CD Review: Gino Amato, :Latin Crossroads"

 

Pianist, Arranger and Vocalist Gino Amato has assembled a remarkable cast of Jazz greats for his new CD, "Latin Crossroads".   Amato has picked a wonderful mix of songs from Broadway, The Great American Songbook, Jazz and Pop music and transformed them into beautiful Afro-Cuban Jazz.  Amato's objective  for "Latin Crossroads" was to present Latin music in an accessible format that would spotlight Latin rhythms.  Amato has more than accomplished this objective.  His arrangements of these classic songs and his ability to fuse them with Latin rhythms is brilliant and fresh.  Looking over the playlist of songs,  one certainly wonders how he could accomplish this.  Injecting a Latin rhythum into Michel Legrand's "The Summer Knows" and Monk's "Round Midnight " is not an easy task.  But Gino Amato accomplished this challenge brilliantly.  Think about the difficulty of recording this CD using 46 different musicians.  That in itself is a remarkable achievement.  I can't image how long it took to finish this CD and the cost must have been considerable.  I am delighted to say that the results of Gino Amato's efforts have produced a sensational amount of Latin Inspired music.  I am already longing for a "Latin Crossroads II".

I have attached two "YouTube" videos so you can experience the Gino Amato experience for yourself.  The first song I choose was Paul McCartney's "Blackbird" that features vocalist Arnold McCuller, Pianist and co-producer Oscar Hernandez, Flutist Andrea Brachfeld and Trombonist Louis Bonilla.  The second song is Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concerto For Aranjuez".  This classic song was immortalized by Miles Davis and Gil Evans on their "Sketches Of Spain" album.

PLAYLIST:

1. Blackbird

2. The Summer Knows

3. On The Street Where You Live

4. Bewitched, Bothered & Bewilldered

5. Shower The People

6. Concerto For Aranjuez

7. Bad Things

8. 'Round Midnight

9. Tonight

10. Romeo and Jullet

11. Green Flower Street

  

                                                                        "Black Bird"                    

                                                                                    

                                                                   "Concerto for Aranjuez"

CD Review: Jacqui Naylor, "The Long Game"

Vocalist and composer Jacqui Naylor released her eleventh album back in February of the year but I never got to it until recently.  Jacqui is a remarkable vocalist and songwriter.  Her voice is soulful and full with deep tones that are unusual on today's music scene.  She is well known for her ability to interpret a diverse repertoire, bringing together music from different genres and generations.  Jacqui has coined a name to describe her arranging technique, "acoustic smashing".  This technique involves singing the lyrics and melody of a Jazz standard over the music of a well-known rock anthem.  I have attached a brilliant example of this technique with Jacqui singing the Coldplay song "Fix It" while the band plays background  support of a Miles Davis-inspired "It Never Entered My Mind". 

There is a synergy that listeners will hear immediately when listening to this CD between Jacqui Naylor and her talented band.  The band leader is Art Khu on Piano and has this to say about the synergy of the band, "Each member of this band is an accomplished musician and storyteller, sensitive to Jacqui's mission and lyrics, supportive, intuitive and compassionate.  Decades of work culminate in "The Long Game" as each band member uses their individual talents to contribute, shine and support each other.  Jacqui's interpretations are deep, thoughtful but also human and unpretentious."  The second "YouTube" I have attached will instantly broadcast the synergy of all the players performing the Van Heusen and Burke classic, "Like Someone In Love".  Joining Jacqui and Art are Jon Evans on Bass and Guitar and Josh Jones on Drums and Percussion.

The playlist listed below is worth studying.  It's new and old, diverse and familiar all at the same time.  If you like soulful singing and interpretations you really need to buy this CD!      

