CD Review: Joel Fleisher, "Love Has Called Again"

I am excited to review Joel Fleisher's new CD, "Love Has Called Again" because from the first time I heard Joel singing live at AJ's on the Green in Cathedral City, CA, I knew he was a vocalist with something very special!   What's special about Joel is that he sings with a strong emotional connection to lyrics.  Many singers with a good voice simply sing the lyrics of great songs.  Not Joel, when he sings a great lyric, he makes his audience forget he is singing someone else's words and paints his own picture of the emotional story these lyrics tell.   I believe Joel's Opera experience helped him acquire this talent.   His vocal phrasing and his stage presence are delightful and his love of music and lyric are immediately clear to anyone listening.  Joel never plays it safe when singing live.  In the true sense of all great Jazz singers, he is not afraid to improvise above, below and inside the medley.  The result is his vocal performances are never exactly the same and that is what makes Jazz singing so special.

Joel has been singing his entire life.  His father was a big-band reed player and his mother studied classical piano and Joel has fond memories of her playing Rachmaninoff.  Classical music and Opera were Joel's first loves but as time went he began experimenting with singing Do-Wop harmony while at the same time singing in the "Mambo King" band in Philadelphia.  After serving in the Vietnam war, Joel resumed his musically education at Monterey Peninsula College.  While at Monterey Peninsula College, Joel started doing music-theater as well as doing Opera workshops,  performing principal roles in "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead", "Roar of the Paint", "House of Blue Leaves" and "Jesus Christ Superstar".  After moving to San Francisco,  Joel continued his degree at San Francisco State and sang the leading roles in "Cosi Fan Tutti" and "La Traviata" Operas.  Even though Joel had much success singing in many schools of music including Theater and Classical Operas,  his love for Jazz never left him and he now is where he always wanted to be,  a successful Jazz Vocalist. 

In putting together the supporting band for this amazing CD,  Joel selected a group of the finest musicians performing today.  I personally know everyone of these outstanding musicians and they all have A-list resumes.  Joel's first election was the remarkable and much sought after Jazz Pianist Tamir Hendelman.   Tamir Hendelman is always busy and would never agree to do a CD with any Jazz vocalist who didn't bring something special to the table; a great compliment to Joel.  Tamir also did all the arrangements that are perfect for Joel and this group. Joining Tamir is one of the most talented Guitar players in the country Doug MacDonald.  On Woodwinds is Canadian Tom Keenlyside who is considered and is one of the finest Sax and Flute players performing today. Multi-talented Jim Watson is on Drums and also produced the CD.   Bill Saitta performs perfectly on Bass.  Bill has a huge following of admirers in the Southern California area.  On Trumpet is Will Caviness who also is a Southern California favorite who often joins Bill Saitta on gigs. And last but not least the remarkable Peter Curtis performs on Acoustic Guitar.  Peter plays Acoustic Guitar with the same emotional feel for music and lyrics that Joel does.   

I have attached two YouTube videos from Joel's new CD.  The first tune is "Love  Walked In" and the second is a beautiful song written by Ann Hampton Callaway " You Can't Rush Spring".  I know you will enjoy both and the entire CD for that matter!

                                            

                                                                       "Love Walked In"

                                                

                                                                   "You Can't Rush Spring"

Players:

Joel Fleisher- Vocals

Tamir Hendelman-Piano

Jim Watson-Drums

Bill Saitta-Bass

Doug MacDonald- Electric Guitar

Tom Keenlyside- Sax and Flute

Will Caviness- Trumpet

Peter Curtis- Acoustic Guitar

Playlist:

1. Gotta Go

2. Love Walked In

3. Better Than Anything

4. Barquinho

5. Celia

6. You Can't Rush Spring

7. Devil May Care

8. I'm All Smiles

9. Spring Can Really Hang You up

10. Love Has Called Again

11. E Luxo so

12. My Romance

13. If I Should Lose You

14. At Long Last Love

Joel Fleisher, One of the Best "Jazz Vocialists" Performing Today

The first time I heard Joel Fleisher sing, I knew he had something special.  There are many singers performing today who like to call themselves Jazz singers, but sadly most of them fall short of the definition of Jazz singer.  Joel has a wonderful feel for the lyrics of the songs from the "Great American Songbook" and is able to put his own special touch on these "Evergreens" that bring them back to life with new spirit.  Joel's speciality is performing songs everyone knows and loves by adding his own arrangement of notes that still retain the spirit of the melody but at the same time gives them a new and fresh life.  He does this in the true spirit of Jazz singing by simply not singing melody and lyric exactly as written by the composer.  And the results are wonderful!

Joel has been singing for most of his life,  and he studied both Classical and Jazz at Monterey Peninsula College before moving to San Francisco where he continued his studies at San Francisco State University.

Joel has made his living as a teacher but as soon as he retired, he rediscovered his vocation in singing Jazz and has been performing in various Jazz venues throughout California.   I have enjoyed his singing performances I attended in the Coachella Valley area for the past few years.  I love the way Joel takes chances with Vocal changes and emotions with every song he sings.

I have attached a "YouTube" of Joel Fleisher singing "East of the Moon" for your listening enjoyment!