CD Review: Mark Sherman, "Bop Contest"

Today’s review is on a CD that I somehow missed a couple of months ago. Since this new release from Mark Sherman came out in early October of 2025, I normally would have just moved on to the more recent recordings. But this CD is so good that it simply wouldn’t let me pass it by.

Mark Sherman is a multi-talented musician and a noted jazz pianist. But he is also a world-class vibraphonist, performing with the likes of Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, Larry Coryell, and collaborating with Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Barron, and Joe Lovano, among many other greats. I don’t remember doing a review led by a vibraphonist before, but now I can proudly do a review on one of the very best.

Sherman put together a powerful group of musicians to support him on "Bop Contest." First, you really have to be “best in class” on your instrument to get a jazz giant like Ron Carter to join your group. That alone tells you something. Next to join was pianist Donald Vega, who has long been one of Sherman’s favorites. The rhythm section was completed with the addition of drummer Carl Allen. Allen and Carter have worked together multiple times over the years, and their chemistry is undeniable. Rounding out the quintet is the brilliant horn player and close friend of Sherman’s, Joe Magnarelli.

I have attached two YouTube videos that clearly indicate the amazing musical talents of these five players. If you are a straight-ahead jazz lover, this recording is essential listening. The first one, an Oliver Nelson composition is delivered in true up-tempo bop fashion — tight, energetic, and executed with breathtaking precision. The interplay between Sherman and Magnarelli is especially strong, trading ideas with both fire and finesse. And then comes Hoagy Carmichael’s “Skylark”. This version is so beautiful and so tastefully performed that you will replay it for years. Sherman’s touch on the vibes is warm and lyrical, floating effortlessly above a masterful rhythm section.

Playlist 

1. 111-44

2. Love Always Always Love

3. Bremond's Blues

4. My One and Only Love

5. Bop Contest

6. Martha's Prize

7. Skylark

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Personnel

• Mark Sherman – Vibraphone

• Joe Magnarelli – Trumpet

• Donald Vega – Piano

• Ron Carter – Bass

• Carl Allen – Drums

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                                                                              111-44

                                                                               Skylark

                                                        

CD Review: Cathy Segal-Garcia, "Straight Ahead to the UK"

 

Cathy Segal-Garcia is a remarkably talented Vocalist who also Composes and Arranges beautiful music.  She came to mind recently in August of 2020 when I reviewed a new CD  from Mayita Dinos,  "The Garden Is My Stage".   Cathy Segal-Garcia has a major part in producing this CD and putting together the talented musicians who supported Mayita on her recording.  So I checked out "YouTube" to find out what Cathy has been doing in the past few years and it turns out that she has been very busy creating  beautiful new music.  I was particular interested in a CD that Cathy actually recorded in 2011 on a trip to England.  The CD sat on the shelf for a long time until she appeared on the Clifford Bell radio show in LA and he suggested that she pull it off the shelf and rework it as a new release.  This turned out to be an excellent idea.  Cathy brought the rough cuts to Engineer John Leftwich who turned them into musical gems.

The trip to England was arranged by an old friend of Cathy's, Super Sax player, Andy Macintosh.  Andy also secured some of the best Jazz players in England to join him and Cathy on this CD.  The CD contains a mix of original songs written by Cathy and some evergreens that never get old.  

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure.  The first is a very sensitive rendition of the classic Hoagy Carmichael song, "I Get Along Without You".  Cathy Segal-Garcia is at her very best singing this tune.  It feels like she is having a very private and heart-felt conversation with the listener.  This recording certifies her remarkable understanding of Lyric that all Jazz singers should strive for.  The second song, "Shake It Down" was composed by Cathy after being inspired by a girl friend who loves to dance.   Enjoy!

Players:

Cathy Segal-Garcia-Vocals, composer, cuts 3, 6, 7, 8, 13

Carey Frank- Hammond B3 Organ 

Background Vocals- Bill Redd, Irene Cathaway

Guest Vocalist-Norma Winstone

Bassists- Paul Morgan, Laurence Cottle, John Leftwich

Piano-Cliff Hall, John Pearce, Roy Hilton

Synth Pads- John Leftwich

Drums- Ian Thomas

Trumpet- Simon Gardner

Saxes- Andy Macintosh

Percussion Brad Dutz

Playlist:

1. Wheelers and Dealers

2. Highwire

3. Hippityville

4. Sermonette

5. I Get Along Without You

6. Shake It Down

7. Recipe of Love

8. Song 4 Sandy

9. Something We May Never Know

10. Dreamsville

11. Gypsy In My Soul

12. Last Night When We Were Young

13. Hippityville

                                                              "I Get Along Without You"

                                                                       "Shake It Down"    

              

The 20 Greatest American Standards- 2018

Sonny Stitt

It's been 8 years since I published my "20 Greatest American Standards Ever Written" blog and its still one of my popular blogs for visitors.  We all have had life experiences over the past 8 years and I thought it would be fun to revisit the list and make some adjustments that might be appropriate at this time.  In order to qualify for the list, the song must be over 50 years old.  The list represents the very best songs from the "Great American Songbook".  In order to make the list they had to contain both the best music and lyrics.  The oldest song to make the list is the Gershwin tune, "Someone To Watch Over me".  Think about this.... this song was published 92 years ago and it's still being played today to the delight of all ages.  Now that is the sign of a super, great American standard!