                                                                           "Fix You"

                                                                "Like Someone In Love"

PLAYLIST:

1. Like Someone In Love

2. Give Me One More Chance

3. Fix You

4. I'll Be Loving You

5. Love Look What You've Done

6. Walkin' Out The Door

7. Smile

8. The Thrill Is Gone

9. Space Oddity

10. The Long Game

11. Don't Give Up

12. Speak Low

13. It's The Right Time

14. All My Life

PLAYERS:

Jacqui Naylor-Vocals, Compositions

Art Khu-Piano, Arrangements, Organ, Rhodes, Guitars

Jon Evans-Basses, Guitar #2 and #3, Background Vocals, Arrangements

Josh Jones-Drums, Percussion, Arrangements

 

CD Review: The Flying Horse Big Band, "Good News!"

Recently I have discovered several new big band CDs that are outstanding.  It's always a pleasure to find new big band CDs because this type of CD is so expensive to record,  not to mention the difficulty of getting all the members of the band together in the same place at the same time.  But there is no stopping big bands and the musicians who love to play a part in producing wonderful music!  Today I have the pleasure of reviewing the "The Flying Horse Big Band" directed by Jeff Rupert.  This CD is a collaboration with the UCF Studio Orchestra made up students from
UCF'S Jazz Studies program.   These students are first-class musicians and playing together this band really cooks!

There is a beautiful version of John Lennon's "Imagine" by Jeff "T-Bone Gerard and a superb recording of "Round Midnight"tby the Jazz Professors who teach in the UCF Jazz Studies Program including the band director, Jeff Rupert producing lush and warm tones from Tenor Sax.  It's an outstanding recording!

The playlist chosen for this CD is from the A-list of Jazz composers: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Bob Mintzer.

Playlist:

Players:

I have attached two "YouTubes" that highlight how good this band and its talented musicians are.  The first one is the first cut on the CD "  a musical gem from Miles Davis, "The Serpent's Tooth".  The second is perhaps the most famous composition from Monk, "Round Midnight".  You must add this CD to your big band collection.
                                                                       "The Serpent's Tooth"

                       
                                                                 "Round Midnight"

Miles Davis:Remembering The Jazz Giants, Chapter 9

There are a lot of talented trumpet players we know and love but there is only one Miles Davis. His projection of a song's emotions is raised to a point where the listener can almost touch, as well as, hear the lyrics coming from his trumpet.  Miles Davis has always been an exceptional instrumentalist who had the musical sense to bring some of the best players in the US to his recording sessions.  His style over the years evolved from Bebop to Standards. Miles taught us that when it comes to playing standards from the Great American Songbook, "less is better". The results of these sessions produced some of the best sounds ever recorded. Picking just one favorite from the vast list of superb songs is almost impossible.  What makes this effort a little easier for me is that I have always been drawn to the great love songs Miles Davis recorded. I found a 1956 recording on YouTube of the Rodgers & Hart classic, "It Never Entered My Mind" that I think perfectly illustrates Miles Davis' ability to transfer great lyrics through his trumpet. Joining Miles on this song are some jazz giants in their own right: the great Red Garland on Piano, Philly Joe Jones on Drums and Paul Chambers on Bass. Enjoy the musical magic of Miles Davis!

Claude Berger Loved by the Crowds in Quebec City, Canada

Claude Berger

In the middle of a very hot summer in 2012, I traveled to Quebec City, Canada  to spend a few days in this beautiful and romantic city.  This city celebrates the first two weeks of July with a city-wide music festival where you have lots of great free music playing all day and night.  The two major groups participating in this festival were Bon Jovi and Areosmith.  However, the subject of this blog is a focus on the wonderful street performers that show up every day and night and play on the streets for tips from the groups of listeners who gather to hear the sounds.  These performers must get approved by the City of Quebec, but they receive no monetary support from the City.  They make their money from tips that individuals give them.

I was most impressed by Claude Berger who told me that this was the third summer he was playing on the streets of Quebec.  Claude is a classically-trained trumpet player and produces wonder sounds from his trumpet.  Claude also has a wonderful "New Orleans" sounding voice that is loved by the crowds who come to listen to him.

