CD Review: Darmon Meader, "Losing My Mind"

Vocalist, Saxophonist, Arranger and Composer, Darmon Meader has released his second solo project, "Losing My Mind".  When I received the promotion copy of this CD, I saw a photo of Darmon standing holding a Tenor Sax and I thought the music would feature the Tenor. However, as I got further into the promotional material, I discovered that while Darmon is an outstanding Tenor player, he is also a great Jazz Vocalist.  This album shines a light on classics from the Great American Songbook and Meader proves without any doubt that he has the vocal chops to handle these great songs.  He gives us a master class in the art of scatting.  His phrasing is dead-on and his voice has a soft comfortable feel that is the perfect match for the classics in this CD.  We also get to hear a couple of original Meader tunes that are wonderful. 

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for you to listen to.  The first was written by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II, "The Song Is You" and you will love it.  The second is the title track, "Losing My Mind" written by Stephen Sondheim.  This CD is terrific and an example of current American Jazz that is easily assessable by any listener.

 Playlist:

1. It Could Happen To You

2. Losing My Mind

3. Last Call

4. Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise

5. Gaia's Lament

6. I hear Music

7. Lembra de Mim

8. The Last Thing On My Mind

9. Lovely Day

10. East of the Sun

11. All My Loving

12. The Song Is You

Players:

"The Song Is You"

    Vocal-Darmon Meader

    Piano- Andy Ezrin

    Bass- Jay Anderson

    Drums- Ben Wittman

    Alto& Tenor Sax- Darmon Meader

    Bari Sax- Steve Kenyon

    Trumpets- Frank Greene & Scotty Barnhart

    Trombones- Mike Davis & Jay Ashby

"Losing My Mind"

    Vocal- Darmon Meader

    Piano- Andy Ezrin

    Guitar- Romero Lubambo

    Bass- Jay Anderson

    Drums- Ben Wittman

    Flute- Steve Kenyon

    Clarinet - Darmon Meader

    Violins- Gina Buzzelli & Maria Rusu

    Cello- Cesar Colmenares & Teodore Tusu

                                                                    "The Song Is You"

                                                                    "Losing My Mind"

CD Review: Kim Nazarian "Some Morning"

As a music reviewer I have the privilege of being introduced to many great new singers.  Kim Nazarian is not a great singer.  She is a brilliantly talented singer with vocal chops and exceptional timing that every singer yearns for!  Some singers can do ballads, some singers can scat along with up tempo tunes but Kim can do it all.  Her voice is golden and her approach to lyrics is spot on perfect.  Kim has the ability to enhance lyrics without getting in the way.  The result captures the essence of emotion that the composer had in mind, together with fitting her own personality into each song making them her own.  Grammy Award-nominee Kim Nazarian gained fame as a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Jazz vocal group, "New York Voices".

Kim is joined on this CD by the five time Grammy Award-winning producer and Trombonist Jay Ashby.  All the tunes on this CD are arranged in whole or in part by Ashby with help from Kim on several.  The arrangements are Sinatra-perfect and fit both Kim and the talented musicians on this CD perfectly!   Jay Ashby's Trombone performances are pure magic on this CD. The list of contributing musicians is wonderful including special guests: Gary Burton, Paquito D'Rivera, Sean Jones, and John Pizzarelli.  

Kim Nazarian's "Some Morning" is a sensationally good CD.  And how do I know that?  I tried to select a cut from this CD that would give you a feel of Kim's great singing and the fine talents of the musicians with her.  It took me an hour to select the two cuts below that I found on "YouTube" because I couldn't decide which ones were the best.  I loved every cut on the CD!

The First cut below is called "Robbin's Nest Boneology"  and it's a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Trombonist JJ Johnson. It will show the extent of Kim's vocal skills and Ashby's mellow Trombone sounds that blend perfectly together.

The Second "YouTube"  presents the song "Tell Him I Said Hello" that is a tribute to Better Carter from her big band vocalist, taking on a Bossa Nova spin.  This cut also contains a terrific Clarinet Solo from the brilliant Paquito D'Rivera.