet accessible to people who aren't necessarily hard-core Jazz fans.  In my opinion, he has reached these goals!  His new CD is fresh and live and his lyrics seem real and natural.  His performance on the tune he wrote, "Coffee" is outstanding in style and lyric and Ron's vocal is perfect and "Sinatra-like".  If you like straight ahead Jazz vocals, you will love this new CD that is being released on February 14, 2017.  It will be available on Amazon, iTunes and CD Baby.

The Band:  

Ron Boustead, Vocals and Lyrics

Bill Cunliffe, Piano and Arrangements

Mitchel Forman, Piano and Arrangements

Pat Kelly, Acoustic and Electric Guitar

Bob Sheppard, Sax and Flute

Bob McChesney, Trombone

Ron Stout, Flugelhorn

John Leftwich, Bass

Jake Reed, Drums

Playlist:

1. "Unlikely Valentine"

2. "Love Potion # 9"

3. "Coffee"

4. " I Won't Scat"

5. "Til Now"

6. "Autumn Leaves"

7. "Love's Carousel"

8. "Along Came Betty"

9. "I Love My Wife"

10. "Love Came On Stealthy Fingers"

I found and attached a couple of "YouTube" videos that I think you will enjoy.  The first is Ron telling his story about his new CD and the second I just had to share,  Ron singing my number one greatest song, "The Nearness of You".  Enjoy!

 Ron Boustead Tell the Story of His New CD, "Unlikely Valentine"

       
                                                 Ron Boustead "The Nearness of You"

Jazz is Hot and Live at "Jazz For Jazz Lovers" at Pete Carlson's Golf and Tennis Store in Palm Desert, CA

Rob Lockart, Jonathan Richards, Clay Jenkins, Pete Carlson, Bill Cunliffe and Joe Labarbera

                                                              Picture Courtesy of Ashton Khachigian

The "Jazz for Jazz Lovers" music series at Peter Carlson's Golf and Tennis Store is in full swing.  On Saturday January 7, 2017, Pete hosted "The Joe Labarbera Quintet"  featuring Joe Labarbera on Drums, Clay Jenkins on Trumpet, Rob Lockart on Saxophone, Bill Cunliffe on Piano and Jonathan Richards on Bass.  The Jazz was spectacular and well appreciated by the standing room only crowd that was in attendance.  Joe Labarbera is recognized across the US and in Canada as one of the top Drummers performing today.  Tonight, he proved why he gets high praise from both Jazz lovers and Jazz professional musicians.  Joe put on a clinic of Drum skills,  not only on up-tempo tunes but also on ballads.  I am sure you don't hear the word sensitive when describing a great Drummer but this word fits Joe's playing to a tee.  What impressed me even more was Joe's ability to fit into his Quintet perfectly without under playing or over playing.  He always provided a balance with his four playing partners.

The musicians in Joe's Quintet were all solid gold Jazz guys starting with  the well-known superb Trumpet player, Clay Jenkins.  I am sure many of you have heard Clay play but to hear him in person playing with freshness and clarity is a super treat!   Bill Cunliffe was terrific on piano and because Joe and he have been friends for years, the flow between them is dead-on great.  Rob Lockart has also been with Joe for years, and he brings his own magic to this group.  His improvising is unusual, fresh and clear.  The last member of tonight's quintet was a young Bass player, Jonathan Richards.  Joe had heard Jonathan play a couple of times and decided to have him fill in whenever possible.  Jonathan may be young but he plays terrific Bass and Joe gave him many opportunities to solo to the delight of the audience.

Pete Carlson and his wife Edna are two of the most generous and well-loved people in the Desert.  They put in a tremendous effect in time and money to keep this Jazz series going.  All the profits from the concerts that go on throughout the winter season are donated to support music education and scholarships for young musicians in the Coachella Valley.  Stop by Pete's store and get a schedule and tickets to future shows.  Think about this, the people who attended this great Jazz performance only had to pay $25 dollars that's just $5.00 per member of this quintet......Where can you get a better live Jazz deal than this?

