CD Review: Roberta Donnay, Blossom-ing!

  

Vocalist, Composer and Producer,  Roberta Donnay celebrates Blossom Dearie on her 10th album,"Blossom-ing!".  Donnay has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in the music industry and has toured through the US and Internationally.  She has received many awards including the ASCAP composer award for her song "One World".    

Donnay became a Blossom Dearie fan many years ago for Dearie's ability to produce simple but swinging  storytelling.  Roberta Donnay has exhibited the same musical characteristicss in her large body of work but adds her own sassy, bluesy interpretations that her audiences love.  She has created a wonderful sound and when combined with her superb phrasing makes anything she sings perfect for the listener.

Donnay has selected 16 songs associated with Dearie for this album that our perfect.  The song written by of the greatest and most honored composers and lyricists in America.   Some of the songs will be familiar to you and others will quickly become new favorites for you.   I honestly enjoyed every minute listening to this Album and its wonderful playlist of songs.  

The musicians that Donnay selected for this Album also greatly contributed to the high level of this musical product.  Great vocalist, great songs and great musicians is always a winning combination for any album. 

Picking two songs out of the 16 classic songs on this CD was difficult.  The songs on this album will  satisfy even the most selective Jazz vocalist fans. Want-to-be Jazz vocalists should use Roberta Donnay's "Blossom-ing!" as one of their learning master classes.  The quality of Donnay's voice is amazing and her phrasing is Sinatra-like.  The song I have attached is titled "Roberta's Blues" was written by Billie Holiday and later adapted by Blossom Dearie.  The second song, "Unless It's You" was written by Johnny Mandel and Morgan Ames.   I was not familar with this Mandel song but after hearing it the first time, it has become one of my favorite songs.  Johnny Mandel is a giant talent and yet, in my opinion, never gets the attention and adoration of the general public he truly deserves. The music and lyric for this song is superb and Donnay's storytelling phrasing is perfect! 

PLAYLIST:

1. Roberta's Blues

2. Peel Me A Grape

3. Just One Of Those Things

4. Inside A Silent Tear

5. Plus Je T'Embrasse

6. Someone To Watch Over Me

7. Moonlight Savings Time

8. A Paris

9. The Party's Over

10. If I Were A Bell

11. Spring In Manhattan

12. Unless It's You

13. You Fascinate Me

14. I Wish You Love

15. It Amazes Me

16. Put On A Happy Face

PLAYERS:

Roberta Donnay- Vocals, Producer, Co-Arranger

Mike Greensill- Piano, Arranger

Ruth Davies- Bass

Mark Lee- Drums

Jose Neto- Guitar

David Sturdevant- Harmonica on "Spring In Manhattan"

MB Gordy- Percussion on "Inside A Silent Tear"

  

 

 

                                                                      " Roberta's Blues"

                                                                       

                                                                    "Unless It's You"

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 

CD Review: Ginger Berglund & Scott Whitfield sing "Solitary Moon", The Johnny Mandel Songbook

"Solitary Moon" is a major league tribute to one of the best composers of Jazz, Pop and Film Music, Johnny Mandel. He has long been recognized within the music industry as one of its creative giants yet, it has always been my belief that Johnny Mandel has never received the deserved level of credit from the music public. But make no mistake about it, the multitalented Mandel is equal to the best songwriters and musicians of the past 100 years.

This CD starts with a tribute to Johnny Mandel, but that is not where the magic ends. Ginger Berglund and Scott Whitfield could have recorded this CD with just the two of them, and I know this CD would have been terrific. However, Ginger and Scott chose to bring along some of the most respected musicians performing on the Jazz scene today. The result is a musical product that is close to perfection music and a musical treat for the ears.

Ginger Berglund has a sterling resume of work as a vocalist including recording with Steve Allen and the great pianist Paul Smith. She has sung with Kenny Rankin and the great Brazilian Jazz vocalist Flora Purim and her husband, the premiere fusion Jazz Percussionist Airto Moreira. Ginger still performs with the Stan Kenton Alumni Band, The Modernaires, The Tracy Wells Big Band and the Jumpin' Joz Band.

Scott Whitfield is a world class Trombonist, Arranger and Singer. He is internationally recognized for his work with many contemporary big bands, including the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, The Clare Fischer Bib Band, The Bill Holman Band, The Phil Norman Tentet and his own Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra. Whitfield also plays trombone for the Johnny Mandel Orchestra.

Ginger and Scott chose 15 tracks for this CD and Whitfield did all the arrangement from big band to small group, from vocal duets to a cappella five-part harmony.  Singing together they treat us with beautiful Mandel melodies and perfect harmonies that you will seldom hear today. They are perfect singing together! Both Berglund and Whitfield are also members of the Modernaires, the legendary vocal group that performed in the 1940's for The Glenn Miller Band. Whitman is also a member of the LAVA (Los Angeles Vocal Alliance), a new vocal group of brass players who sing in four-part harmony. They make their recording debut on Whitfield's version of the Mandel classic, "Emily".

