CD Review: Darmon Meader, "Losing My Mind"

Vocalist, Saxophonist, Arranger and Composer, Darmon Meader has released his second solo project, "Losing My Mind".  When I received the promotion copy of this CD, I saw a photo of Darmon standing holding a Tenor Sax and I thought the music would feature the Tenor. However, as I got further into the promotional material, I discovered that while Darmon is an outstanding Tenor player, he is also a great Jazz Vocalist.  This album shines a light on classics from the Great American Songbook and Meader proves without any doubt that he has the vocal chops to handle these great songs.  He gives us a master class in the art of scatting.  His phrasing is dead-on and his voice has a soft comfortable feel that is the perfect match for the classics in this CD.  We also get to hear a couple of original Meader tunes that are wonderful. 

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for you to listen to.  The first was written by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II, "The Song Is You" and you will love it.  The second is the title track, "Losing My Mind" written by Stephen Sondheim.  This CD is terrific and an example of current American Jazz that is easily assessable by any listener.

 Playlist:

1. It Could Happen To You

2. Losing My Mind

3. Last Call

4. Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise

5. Gaia's Lament

6. I hear Music

7. Lembra de Mim

8. The Last Thing On My Mind

9. Lovely Day

10. East of the Sun

11. All My Loving

12. The Song Is You

Players:

"The Song Is You"

    Vocal-Darmon Meader

    Piano- Andy Ezrin

    Bass- Jay Anderson

    Drums- Ben Wittman

    Alto& Tenor Sax- Darmon Meader

    Bari Sax- Steve Kenyon

    Trumpets- Frank Greene & Scotty Barnhart

    Trombones- Mike Davis & Jay Ashby

"Losing My Mind"

    Vocal- Darmon Meader

    Piano- Andy Ezrin

    Guitar- Romero Lubambo

    Bass- Jay Anderson

    Drums- Ben Wittman

    Flute- Steve Kenyon

    Clarinet - Darmon Meader

    Violins- Gina Buzzelli & Maria Rusu

    Cello- Cesar Colmenares & Teodore Tusu

                                                                    "The Song Is You"

                                                                    "Losing My Mind"

CD Review: Samoa Wilson With the Jim Kweskin Band, "I Just Want To Be Horizontal"

                                                                 

I can safely say that for most of us, the last several months of dealing with Covid 19 has been stressful to say the least.  We all need a break from all the stressful news and I have just the CD to help you leave today's world and travel back to yesteryear, at least for an hour or so.  All you have to do is find a comfortable chair and listen to  "I Want To Be Horizontal".   Then Just sit back and feel yourself being transported back to a music world that is friendly, cosy and comfortable.

The new CD from Samoa Wilson with the Jim Kweskin Band is the latest in a decade-long collaboration between Jim Kweskin and Samoa Wilson.   The 17 songs on this CD include some well known standards that have been given fresh new arrangements and some other non-standards that  perhaps should have made it into the standard class.  I found this CD very relaxing and familiar from the first tune to the last one.  Part of the musical magic that Samoa Wilson and the Jim Kweskin Band have created is that even though Samoa Wilson is the vocal star and sings these songs so beautifully,  she shares the spotlight with Jim and all the members of the Band seamlessly.  It's a case of many voices blending together into one wonderful musical group voice.

I don't know how to categorize the music this band performs because it's kinda Jazz, touches Folk and Blues reminds me of the sounds I hear when I am in New Orleans.  What I do know is it's the type of music that is uplifting and soothing for the soul!   How great that music like this is still being published.  My bet is that most of the Music Man listening audience will love the music on this CD.  I would love to get some feedback from you after you listen to " I Want To Be Horizontal".

I have attached two "YouTube" tunes from this special CD.  The first is the title track, "I Want To Be Horizontal" and the second is a special arrangement of the standard "Our Love Is Here To Stay".

     

                                                     "I Just Want To Be Horizontal"

                                                           "Our Love Is Here to Stay"
Playlist:
1. After You've Gone
2. I Just Want To Be Horizontal
3. Trust in Me
4. I Cried For You
5. The Candy Man
6. Inch Worm
7. That's Life I Guess
8. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
9. Me, Myself &I
10. Our Love Is Here To Stay
11. Kitchen Man
12. At Ebb Tide
13. Lover Come Back To Me
14. Easy To Love
15. Ain't Got Rhythm
16. I Wished On The Moon
17. Someone Turned The Moon Upside Down :

Players:
Samoa Wilson- Vocals
Kim Kweskin- Vocals, Fingerpicking, & Rhythm Guitar, Arrangements
Titus Vollmer- Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Hawaiian Slide Guitar, Ukulele, Arrangements
Mike Davis- Trumpet & Cornet
Paloma Ohm- Alto Sax
Dennis Lictman-Clarinet,Fiddle, Mandolin & Alto Sax
Sonny Barbato- Piano & Accordion
Matthew Berlin- Bass
Jeff Brown- Drums
Sean Read & Maddie Read Clarke- Backup harmony on "At Ebb Tide"