I found and attached a "Youtube" of "The Joe Labarbera Quintet" that I know you will enjoy.  This "Youtube" was recorded at Alva's Showroom on 1/19/2003.  The players on it are Joe on Drums, Clay Jenkins on Trumpet, Bill Cunliffe on Piano, Bob Sheppard on Tenor and Tom Washington on Bass.

      

CD Review: Joanne Tatham: "Out Of My Dreams"

Gifted singer Joanne Tatham has published her third CD, "Out of My Dreams" and it's terrific!  Joanne has a beautiful, clear voice that she uses in a wonderful way to put life into the lyrics of the songs she selected for this CD.  The songs she selected cover a great musical territory and would be a challenge for even the most experienced singer but Joanne believe's it's worth the risks and it turns out she was right.  In putting this CD together,  Joanne gathered some of the most sought-after musicians in the business today featuring John Clayton, Tamir Hendelman, Peter Erskine and Bob Sheppard.  She also convinced gifted Jazz singer and Songwriter Mark Winkler to produce her CD.  With a supporting cast like this, Joanne's beautiful voice and sense of tempo and eleven handpicked great songs, I was not surprised at the high quality of this CD. This CD and Joanne's two other CDs are available on Amazon,  iTunes, and CDBaby.

           PLAYLISTS
1. "You Taught My Heart To Sing"                          2. "Without Him"
3. "Devil May Care"                                                  4. "Vivo Sonhando"
5. "Cool"                                                                     6. "Double Life"
7. "Detour Ahead"                                                     8. "Too Long In LA"
9. "You're Sensational"                                             10. "In A Lonely Place'
11. "Out Of My Dreams"

           Artist Credits:


Joanne Tatham: Vocals and Background Vocals, Lyrics on #6, Arrangement on #9

Tamir Hendelman: Piano and Arrangements on  #1,5,6,7,10

Jamieson Trotter: Piano and Arrangements on #2,8 Piano only #3,4,11

Peter Erskine: Drums on #2,5,7,10

Bob Sheppard: Sax on #1,10

Lyman Medeiros: Bass on #2,3,4,8,11

Mike Shapiro: Drums and Percussion on 2,3,4,6,8,11

Marcel Camargo: Guitar on #2,4,9

Eli Brueggemann: Arrangements on #3,4

Mark Winkler: Producer

I found a "YouTube" video of Joanne singing "Devil May Care" performed live at Feinstein's at Loews Regency in NYC on 11/14/2011.  Eli Brueggemann on Piano, Steve Doyle on Bass, Steve Harkness on Guitar and Valerie Naranjo on Percussion.

CD Review: Julie Kelly "Happy To Be"

My first listening introduction to Julie Kelly was by way of her new CD "Happy To Be".  After listening to just the first few songs, it became clear why Julie is one of the most respected Jazz singers on the West Coast.  If anyone ever asks you to define Jazz singing, save your time and theirs by simply telling them to listen to Julie Kelly and her CD "Happy To Be". Julie's pure warm voice has a sensibility to melody and lyric that's very rare.  Her selection of songs on this CD reinforces her perfect taste in the best in melody and her wonderful lyric writing abilities.  She wrote the lyrics for two songs on the CD, "The Blues According to Orpheus" and "For Joni".   "For Joni" began as a poem she wrote for Joni Mitchell.  Tierney Sutton the marvelous Jazz singer in her own right calls this tune nothing less than a "gorgeous anthem" to all who love Joni Mitchell.

One of the essential talents that all Jazz singers need to develop is the ability to pick the best  musicians who will lift the singer to higher levels.  The musicians Julie has selected to support her on this CD are spectacular!  Bill Cunliffe has worked with Julie on other projects and is a widely respected pianist and Grammy Award-winning arranger, Anthony Wilson the outstanding guitarist who works with only the best musicians including Diana Krall, Tom Warrington known as one of the best Bass players in the country, world-class Drummer Joe LaBarbera who worked with Bill Evans for years and a Horn section comprised of A-list players including Bob Sheppard, Clay Jenkins, Ron Stout and Bob McChesney.  Also, there is an additional contribution made by the following fine musicians:  Walter Rodriguez, Percussion, Kim Richmand, Saxophone and on Vibes the "superb" Nick Mancini.

