CD Review: Dred Scott, "Cali Mambo"

Dred Scott's musical journey has been a whirlwind of exploration from collaborating with iconic artists like Liza Minelli and Nina Hagen to holding down a decade-long residency at New York's Rockwood  Music Hall.  He has always had a restless musical spirit.  In recent years he traded the frenetic energy of the clubs for the polished elegance of acclaimed restaurants, but his passion for the pulsating rhythms of Latin Jazz never faded.  The release of "Cali Mambo" represents a return for Dred Scott back to the vibrant world of Jazz clubs.

Dred Scott has selected a group of super high level Musicians to join him that have deep credentials in the New York music and Latin music scene.  Vibraphonist Tom Beckham is simply perfect.  Matt Pavolka brings 25 years of New York musical experience on Bass.  And Moses Patrou provides years of international experience in sounds from the Caribbean and South America.  Leading this muti-talented group is Pianist Dred Scott who provides the glue that turns four unique and talented musicians into one vibrant and fresh voice.   The playlist that Dred selected for his CD,  "Cali Mambo" will bring you back to your early Jazz roots and remind you why Latin Jazz was always one of your favorite schools of Jazz.  I can't say enough about Dred Scott's performance on this CD.  His solos are clean and fresh and filled with creativity and his Arrangements will delight any Latin Jazz fan. 

I selected two "YouTube" tunes from "Cali Mambo" that will give you a solid clue as to why I loved this CD so much.  The first tune is also the title tune "Cali Mambo".  This song is a George Shearing gem that he wrote in 1952.  It's bursting with Latin energy.  According to Dred Scott, "this great songs was built on just two chords but listeners will find the song hard to forget.  The second song I selected was the Schwartz and Dietz classic "You And The Night And The Music".  This Scott uptempo Arrangement is amazing and brings new life and imagination to this evergreen!

I just could not finish without letting you hear one of my all-time favorite songs performed perfectly.  The song is "Poinciana" and it has been performed by so many outstanding musicians from George Shearing to the Four Freshman.

PLAYERS:

Dred Scott- Piano, Arrangements

Tom Beckham- Vibraphone

Matt Pavolka- Bass

Moses Patrou- Percussion

PLAYLIST:

1. Cali Mambo

2. Star Eyes

3. Poinciana

4. LaEnganadora

5. Danza Cubana#2

6. Guachi Guaro

7. You And The Night And The Music

8. Lulu

9. Footprints

10. Manteca

 

                                                                    "Cali Mambo"

                                                           "You and The Night And The Music"

                                                                           "Poinciana"

                                            

 

CD Review: The Dave Miller Trio, "The Mask-erade is Over"

If you like to listen to a great traditional straight ahead Jazz piano trio playing, Dave Miller's new CD "The Mask-erade is Over" will be perfect for you.  Dave Miller who has his own playing personality can at times remind you of some your favorite Jazz pianists like George Shearing, Bill Evans and Ahmad Jamal.  Bill covers a lot of ground in this CD and brings his Jazz personality center stage on a great selection of standards. 

Dave's daughter is the super-talented singer Rebecca DuMaine and Dave and his trio have often recorded with Rebecca on her CDs.  

I have selected two YouTubes videos for your listening pleasure.  The first song is "Be Careful It's My Heart".  Dave was inspired by Peggy Lee's version with one of his Piano heroes, George Shearing.  The second song is a Dave Brubeck gem, "In Your Own Sweet Way".  The playlist of songs on this CD are from a diverse outstanding group of composers:  Charlie Parker, Bill Evans, Noel Coward, Irving Berlin and Ray Henderson.   Take a moment to review the fun playlist below.

                                                              "Be Careful It's My Heart"

                                                               "In Your Own Sweet Way"

PLAYLIST:

1. Anthropology

2. Be Careful It's My Heart

3. The Masquerade Is Over

4. The Opener

5. Someday I'll Fine You

6. You Don't Know What Love Is

7. Yardbird Suite

8. Estate

9. In Your Own Sweet Way

10. The Blue Room

11. Dusty

12. Why Did I Choose You

13. Hallucinations

14 Just Imagine

PLAYERS:

Dave Miller- Piano

Andrew Higgins- Bass

Bill Belasco- Drums