I have attached a "YouTube" video that Claude put together and posted with his playing "Autumn Leaves" that is a sort of tribute to the great Miles Davis that I know you will enjoy.

CD Review: "DAVID CACERES"

David Caceres

I read some really good comments about alto saxophonist David Caceres in the past few months and  was very excited when I was asked to review David's latest CD "David Caceres".  David comes from Texas and belongs to a long line of talented family musicians. This enriched musical environment provided David with a foundation of jazz that he openly embraced and built upon. David earned a scholarship to The Berklee College of Music and graduated in 1989. It was during his years at Berklee that he developed his wonderful alto tone, dexterity and musical imagination. It was also during his years at Berklee that David found his singing voice. According to David, "It feels just as good to sing one note as it does to play one note. However, they have very different roles and somewhat different languages when used in the same song. The voice sets the tone of the tune, drawing the listener in with a direct, rather vulnerable statement. Then the sax is allowed to stretch out and explore some of the other emotional layers of the song." David plays and sings on most of the tracks on this CD, and the results are simply wonderful.  David's musical heros were John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins, and you can hear the influence from these giants in his playing. His singing brings to mind the vocal sounds and style of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway.

This CD is marvelous in every aspect! David Caceres gets to showcase his skills as a alto saxophonist, vocalist and composer and the results are impressive. The selection of songs chosen for this CD work perfect together including two composed by David, "Sacred Path" and "Gratitude".  The song list clearly indicates that much time and thought expended to select the 11 great songs. I particularly liked Ray Lamontagne's folk/pop number "You Can Bring Me Flowers", Van Morrison's "The Way That Lovers Do" and the two Stevie Wonder compositions, "Seems So Long" and "Bird of Beauty".  David also has a wonderful singing performance of Thelonious Monk's "Round Midnight".

David is supported by a sterling group of musicians: arranger and keyboardist, Gil Goldstein, bassist Larry Grenadier, drummer Bill Stewart organist Shedrick Mitchell, percussionist Bashiri Johnson, guitarist Larry Campbell and pianist Aaron Parks. Gil Goldstein's arrangements were perfect!

The producer of this CD was Matt Pierson and deserves outstanding recognition for the high level professional level of skill and talent that he provided to produce this musically wonderful product.

Steve Madaio Sparkles at Backstreet Bistro in Palm Desert

 Tuesday night is Jazz night at the Backstreet Bistro in Palm Desert.  And tonight we had the pleasure of seeing my good friend Steve Madaio perform his magic on the trumpet.  Steve has to be the most understated musician in the desert.  Not many people are aware of Steve's impressive musical resume' that few musicians anywhere could come close to.  Steve has played with the "Best of the Best" and has recorded way over 100 CD's that have become million sellers!  Hearing the way Steve plays love songs from the "Great American Songbook" with soft and emotional tones that few musicians can get out of a trumpet, it is hard to believe that he has recorded with Earth, Wind and Fire and toured for two years with the Stones in Europe. Steve's skills put him in the same class as giants like Miles Davis and Chet Baker when it comes to projecting the emotion of a lyric without anyone singing the lyric. Tonight he gave us more proof of his ability and began his first set, with "What's New" moved on to "My Funny Valentine"  combined with "There Will Never Be Another You".  Three of the best American love songs ever written. Few musicians have the ability that Steve does to approach these ballad gems with a soft touch and the romantic emotion that Steve's sound projects. You will have another chance to hear Steve again at Backstreet on Tuesday, February 7.  Steve also plays under the stars at the Bluember in Rancho Mirage on Sundays at 6:00PM.

Joining Steve tonight was an outstanding group of musicians with Leo Vigil on drums, Jimmie Dykes on Keyboard and our friend Bill Saitta playing the upright bass. Tonight was the first time that I got a chance to hear Leo and Jimmie and they did not disappoint. Leo provided a solid foundation for the group on all the songs and Jimmie played some fine solos including a very special one on the great classic "Body and Soul". I also thought Bill Saitta played his solos especially sharp tonight and his solid bass provided a wonderful bottom range to support the group throughout the performance.  A wonderful evening of music and great food at the Tuesday night place for Jazz, Backstreet Bistro.  