Some other interesting observations about the list:

There is one pair of songwriters that has 3 songs on the list:
           Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

Several other songwriters who have two songs on the list:

           Cole Porter
           Jimmy Van Heusen
           Johnny Mandel
           George and Ira Gershwin
           Hoagy Carmichael
           Johnny Mercer
           Johnny Burke

The Year 1939 was a terrific year for great songs:,

           4 songs written in 1939 made the list.

The six-year period from 1936 to 1941 was the golden area for great songs;  12 out of the 20 songs on the list were written during this period.




"Someone To Watch Over Me"                    George Gershwin & Ira Gershwin                   1926

"Night and Day"                                            Cole Porter                                                          1932            

"The Very Thought of You"                           Ray Noble                                                           1934

"The Way You Look Tonight"                       Dorothy Fields & Jerome Kern                        1936

" I Got You Under My Skin"                         Cole Porter                                                          1936

 "Where Or When"                                        Richard Rogers & Lorenz Hart                         1937

" They Can't Take That Away From Me"   George and Ira Gershwin                                   1937      

"The Nearness of You"                                   Hoagy Carmichael & Ned Washington            1937

"My Funny Valentine"                                    Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart                     1939

"What's New"                                                 Bob Haggart & Johnny Burke                          1939

"Over The Rainbow"                                      Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg                          1939

"These Foolish Things"                                   Eric Maschwitz & Jack Strachey                     1939

"Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered"         Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart                    1940

"You've Changed"                                           Bill Carey & Carl Fischer                                 1941

"Skylark"                                                         Johnny Mercer & Hoagy Carmichael              1941

 "My One and Only Love"                               Guy Wood & Robert Mellin                             1952

"Here's That Rainy Day"                                 Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Burke              1953

"All My Tomorrows"                                       Jimmy Van Heusen & Sammy Cahn                1959

"Emily"                                                            Johnny Mandel & Johnny Mercer                     1964

"The Shadow of Your Smile"                          Johnny Mandel & Paul Webster                       1965 

Beverly Jensen Lights Up Lavender Restaurant

Beverly Jensen Leys

Ken Steele

Thom McMorris

This past Friday night, April 1, 2011, we dined at Lavender Restaurant to enjoy their great food and the even greater sounds from Beverly Jensen. As I mentioned before, we have heard Beverly sing a song or two at other entertainment venues we visited.  However, we did not want to miss the chance to hear her headline her own show. Beverly was joined by the wonderful pianist, Herb Mickman who traveled from LA just to play for Beverly.  We sat outside in the patio area even though the temperature at 6:30 pm was still in the 90's. But the heat did not stop Beverly from performing some of the greatest songs ever written in the Great American Songbook.  One of the first songs she sung was the song I rank as my personal favorite of all times;  the great Hoagy Carmichael & Ned Washington chestnut "The Nearness of You". This song was written in 1937 and never gets old.  I loved the way Beverly sang this song, with her soft and silky voice with great attention to the emotion the lyrics express.  A truly a wonderful display of great singing talent.  Next she covered several absolutely great evergreens, "Spring Is Here", "Spring Can Really Hang You Up" and slow tempo "That's All".  I liked the way she sang "Teach Me Tonight" and Beverly did teach us all how well she can sing.  One other number really moved me, the Gershwin classic, "Someone To Watch Over Me".  If you closed your eyes during this song, one could easily hear the soft and lush sounds of Ella Fitzgerald coming from Beverly. If you have a voice as mellow and soft as Ella's, nothing can top that. Thanks for the great evening of music, Beverly!

We also had two guest singers who came up from the audience, Ken Steele and Thom McMorris.  I have heard both of these gentlemen sing before and I was delighted to hear them again. They are both accomplished, professional singers and were welcomed by the many music lovers that were at Lavender to hear Beverly.  It is sometimes hard to explain to people who ask me "why I like spending time in the desert". I think singers like Beverly, Ken and Thom are the answer.  This is where the talented musicians hang out in the winter.  I am renaming the Coachella Valley as "The Winter Home Of Jazz".