CD Review: Deborah Shulman "We Had A Moment"

 

Deborah Shulman – “We Had A Moment"

Vocalist Deborah Shulman has just released her sixth album, We Had A Moment, and it’s a beauty. The eclectic playlist of standards she’s chosen for this CD is deeply personal — each song has a story and meaning connected to her life. The selections reflect irony, grief, grace, and love, and together they form a portrait of a vocalist who truly lives what she sings. The result is a wonderful gift to her listeners.

Deborah Shulman is one of those rare vocalists who can take a standard you’ve heard hundreds of times and make it sound completely new again. That’s not something that can be faked — it comes only from life experience, empathy, and a deep understanding of the lyric. Every track here shows that she feels and believes every word she sings.

There are ten songs on We Had a Moment, and each one is a gem.

PLAYLIST:

1. Anyone Can Whistle — Stephen Sondheim

2. No Moon at All — David Mann & Red Evans

3. Without a Song — Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose & Edward Eliscu

4. New York State of Mind / On Broadway — Billy Joel / Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

5. With So Little to Be Sure Of — Stephen Sondheim

6. Goodbye Love / Not Like This — Richard Rudolph & Jeremy Lubbock

7. The Laughter and the Tears — Randy Edelman

8. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea — Harold Arlen & Ted Koehler

9. Miss Otis Regrets — Cole Porter

10. You Must Believe in Spring — Michel Legrand, Alan & Marilyn Bergman

Seven of these tracks were recorded with her longtime pianist and arranger Jeff Colella, and three with pianist and arranger Terry Trotter. Both are master musicians, and it’s fascinating to hear their distinct approaches. Colella’s arrangements feel intimate, harmonically rich, and conversational — he creates space for Deborah’s voice to explore emotional depth. Trotter brings his own elegant phrasing and understated sophistication. Hearing both pianists on one record is a master class in how two great minds can interpret the same vocalist differently but beautifully.

In addition to these two remarkable pianists, Deborah brought together a dream team of musicians — every one of them a hall-of-fame player:

PLAYERS:

• Vocals: Deborah Shulman

• Piano & Arrangements: Jeff Colella

• Piano & Arrangements: Terry Trotter

• Guitar: Larry Koonse

• Bass: Kenny Wild and Chris Colangelo

• Drums: Joe LaBarbera and Kendall Kay

Each of these musicians brings heart, skill, and decades of experience to the project. The result is a sound that is warm, deeply musical, and refreshingly honest.

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

• Produced by: Deborah Shulman and Jeff Colella

• Recorded at: Tritone Studios, Glendale, California

• Engineered and Mixed by: Talley Sherwood

• Mastered by: Paul Tavenner

• Label: Summit Records (Released 2024)

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We Had A Moment is a brilliant CD that will bring joy to listeners for many years to come. These songs are more than performances — they’re stories, reflections, and moments of truth.

Deborah Shulman, I personally thank you for your artistry and for breathing new life into these great songs once again. Your voice, your insight, and your heart make this album unforgettable.

I have attached two songs from "We Had A Moment" for your listening pleasure.  The first song composed by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler is "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea".  The second is one of my all-time favorites, "Miss Otis Regrets" written by Cole Porter". 

                                                       "The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea"

                                                                    "Miss Otis Regrets"

CD Review: Antonia Bennett, "Expressions"

When you’re the daughter of a legend like Tony Bennett, the expectations can feel overwhelming—but Antonia Bennett rises beautifully to the challenge. With Expressions, she steps out confidently from her father’s shadow and into her own well-deserved spotlight.

For 15 years, Antonia shared the stage as her father’s opening act, quietly building her craft and learning lessons about artistry, song choice, and the value of surrounding yourself with the finest musicians. That education is evident here.  Expressions is a carefully curated album that balances jazz standards, timeless ballads, and fresh interpretations—all delivered with clarity, warmth, and style.

Her voice is pure, elegant, and emotionally resonant. Each lyric is shaped with perfect phrasing, and every note feels both effortless and heartfelt. This isn’t imitation—it’s Antonia’s own artistic voice, honoring tradition while carving out new ground.  She is joined by a stellar ensemble: Christian Jacob (piano, arrangements), Larry Koonse (guitar), Kevin Axt (bass), and Kendall Kay (drums). Special guests include Randy Brecker on trumpet and flugelhorn, and David Thomas of Take 6 adding rich background vocals on Wherever You Go. Their sensitive, world-class musicianship provides the perfect canvas for Antonia’s voice.

Expressions is elegant, timeless, and deeply personal. With this release, Antonia Bennett affirms that she is not just carrying forward a family legacy—she is adding her own luminous chapter to the Great American Songbook.