The iTunes Top 10 Jazz Songs

I found another list of the best selling songs on iTunes under the title: "Jazz Essentials".  Since I love Jazz, I was interested in what songs would be on this list.  However, with a title of "Jazz Essentials" I was at a loss to guess what performers and what songs would be included.   My first guesses were: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Johnny Hartman and maybe Billie Holiday.  Well, I wasn't too far off.  There were two songs on the list that surprised me.  I like "So What" by Miles but was still surprised to see it as one of the top selling songs on the list. This song is from what most consider the best CD every recorded by Miles, "Kind of Blue".  The other surprise song was "Strange Fruit" by Billie Holiday.  I had not even heard this song before so I went to iTunes to listen to it. After listening, I am still not sure why this Billie Holiday song in on the list?

             The Top 10 Selling Jazz Essentials on iTunes

1.    "So What"--Miles Davis

2.   "Take Five"--Dave Brubeck Quartet

3.   "In a Sentimental Mood"--Duke Ellington/John Coltrane

4.   "Summertime"--Ella Fitzgerald

5.   "In The Mood"--Glenn Miller

6.   "Sing, Sing, Sing"--Benny Goodman

7.   "God Bless The Child"--Billie Holiday

8.   "My One and Only Love"--John Coltrane, Johnny Hartman

9.   "It Don't Mean a Thing"--Duke Ellington

10. "Strange Fruit"--Billie Holiday

Miles Davis, Simply The Best!

There are a lot of talented trumpet players we know and love but there is only one Miles Davis.
His projection of a song's emotions is raised to a point where the listener can almost touch, as well as, hear the lyrics coming from his trumpet. Miles Davis has always been an exceptional instrumentalist who had the musical sense to bring some of the best players in the US to his recording sessions. The results of these sessions produced some of the best sounds ever recorded. Picking just one favorite from the vast list of superb songs is almost impossible. What makes this effort a little easier for me is that I have always been drawn to the great love songs Miles Davis recorded. These songs reach their top emotional level when listened to with someone you love. The best CD I found that demonstrates this is "Miles Davis Plays For Lovers". Released in 1966 and remastered in 2003. This CD is the best of the best. My favorite song that no instrumentalist has ever done better, even to this day, is the Rodgers & Hart classic,"It Never Entered My Mind". The great piano playing on this song and many of the songs on this CD is done by Red Garland with Philly Joe Jones on drums and Paul Chambers on Bass. I would like to add that Chris Botti has done an excellent job in covering several of the Miles Davis love song classics. I recently heard Chris say that Miles Davis was one of his first musical heroes and the Miles Davis influence can clearly be felt in Chris Botti's recent work. I love the sound of Chris Botti's trumpet but, for me, Miles Davis still remains in a class of his own. One last footnote, there is a trumpet player in the California desert, Rancho Mirage to be exact that has this wonderful ability when playing his trumpet to transfer all the emotion of the music and lyric directly to the listener. I am talking about my friend, Steve Madaio. Steve has the same ability that Miles Davis has when it comes to playing a great love song. I really love two songs Steve does that our from the "20 Greatest Songs Ever Written" list, "Here's That Rainy Day" and "What's New". I have never heard any instrumentalist perform these two great songs with more skill and emotion than Steve Madaio. If you are ever in the Rancho Mirage area, you can find Steve playing at "The Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa" in the Blue Ember Restaurant. If you can get there, it will be well worth the trip. Mention either of these two songs to Steve and there is a good chance he will play them for you.

I would love some feedback about your favorite Miles Davis recordings. Also, tell me about any other trumpet players you think have reached a similar level as Miles Davis, Chris Botti and Steve Madaio.