I can't end this review without listing the superb list of musicians that contributed to this wonderful CD. I am sure that you will know many of them from their past work. Thank you Ginger and Scott for sharing your wonderful musical talents with us!

Ginger Berglund: Voice                     Scott Whitfield: Voice, Trombone, All arrangements
Corey Allen: Piano                            Jennifer Laitham: Bass
Kendall Kay: Drums                         Roger Neumann: Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Bass Clarinet
Rusty Higgins: Alto Sax, Flute, Alto Clarinet       Billy Kerr: Alto Sax
Pete Christieb: Tenor Sax, Clarinet   Nancy Newman: Bari Sax
Jamie Hovorke: Trumpet                   Carl Saunders: Trumpet
Ira Nepus: Trumbone                         Linda Small: Trombone
Rich Nullock: Bass Trombone           John Dickson: Horn
Stephanie O'Keefe: Horn

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Ken Peplowski: Clarinet                    Don Shelton: Clarinet
Jack Peterson: Guitar                         Airto Moreira: Percussion

The Modernaires: Julie Dickson, Ginger Berglund, Jimmy Stephens, Joe Croyle, Scott Whitfield 

Lava: Jonathan Dane, Larry Williams, Scott Whitfield, Rich Bullock


I have attached a "YouTube" video of Ginger and Scott singing the first cut from "Solitary Moon"                                                      "Cinnamon & Clove".

The Top 20 Greatest American Standards: 2011 Edition

It is that time of year when we post a new list of the Top 20 Greatest American Standards.  This year I have decided to remove the requirement that a song be at least 50 years old because I feel it is too restrictive and keeps some exceptionally great songs off the list. The class of 2011 has 4 new songs that have made the Top 20 cut.

    1. "How Do You Keep The Music Playing": 1982 music by Michel Legrand and Lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Berman for the movie "Best Friends".
    2. "Something": 1969 music and words by Beatle George Harrison
    3. "The Shadow Of Your Smile": 1965 Music by Johnny Mandel and Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster for the film, "The Sandpiper". This song won a Grammy for Song of the Year and also an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
    4. "Send In The Clowns": 1973 Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim for his 1973 musical, "A Little Night Music".

THE 20 GREATEST AMERICAN STANDARDS: 2011 EDITION
1.   You've Changed
2.   What's New?
3.   The Nearness of You
4.   My Funny Valentine
5.   Embraceable You
6.   The Very Thought of You
7.   Here's That Rainy Day
8.   I've Got You Under My Skin
9.   Over The Rainbow
10. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
11. In The Still Of The Night
12. Night And Day
13. Someone To Watch Over Me
14. How Do You Keep The Music Playing?
15. Something
16. The Way You Look Tonight
17. They Can't Take That Away From Me
18. Send In The Clowns
19. The Shadow Of Your Smile
20. These Foolish Things


These are my personal favorites and how I rank them.  I am sure you have your own favorites. I would love to get some comments from you!

The Best Love Songs Written In The Fifty Years From 1960 to 2010. A Special Valentine Playlist For Your Special Person

One of my long time followers of the Music Man Blog, Zelda, recently suggested that the great Beatles' tune "Michelle" should be on the "Greatest Love Songs of All Times" list.  As I was thinking about this suggestion, Zelda offered another suggestion that maybe we should have a new list developed for great songs written after 1960. Excellent suggestion especially since Valentine's Day is just a few days away. Here is a knockout playlist to share with that special person on Valentine's Day.

1.  "Michelle" 1965 by John Lennon & Paul McCartney

2.  "Your Song" 1970 by Elton John & Bernie Taupin

3.  "The Summer Knows" 1971 by Michel Legrand

4.  "The Shadow Of Your Smile" 1965 by Johnny Mandel & Paul Webster

5.   "Something" 1969 by George Harrison

6.   "Evergreen" 1976 by Barbara Streisand & Paul Williams

7.   "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" 1982 by Michel Legrand

8.   "Yesterday" 1965 by Paul; McCartney

9.   "Just The Way You Are" 1977 by Billy Joel

10. "Send In The Clowns" 1973 by Stephen Sondheim

11. "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life" 1969 by Michel Legrand

12. "God Only Knows" 1966 by Brian Wilson

13. "My Girl" 1964 by Smokey Robinson & Ronald White

14."I'll Be There" 1970 by Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis & Willie Hutch

15."Wonderful Tonight" 1977 by Eric Clapton

16. "Save The Last Dance For Me" 1960 Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman

17. "You Are the Sunshine Of My Life" 1973 by Stevie Wonder

18. "Have I Told You Lately" 1969 by Van Morrison

19. "Three Times A Lady" 1978 by Lionel Richie

20. "You Are So Beautiful" 1974 by Billy Preston & Bruce Fisher

I am sure you have lots of your own personal favorite love songs that are not on the list.  Let me know if you have any love songs that should be on this list!  Happy Valentine's Day to all!