CD Review: Angela DeNiro with the Ron Aprea Big Band, "Swingin' With Legends 2"

 

Arranger, Conductor and Alto Sax genius Ron Aprea and Vocalist Angela DeNiro have recently published their new album, "Swingin' With Legends 2" which includes the marvelous singing from Angela DeNiro, The Ron Aprea Big Band with special guest artists, Randy Brecker, Ken Peplowski and Lew Tabackin.  The first "Swingin' With Legends" album was published in 1997 to outstanding critical praise!  Now 26 years later, Ron and Angela have published their second "Swinging With Legends 2" album and its a spectacular example of what Big Band music with a vocalist is all about.  This new CD swings and reminds us all of the golden years of Big Band Jazz so sadly missing from today's music scene.  The truth is that this music is still wonderful but very expensive to produce.  Thanks to Ron Aprea's and Angela DeNiro's relentless desire to keep Big Band music going, we can still enjoy this exceptional music today.  Ron and his big band featuring vocalist Angela DeNiro are still performing and recently appeared at several Jazz venues in the New York area including a recent performace at Birdland.

Ron Aprea has an amazing musical resume that includes a long-time association with his friend, Alto Sax giant Phil Woods back in the 1970s.  Ron and Phil remained close friends until Phil's death in 2015.  Ron composed and arranged "For Phil" as a tribute to his friend.  I have attached a "YouTube" so you can listen to Ron's tribute to Phil. It's a terrific arrangement with a vocal by Angela and some sweet Alto work by Todd Bashore.

I was first introduced to Ron and Angela by two California desert friends, Steve Madieo and Pat Rizzo.  Steve and Pat both played along side Ron when they were all living in New York many years ago. Ron's and Steve's friendship started when they both recorded with John Lennon and continued throughout their lives.

Ron and Angela were married in 1985 and have been making beautiful music ever since.  They both are dedicated to their music and have never let anything stop them from performing and recording sensational music.  The songs they selected for this album are perfect for anyone who loves the big band sound.  Ron Aprea's arrangements are refresing, new and inspiring as you will discover from Angela's major league vocals.

My personal thanks to both Ron Aprea and Angela DeNiro for continuing to make music for the rest of us to enjoy!  If you are a fan of the big band sound and great music in general, please buy this album and support this talented pair of world class musicians.  

PLAYLIST:

1. New York City Blues

2. You'd Be So Easy To Love

3. Hello Young Lovers

4. A House Is Not A Home

5. Willow Weep For Me

6. It Might As Well Be Spring

7. Don't Cha Go 'Way Mad

8. Two For the Road

9. That Old Black Magic

10. Come In From The Rain

11. On Green Dolphin Street

12. My One And Only Love

13. For Phil

14. The Curtain Falls

PLAYERS:

Angela DeNiro-Vocals

Ron Aprea- Arranger and Conductor

Todd Bashore- Alto Sax, Flute

Elijah Schiffer- Alto, Flute

Nathan Childers- Tenor Sax, Flute, Clarinet

Lee Greene- Tenor Sax, Flute, Clarinet

Doug Dehays- Baritone Sax, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet

Bryan Davis- Trumpet

Chris Persad- Trumpet

Matthew Timm- Trumpet

Shawn Edmonds- Trumpet

Wayne Goodman- Trombone

Matt Haviland- Trombone

Brandon Moodie- Trombone

Dale Turk- Bass Trombone

Cecilla Coleman- Piano

Tim Givens- Bass

Jonathan Mele- Drums

Guests:

Lew Tabackin- Tenor Sax & Flute (Track 6 & 8)

Ken Peplowski- Clarinet (Track 2)

Randy Brecker-Trumpet (Track 3)

  

I had a difficult time picking just two cuts from this CD.  The first one is the classic "You'd Be So Easy To love" and I think Angela vocal just excell.  For all vocalist, singing with a big band charging behind you is always a difficult task that few ever master.  Angela's voice and phrasing on this CD become one with this blazing band, never too little and never too much.  The second "YouTube" is the original Aprea tune, "For Phil",  composed by Ron as a tribute to the late Phil Woods.

                                                             "You'd Be So Easy To Love"

                                                                           "For Phil"

CD Review: Kenny Lavender's "Conscious Journey Part 1 & 2"

                                                                         

There is a great, new big band in town put together under the leadership of multi-talented Trumpet player, Kenny Lavender.  He has built a 17 piece band using some of the finest players on the New York scene. Kenny produced and arranged the 11 songs on this double CD and composed 8 of the songs. The sounds from this band are "hip", and, yet the ties to the great big bands of the past are very visible. As I listened to the cuts, the sounds evoked memories of the great Maynard Ferguson band, Woody Herman and Jack Sheldon bands. The sounds are crisp, new and, yet, comfortably familiar all at the same time. The arrangements are superb! This CD is a wonderful showcase for not only Kenny Lavender but also for the sparkling solos from the major league supporting musicians.

Lavender named the CD "Conscious Journey" because the songs he wrote reflect the different stages of life he has traveled, "from falling in love with my wife to dealing with addiction and a lot in between". Because the solos on the album are so remarkably good, I listed the soloists for each song below. I thought you would want to know because I did.

Those of us who love the big band sound will be delighted to listen to this CD. We don't get too many opportunities to hear new big bands these days, and if you only listen to one this year, this is the one to get.

                         "Conscious Journey Part I"

1. "Velocity": Solos by Nathan Childers and Kenny Lavender
2. "As I Close My Eyes": Solos by Rick Germanson and Scott Wendholt
3. "Beauty In A Kiss": Solo Kenny Lavender
4. "Down In NOLA": Solos Kurt Bacher and Alan Ferber
5. "9th Ave Song": Solos Jason Rigby and Rick Germanson
6. "Flow Through Me": Solos Phil Palombi and Kurt Bacher

                        "Conscious Journey Part II"

1. "Caravan": Solos Kenny Lavender and Alejandro Aviles
2. "I Could Write A Book": Solos Kenny Lavender
3. "Happiness": Solos Rick Germanson and Kenny Lavender
4. "Clark's Bark": Solo Kenny Lavender
5. "Una Mas": Solos Kenny Lavender and Jason Rigby

                     I have attached  5  minute YouTube video previewing the songs from this CD.