CD Review: James Judson, "Songs Of My Dreams"

Jazz Vocalist and Composer, James Judson has released his debut Jazz album, "Songs Of My Dreams".  James has a very interesting musical life story to tell about his involvement with music. He grew up in a large coal mining family in Boulder, Colorado surrounded by music.  His cousin taught him to sing when he was four and at five years old he made his first public appearance when Frankie Yankovic, aka the "Polka King" came to town and invited Judson on stage to sing.  His first public performance made a lasting impression on him and he started learning how to play drums and guitar.  By the time he was 13, James was working in a rock band as lead vocalist and drummer.  Later in high school, he joined a band playing weddings and state fairs and started developing his songwriting skills.  It looked like his music career would continue to be a huge part of his adult life, however,  he reached a point in his mid-thirties when he had to decide to continue with his struggling music career or focus on raising a family and demands of his construction business.  With 6 kids in his family, he knew he had to put his full energies into his business and he put his guitar and musical talents aside.  While his performing completely stopped, his love for music never died. 

In 2019, Judson was in Los Angeles to help with a construction project his daughter was working on when she introduced him to Don Taicher, a local singer, songwriter and rapper and the two became close friends.  This friendship reignited Judson's deeply buried musical desire and he wound up buying a guitar in LA and when he went back home he started playing again and working on his singing.

"Songs Of My Dreams" contains 13 songs consisting of 11 original songs and two standards.  It's interesting that after all the exposure Judson had to various types of music including rock that his writing style fits perfectly into the age of the crooners and the big bands they sang with.    His compositions have  wonderful melodies and lyrics that would fit Sinatra or Bennett perfectly.  Judson gathered a world-class group of musicians to join him on this CD and  created a CD that is a joyful trip back to the the sounds of the big bands of the forties and fifties and the crooners who sang with them.

I have attached two songs from "Songs Of My Dreams".  The first is a Judson original,  "Is There A Chance" that really swings and is one of my favorites.   The second is the classic, "The Shadow Of Your Smile".  I salute James Judson for having the strength and desire to rekindle his musical fire and sharing his beautiful songs with us!

PLAYLIST: 

1. Is There A Chance

2. The Shadow of Your Smile

3. Stars Past The Milky Way 

4. All Of Me

5. My Imagination

6. Can't Put A Price On Love

7. Kiss Me

8. The Winderful Night Before

9. Eternal Love

10. Holding On

11. Candlelight or Roses

12. Walking A Sidewalk

13. On And On

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PLAYERS:

James Judson – Vocals, Guitar, Compositions

Gary Matsumoto- Piano Max Haymer- Hammond B3, Fender

Tim Sonnefeld- Rhodes

Mike Gurrola, Dan Lutz, Charles Glenn-  Bass

Leddie Garcia- Percussion

Michael Campagna, Aaron Janik,Dan Fornero, Dave Richards, Mike Cordone- Trumpet

Bob Sheppard, Anton Sushev- Alto Sax

Bob Reynolds, Doug Webb- Tenor Sax

Jason Fabus- Baritone Sax

Erik Hughes, Ryan Dragon, Joshua Brown, Todd Eames- Trombone

Eliza James, Olga Ivanenko,Laurann Woods, Lily Honigberg-  Violin

Jennifer Wu, Troy Everett- Viola

Jean-Paul Barjon, Judy Kang- Cellos

                                                                    "Is There A Chance"

                                                            "The Shadow Of Your Smile"

  

Veronica Thomas, "They Say It's Wonderful"

I have the pleasure of listening to many great musicians as part of my blog reviews but I have always had a special place in my music for Jazz Vocalists.   I know that most of us think we could be a pretty good Jazz Vocalist with enough practice.  After all, we all sound pretty good singing in the shower, right?  But the truth is becoming a truly top shelf Jazz vocalist is one of the hardest accomplishment to master.   

Veronica Thomas makes my last statement seem untrue because she sings and swings with utter ease and style making it seems easy.  And that's the mark of a true professional not only in the music world but of all worlds.  This summer, Veronica Thomas released her second CD, "They Say It's Wonderful".  The CD has a collection of 12 classic Jazz standards and these evergreens never sounded better.  Veronica has a velvet, soulful voice that she weaves around perfect storytelling phrasing that any of the great composers of these songs could have ever wished for.  When I first listened to this CD it seemed to have a certain balance in emotion that I could not get my brain around.  After several more listening sessions and a chance to consider the supporting cast of players on "They Say It's Wonderful' the light finally went on.   Veronica lives and performs in New York City and New York Jazz musicians have a slightly different approach to Jazz compared to West Cost Jazz players.  I live in the New York Metropolitan area for 6 months and the California desert area for 6 months and listen to live Jazz as much as possible so I can tell you there is a different approach to Jazz on each coast.  What I was feeling when listening to Veronica Thomas' CD "They Say It's Wonderful" was the coming together of this New York City Vocalist singing with a group of top West Coast players.   So it's East coast meets West coast.  The leader of the West Coast group is Pianist, Vocalist, Arranger and Producer, John Prouix.   John Prouix is still young but his skills are terrific.  He would surely be in the group of top 10 pianists in the country who a Jazz Vocalist would kill to have on the piano playing for them.  Also, supporting Veronica and Prouix is Bob Sheppard on Sax and Flute.  Bob Sheppard is and has been one of the top Sax and Flute players performing today and adds greatly to this CD.  The rhythm section is also superb with Mike Gurrrola on Bass and Kevin van den Elzen on Drums.  "They Say It's Wonderful"  is a first class Jazz CD and Veronica Thomas has given us a marvelous performance that makes us want more of her!

I have attached two cuts from Veronica Thomas' CD.  The first is an underplayed standard written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, "Almost In Your Arms".  John Prouix provides a swing arrrangement for this gem.  The second is a classic written by Irving Berlin, "They Say It's Wonderful".  Bob Sheppard shows us why he is considered one of the best reed men performing today with some great Tenor support.

PLAYERS:

Veronica Thomas- Vocals

Piano, Arranging- John Prouix

Bass- Mike Gurrola

Sax and Flute- Bob Sheppard

Drums- Kevin van den Elzen

PLAYLIST:

1. Almost In Your Arms

2. Get Out Of Town

3. Invitation

4. They Say It's Wonderful

5. If I Were A Bell

6. Dindi

7. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

8. Speak Low

9. Stuck In A Dream

10. A Sleepin' Bee

11. Too Late Now

12. Two For The Road

                                                             "Almost In Your Arms"

  

                                                                 "They Say It's Wonderful"