CD Review: Adrianne Duncan, "Gemini"

Pianist, Composer, Arranger and Vocalist Adrianne Duncan has released her new CD, "Gemini".  Adrianne is joined on this CD by some sensational supporting side-men who help to make this CD a delight for the ears.  Adrianne Duncan is a sensitive and thoughtful songwriter and the songs she composes match her soft, sensitive voice perfectly.  Her singing and song writing bring to mind Joni Mitchell and I say this as an extreme complement.  Her songs have a story entwined in them.  

Adrianne is a classically trained Piano player and a student of the study of music.  She offers, "My starting to write was a direct result of studying Jazz Piano. I didn't think it would lead to composing; my intention was just to start accompanying myself". 

All the songs on this CD have an original short story attached.  Adrianne writes poetry then infuses it within beautiful music melodies .  She is a major talent who will receive major national recognition over the coming years!

Joining Adrianne on this CD is the always wonderful Nick Mancini who continues to impress with his high-level virtuosity on the Vibraphone.  Just as remarkable are Dan Lutz on Bass, Jimmy Branly on Drums, Katisse Buckingham on Flute and Saxophone and John Tegmeyer on Clarinet.

Adrianne wrote all the songs on the CD with the exception of some very creative reharmoizing on the 1978 classic rock song "Roxanne" by the Police.

I have selected two "YouTubes" for you to listen to.  The first is her original "He's Not Quite You".  According to Adrianne this song "Predicts the end of a relationship".  Mancini provides an energized vibe solo that turns this ballad into a delightful samba at its end.  The second song I selected was the title tune, "Gemini".  An instrumental that allows Adrianne to display her composing and Piano chops.  The arrangement is terrific with Flute and Clarinet trading solos.

PLAYLIST:

1. He's Not Quite You

2. Elijah

3. Gemini

4. Home At Last

5. Roxanne

PLAYERS:

Adrianne Duncan-Piano, Vocals, Songwriting, Arrangements

Nick Mancini-Vibraphone

Dan Lutz-Bass

Jimmy Branly-Drums

Katisse Buckingham-Flute, Saxophone

John Tegmeyer-Clarinet

                                                                        "He's Not Quite You"

                                                                             "Gemini"

 

  

 

Linda Tate: CD Review: Geography

I was at Backstreet Bistro a couple of weeks ago and I had the pleasure of listening to the wonderful voice of Linda Tate who sat in to sing a couple of standards with the group that was performing.  Before I left, Linda gave me a copy of her CD, "Geography". Linda loves to sing and she loves to travel just as much. So it seemed natural that Linda who is also an accomplished songwriter, should write some songs inspired by the actual places she has experienced.  All music, lyrics and arrangements on this CD were written by Linda Tate. In writing these songs, Linda quickly realized that "Wherever you go, you find things common to all cultures. And I realized that "Geography" is a much broader concept than landscapes, rivers, and mountains. It can apply to almost anything-ordinary objects: the human body:languages;the emotional terrain of relationships-they all have their own distinct geography.

Linda credits the inspiration for her own composing to elements of Folk and Jazz and personal heros like Joni Mitchell, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Fagen and Becker of the band Steely Dan (along with pathfinders of earlier generations, like Ellington and the Gershwins. Linda has produced a wonderful CD with songs that are fresh and inspiring.  She has also selected a fine group of musicians to join her on this CD:
     
        Ernie Adams: Drums and Percussion (2,3,10,14)
        Steve Eisen: Tenor Saxphone (3,7,10.14) Flute (2.6.8.11.12.13) Congos (4,6)
        Larry Gray: Double Bass (4.6.7.8.12)
        Charles Rick Heath IV: Drums and Percussion (4,6,7,8,12)
        Curtis Robinson: Acoustic and Electric guitars (2,3,4,6,7,8,10,12,13,14) Vocals (10)
        Marlene Rosenberg: Double Bass (2,3,10,11,13,14)
        Preyas Roy: Vibraphone (4,6,7,8,12)
        Bobby Schiff: Piano (1,5,9)

"Geography" is Linda's fourth album, and it's the first to feature her own compositions. The CD was released in 2013 and you can preview and buy it on Linda's site: www.lindatate.com.
     

The Marvelous Callaway Sisters

On Saturday January 29, 2011 My wife and I attended the the Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway sister's concert at the "Great" Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs, California. Both of these singers are personal favorites of mine, but I never had the pleasure of seeing Ann Hampton Callaway in person so I was really looking forward to seeing both sisters live at the same time on the Annenberg stage. I was not disappointed, quite frankly their performance was an emotional experience for me. It was that good! First, speaking from a man's perspective, the love and emotional bond between sisters was so much stronger than I would have imagined. This bond between these two immensely talented performers radiated and captured the audience. There was a strange familial sensation transmitted to the audience by the end of the concert. We all felt we were part of the Callaway family. At one part of the program, the sisters spoke about how different they were as kids and yet how close they were.  Ann leaned over to Liz and said, "It was good, wasn't it", and then they sang, "Memories". It was beautifully sung for the audience.  The audience as mesmerized and trying to hide their tears.

The title of this show was "Boom" and was written and produced by the Callaway sisters.  The show was based on the music that both sisters listened to along with millions of baby boomers celebrating the 60's. It is near impossible to pick out my favorites from all the great songs the sisters sang, but I will mention four that personally moved me.  First, Ann sang the underappreciated Joni Mitchell's classic, "A Case of You". The richness of Ann's voice and her full understanding of the meaning of the lyric produced a version of this song that could only be described as outstanding.  Liz told us that there was only one album that both sisters listened to as kids, the "Tapestry" album by Carole King. Is there  any baby boomer living today that did not also love the "Tapestry" album, I think not!  The song they sang from this album was "You've Got A Friend". They told the audience that throughout their lives, this has been their mantra.  I loved their version of the Beetles classic, "Come Together". It was nice to actually clearly hear all the words to this great song. The last song I want to mention is the great Righteous Brothers hit "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin". There was glorious harmony between these two talented sisters. In truth, there was glorious harmony in every song which was truly soothing to the ear.

Personally, this was one of the most impressive live concerts I have ever attended.  If I had to use only  words to describe this event the words that come to mind are "Extraordinary", "Impressive", "Moving", "Stirring" and "Emotional". And that's not just my opinion. The second the show ended, the entire sold out audience was up on their feet clapping and cheering for these two remarkable performers.