Julie Kelly has given the Jazz world a wonderful gift of great music that validates that Jazz singing still has a special place in today's music scene!

I have attached a "You-Tube" video of Julie singing "You're The Dangerous Type" from her CD "Happy To Be".

CD Review: "Where Do You Start" with Bill Cote

In a normal month, I receive 10 to 12 new CDs to review. Usually, I discover at least a couple that I really like. The CD I received today titled, "Where Do You Start" with vocals by Bill Cote accompanied by the wonderful Tamir Hendelman Trio is stunningly good!  Bill Cote is a successful businessman and lawyer who has been singing and performing informally for quite a long time.  He has been an avid Jazz supporter and counts among his close friends several Jazz luminaries. It is clear that he must have been a very good listener because his deep rich voice and phrasing skills are polished and professional.  His voice and impeccable phrasing reminds me of the great Johnny Hartman.  The songs he personally selected are nothing short of sensational.  Bill shared that he had been thinking about these songs for years and "Each song resonates with him for a myriad of different reasons".  Bill's singing fills each song with a deep emotional connection that gives life to the melody and the lyrics that transfers to the listener.  My only question to Bill Cote is "Bill, why did you wait so long to record your first CD?

Tamir Hendelman, the award-winning pianist who is a regular in the spectacular Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra did all the wonderful arrangements.  Tamir is one of my favorite pianists ever since I first heard him playing with The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.  His arrangements are perfect, and his piano solos are impeccable examples of great Jazz playing.  Joining Tamir are a group of some Southern California's best Jazz musicians, including Joe LaBarbera on Drums, Bob Sheppard on Sax and Flute, Graham Dechter on guitar and Martin Wind on Bass.

This is an award-winning CD that will be released on April 15, 2014.  If you love songs out of the "Great American Songbook" sung by a seasoned singer who can make lyrics come to life, then you must buy this CD.  As a side note, Bill has included 16 cuts on this CD.  I haven't seen this many cuts on a CD in 20 years, and it still works real good for me.

                      Track Listing
1.  "Where Or When"
2.  "When Do The Bells Ring For Me"
3.  "Teach Me Tonight"
4.  "What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life"
5.  "LA State of Mind"
6.  "Who Can I Turn To"
7.  "Satin Doll"
8.  "Where Do You Start"
9.  "Sunday In New York"
10. "My Funny Valentine"
11. "When Sunny Gets Blue"
12. "Never Let Me Go"
13. "On A Clear Day"
14. "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most"
15. "I just Found Out About Love"
16. "Indian Summer"

CD Review: "What I See" by Judy Wexler

Judy Wexler

Judy Wexler has just finished recording her 4th album, "What I See". Judy has a marvelous, pure, clean voice, but that's only one part of what makes her such a special singer. First and foremost, Judy is a wonderful storyteller. When you hear Judy sing any of the songs that she carefully hand picks, she brings life to the lyrics. She has the rare ability to magically combine the story with her beautiful voice and captures the full attention of the listener. The songs Judy recorded on this album cover a wide range of times and styles; and, yet, Judy has been able to put them together as if these songs were written just for this album. There are few singers who have the ability to select the songs Judy has and bring them to life as she does. After selecting her songs, Judy applies the final magic to her CD by bringing together some of the most talented sidemen on the West Coast: Larry Koonse on Guitar, Bob Sheppard on Bass Clarinet and Alto Sax, Ron Stout on Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Scott Whitfield on Trombone, Billy Hulting on Percussion, Chris Colangelo on Bass, and Steve Hass on Drums. These are a lot of parts to pull together and make it all fit together perfectly. So Judy, brings in her long-time Pianist/Arranger, Jeff Colella to co-produce the album. Jeff who spent almost two decades as the Music Director for Lou Rawls put together all the beautiful arrangements that make this CD one of the best Jazz albums of the year.