PLAYLIST:

1. Do You Still Think of Me

2. Exactly Like You

3. Once I Loved

4. Baby

5. Comes Love

6. Vous Qui Passez Sans Me Voir

7. Right On Time

8. True Love

9. Wherever You Go

10. Ain’t Misbehavin’

11. Hushabye Mountain

12. After You

13. See You On The Other Side

PLAYERS:

• Antonia Bennett – Vocals

• Christian Jacob – Piano / Keyboards, Arranger

• Larry Koonse – Guitar

• Kevin Axt – Bass

• Kendall Kay – Drums

• Randy Brecker – Trumpet / Flugelhorn (guest)

• David Thomas (Take 6) – Background Vocals on “Wherever You Go”

I have attached two songs from Antonia's CD,  the first is "Do You Still Think Of Me" and the second "Once I Loved".  

                                                           " Do You Still Think Of Me'

                                                                "Once I Loved"

                        

CD Review: Mark Masters Ensemble, "Sui generis" Featuring TIm Hagans

Composer/Arranger Mark Masters continues his pursuit of Jazz excellence with the release of his new CD, "Sui Generis" that features Trumpet virtuoso Tim Hagans.  Mark discovered Trumpeter/Flugelhornist Tim Hagans when Hagans was playing in the Stan Kenton orchestra.  Mark says " I heard him and thought, Wow,  who is this guy?"  "Tim is a true original,  he's developed his own harmonic language, which not many people have done. The term "sui generis" is a Latin phrase meaning "one of a kind" which absolutely applies to him."

Mark Masters always puts together musicians who are of the highest level of musical skills.  On "Sui Generis" Masters in addition to Tim Hagans brought in Nicole McCabe on Alto and Jerry Pinter on Tenor and Soprano, Dave Woodley on Trombone, John Dickson on French Horn, Jeff Colella on Piano, Chris Colangelo on Bass and Kendall Kay on Drums.  Masters arranged to have each of these musicians contribute along side of Tim Hagans.

Master Composer Mark Masters composed and arranged all twelve songs  on this album and the music is Jazz at its highest level of excellence.  

PLAYLIST:

1.  Hud's Two Step

2. The Stoic 

3. Deep Pools

4. Velocity

5. Interlude

6. Waxing and Waning

7. Pebbles

8. Meet Me At Sal & Angie's

9.. The Hammer

PLAYERS:

TIm Hagans- Trumpet

Nicole McCabe- Alto Sax

Jerry Pinter- Tenor and Soprano Sax

John  Dickson- French Horn

Jeff Colella- Piano

Chris Colangelo- Bass

Kendall Kay- Drums 

Dave Woodley- Trombone

CD Review: The Mark Masters Ensemble "Blue Skylight"

Arranger/Bandleader Mark Masters has released a terrific new CD, "Blue Skylight" that reimagines the music of iconic Jazz Composers Charles Mingus and Gerry Mulligan.  The beauty of this CD is in the beautiful Jazz music of the Mark Masters Ensemble and the Masterful recomposition work that Mark Masters has achieved.  According to Masters " In many ways, Charles Mingus and Gerry Mulligan couldn't have been more different.  One was notoriously fiery and confrontational; the other understated, the epitome of cool'. Mark was very careful in selecting the players for this CD believing that "It's all about the players.  There are very few people who can be successful when writing music without knowing who's going to play it. The overriding factor for me is creating a framework for the players to be successful in."

"Blue Skylight" was born of a pair of 2015 concerts performed by the ensemble in Palm Desert, California: a "Gerry Mulligan Songbook" evening and a program entitled "Blues by Mingus".  Both featured a trio of undersung elder Jazz statesmen that Masters wanted to feature and celebrate: Bassist Putter Smith, Saxophonist Gene Cipriano and Alto Saxophonist Garry Foster.  Master proudly states "They're true veterans, they're some of my heroes".  The seven-piece ensemble includes some of the West Coast's most in-demand musicians, most of whom have enjoyed long relationships with Masters, Saxophonist Jerry Pinter, Baritone Saxophonist Adam Schroeder, Trumpeter Ron Stout, Trombonist Les Benedict, Pianist Ed Czach and Drummer Kendall Kay.

The music and arrangements in this CD are immediately comfortable even for someone that did not follow Mingus or Mulligan.  For Jazz lovers, this is a real treat as the music seems like having an old friend come over to visit.  This is what Jazz music is all about, new experiences but with the feeling that you have lived here before!

Playlist:
1. "Monk, Bunk And Vice Versa"  Mingus
2. "Out Back Of the Barn" Mulligan
3. "So Long Eric"  Mingus
4. Wallflower" Mulligan
5. Peggy's Blue Skylight" Mingus
6. "Strayhorn 2" Mulligan
7. "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love" Mingus
8. "Apple Core" Mulligan
9. "Eclipse" Mingus
10. "Birds of a Feather" Mulligan
11. "Motel" Mulligan

I know you will enjoy listening to the "YouTube" of the Mark Master Ensemble playing Mulligan's composition, "Apple Core".

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".