Vocalist Melinda Rose and Pianist Frenchy Romero grew up within blocks of each other in Miami and while they never attended the same school together, both were attracted to straight-ahead Jazz. In 2022 Rose was invited to audition to be the first vocalist for a U.S. Army big band called, the Army Blues. She won the position and moved to Washington, D.C. to join the band About two months later Rose saw an announcement for a Pianist in another Army band at the same base. She shared the news with Romero, who won the job. These events allowed the talented duo to continue to collaborate as a Jazz duo. "I'm On My Way" is the first product of their musical efforts and it's a stunning new Jazz CD. There is something very special when these two musicians work together. First, Melinda Rose has a gorgeous, pure, velvet yet strong voice that is so refreshing to listen to especially compared to what seems to be popular today. Her voice evokes vocal images of Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald and Anita O'Day but with her own personal styling. Pianist Frenchy Romero delivers a master class on how to accompany a great vocalist. She is creative and supportive but never interrupts Melinda's vocals. What a pleasure to listen to these two young and talented musicians. There is great sensitivity between these friends that produces some of the best Jazz I have heard in a long time. The playlist this duo put together is diverse and magical.. The CD has 6 standards, some old and some new and 4 orginials composed by Melinda Rose. This CD is a dream album for any Jazz vocalist fan. Thank you Melinda and Frenchy and please get busy on your next CD!
I have attached two "YouTube" videos of songs from "I'm On My Way". It took me a lot of time to select 2 songs out of the 10 on this CD because I liked every song. The first selection is a beautiful rendition of Stevie Wonder's "If It's Magic" and this version is magic to me! The second song is the Nancy Wilson classic "You Can Have Him" written by Irvin Berlin that is simply a beautiful performance!
Bassist, Composer and quartet leader Martin Wind has released a new CD, "My Astorian Queen- 25 years on the New York Jazz Scene" featuring the Martin Wind Quartet. The CD is essentially a thank you to the New York Jazz scene and a remembrance of Martin Wind's 25 years of musical adventures in New York. He arrived in NY from Lensburg Germany to try to establish himself in the New York Jazz scene. The quartet consists of Martin on Bass and 3 other very skilled and seasoned musicians. Every one in the group has been friends and musical partners from almost the day when Martin arrived in New York City. Their friendship and experience together shines through on all of the songs in this CD. The liner notes are enlighting because Martin lists the reasons why each of the 9 songs were chosen. I found the Martin Wind Quartet and all the songs on this CD very accessible. The CD is a perfect example of what outstanding music from a Jazz quartet can be.
The first song I have attached from the CD is thhe Jazz standard, "Broadway" and it features the wonderful sound of Scott Robinson's Bass Saxophone. The Bass Saxophone is not frequently heard but after hearing Scott play it, you have to ask yourself why? The sound is warm and rich and I would also say smooth. Martin offers his explanation for choosing this tune. "Shortly after arriving in New York, I started subbing on a couple of Broadway shows. "Phantom of the Opera" which is still going strong in its 3rd decade, and a fabulous production of Cole Porter's "Kiss Me Kate". I've always loved this tune and the way Scott sounds on his "mighty" bass Saxophone". I couldn't resist adding the second tune, "New York, New York" because I love when a Bass player solos on a strong melody. Martin adds "I usually close the set with this inevitable anthem. Matt, of course, jumped right into the sandbox with me on this one."
"Broadway"
" New York, New York"
PLAYLIST:
1. Mean What You Say
2. Solitude
3. Broadway
4. Peace Waltz
5. E Preciso Perduar
6. Out In P.A.
7. My Astorian Queen
8. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York
9. New York, New York
PLAYERS:
Martin Wind- Bass, Composing, Arranging, Leader
Scott Robinson- Tenor and Bass Sax, Clarinet, Trumpet
Today I am reviewing a new CD from Vocalist CeCe Gable. CeCe has gathered a fine group of veteran musicians to join her on her CD, "Next Year's Song". CeCe Gable has a believable voice that tells the
listener that she has lived every lyric she sings. Harvie S the Bassist and Producer for "Next Year's Song" says "She's an honest singer". That's what I hear also. The CD contains a wonderful playlist of songs that all have one thing in common, great story-telling lyrics.
Joining CeCe are a group of super-star musicians that any Vocalist would love. On Piano is the remarkable Alan Broadbent, on Bass is Harvie S, on Guitar is Ron Ben-Hur and Matt Wilson is on Drums. They provide the perfect support for CeCe's voice and style.
I have attached two "YouTube" videos so you can hear this wonderful singer for yourself. The first song I selected was the evergreen uptempo version of "Just One Of Those Things". Written by Cole Porter in 1939 the song and lyric still sing to me. The second song is "Moments Like This". I was not familiar with this song but CeCe does a great job expressing the message of the lyric.
If I asked a group of Jazz buffs to name today's top performing Clarinet players, Ken Peplowski's name would be on everyone's list. Ken has worked with the "Who's Who" of Jazz luminaries over his career including Benny Goodman, Bill Charlap, Rosemary Clooney, Mel Torme, Howard Alden and George Shearing as well as Madonna, Woody Allen and Marianne Faithfull. Ken has recorded over fifty albums as a leader or co-leader and has participated on scores of recordings by other artists. I want to share a wonderful quote about Ken Peplowski from noted critic Will Friedwald, "Peplowski sounds the way (Benny) Goodman might if he had kept evolving, kept on listening to new music, kept refining his sound, polishing his craft, and expanding his musical purview in the 21st century".
Anything Ken Peplowski plays is wonderful but what makes this CD really special is the wide-ranging material Ken has put together. He has picked songs from composers that normally would not be joined together in a single CD. The lists includes John Lennon, Duke Ellington, Noel Coward, Herbie Nichols, Peter Erskine, Anthony Newley and Bernard Herrmann. Ken is joined on this CD by three outstanding musicians, Ehud Asherie on Piano, Matt Wilson on Drums, Martin Wind on Bass and Ken Peplowski joining the group on Clarinet and Tenor Sax.
Talking about "Enrapture", Ken Peplowski offers the following comments: "A year or so of sifting through material, a year or so playing with these great musicians, and very little time in the studio; we really wanted to approximate what we do in the clubs. This is us, in as close to a live setting as one could ask for in a recording environment. Every song in pretty much one take--we just like to capture the spontaneity and interplay of four people who enjoy making music together".
PLAYLIST: 1. "The Flaming Sword" -Duke Ellington 2. "An Affair To Remember"- Harry Warren/Leo McCarey/Harold Adamson 3. "Oh, My Love"- John Lennon/Yoko Ono 4. "Cheer Up, Charlie"- Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley 5. "I'll Follow My Secret Heart"- Noel Coward 6. "Enrapture"- Herbie Nichols 7. "Twelve"- Peter Erskine 8. "Veritigo Scene D'Amour"- Bernard Herrmann 9. "When October Goes"- Barry Manilow/Johnny Mercer 10. "Willow Tree"- Thomas "Fats" Waller/Andy Razaf I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure. The first one is "Enrapture" with Ken on Clarinet and the second is "When October Goes" with Ken on Tenor Sax.
