CD Review: John Ambrosini, "Songs For You"

 

I have a real treat for you today.  Singer, Pianist, Composer and Bandleader, John Ambrosini has recently released an inspiring new CD, "Songs For You".   I usually feature songs from the Great American Songbook on my blog but the popular songs that Ambrosini has included in the playlist for his new CD are going to enter the Great American Songbook as they meet the test of time.  John has a warm and wonderful earthy voice and style.  John plays piano as he sings and that produces a great melodic vibe that quickly puts the listener at easy.  This album is a tribute to some of the greatest songwriters of today who have inspired him.  The composers included on this CD are like the "Who's, Who" of greatest composers of the last 30 years.  Here is a list of these world class modern day Composers: Rickie Lee Jones, Colin Greenwood, Johny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Philip Selway, Thom Yorke, Greg Allman, Kim Payne, Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, James Taylor, Jackson Brown, Billy Joel, Stephen Sills, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. John Ambrosini is not just doing covers of these classic newer songs.  His style and Arrangements are uniquely his.  Ambrosini has added two of his own original compositions that fit perfectly with this classic composer playlist.  John has a busy career in NYC performing, Arranging, and Composing Music.  He is a brilliant musician and composer who will be at the top of his game for years to come.  Ambrosini wanted to pay homage to famous popular songs that inspired him, and you will be inspired after you listen to his CD, "Songs For You". 

The support cast of musicians who are featured on this CD are also terrific and make "Songs For You" one of the best new releases this year!

PLAYERS:

John Ambrosini- Piano,  Keyboard, Arrangements, Lead Vocals 

Steve Finkelstein- Percussion

Matt Miller- Drums

David Phelps-Acoustic & Electric Guitars

Zachary Swanson- Acoustic Bass

Christine Ambrosini, Amanda Bloom- Backing Vocals

PLAYLIST:

1. The Horses

2. Maybe I'm Crazy

3. High and Dry

 4. Midnight Rider

5. Rocket Man

6. Pretzel Man

7. Sweet Baby James

8. Lover

9. Doctor My Eyes 

10. New York State Of Mind

11. 4 + 20

12. The Long And Winding Road

                                                                        "Midnight Rider"

                                                                        "I'm Crazy"

Book Review: "Rhapsody In Black, The Life And Music Of Roy Orbison" By John Kruth

                                                   

When I decided to read "Rhapsody In Black" it was not because I was a life-long fan of Roy Orbison. I loved his songs but until the last year or two I thought of Roy Orbison as just another rock and roll performer, strange looking but with an unusual voice. However, over the last year or two I starting listening to Roy's songs again and developed a deeper appreciation for the beauty of his songs and his pure, strong voice. So when I saw this biography, I bought it hoping to find out more about the life and music of Roy Orbison.

If you are a Roy Orbison fan and love the music of his era, I believe you will love this book. The author provides insights into many of the contemporaries of the "Big O".  However, I have to tell you that the life of Roy Orbison, similar to many of his songs, were touching but depressing. Roy's life experiences are more than most people could withstand. In addition, even as brilliant as his songs, voice and performances were, Roy's professional career suffered because of underappreciation for long periods of time. What made this even stranger is that almost all of his contemporaries in the music business at the time, had only the highest respect for Roy's song-writing ability and his strong pure voice. Even today almost every performing star like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Neil Diamond and Paul McCartney have been Orbison fans from the start of his career.

John Kruth has done a great job researching and writing this book. The life of Roy Orbison was not an easy subject especially because of the terrible events he suffered through his life. I have attached a "YouTube" of Roy Orbison singing "Pretty Woman" with some friends you may know.

                                                            BOOK REVIEW

                               The Music Man awards this book "3 Quarter Notes"

                                        4 Quarter Notes= Excellent, Must Read

                                        3 Quarter Notes= Good Read

                                        2 Quarter Notes= Somewhat Interesting

                                        1 Quarter Note = Save Your Time and Money

       

CD Pre-Release Review: "Jason Lee Bruns Jazz Collection"

Jason Lee Bruns

The Jason Lee Bruns Jazz Collection is an 8-piece group based in Los Angles, CA that was founded and led by Ohio-born Percussionist, Drummer and Composer Jason Lee Bruns. It is not often that you can find a band that has a Drummer as its leader, but that's what this CD is all about. What do Drummers think about when they provide the rhythmic foundation for the bands they support?  My guess is they think about different beats and sounds and their own unique arrangements  that they feel would do more justice to the songs they are performing. But does anyone ever stop and ask a drummer how he would approach the tempo or the arrangement of a song? Probably not;  well maybe Paul McCartney because he loves experimenting with sounds and let's not forget, Paul is a major class drummer also!

Well along comes Jason Lee Bruns, a Drummer's Drummer who gets to call his own shots and comes up with tempos, sounds and arrangements that appeal to him. But Jason Lee Bruns is not just on a musical ego trip here. For his CD he gathered 7 outstanding players to support him in this effort.  The results are spectacular, providing the listener with fresh, new sounds and rhythms that bring new life into some evergreens that might need some refreshing.  The new writing and arranging on this CD are wonderful. Jason wrote 5 arrangements for the 9 songs on the CD.  He also composed two of the songs.

This CD cooks and any Jazz buff will love every song.  My favorites included the classic Johnny Mercer tune, "Autumn Leaves" which is played seriously upbeat with a knockout arrangement produced by Jason. Kevin Bachelder does the vocals which includes great scatting that works perfectly with the backing of the group. Kevin also had a hand in my second favorite on the CD, "Send In The Clowns".  Kevin did the vocal and also the great arrangement of this Sondheim gem. Unlike Sinatra's version, that was then and this arrangement and tempo are now. This arrangement should be released as a single, it is really fabulous! K. Richmond did the arrangement for "Speak Low" which is worth listening to also.

The wonderful group of supporting musicians on this CD are listed below:

Jason Lee Bruns, Drums, Pandeiro, arrangements, producer
Mahesh Balasooriya, Piano
Edwin Livingston, Upright Bass
Angelo Metz, Guitar, Portuguese vocals, scat, cuica
Kevin Bachelder, English vocals, scat, arrangements
Kim Richmond, Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, arrangements
Jason Gamer, Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Jacquez Voyemant, Trombone

This CD was recorded live at the Catalina Jazz Club on Sunset Strip in Hollywood, CA.  The CD has a street release date of  September 24 2013.

The Twenty Greatest Love Ballads Ever Written

La Quinta Lemon

Recently I googled the title of this post and I was somewhat surprised that I could not find any posting of a top 20 love ballads list that includes any of the spectacular songs from the "Great American Songbook". How can this be? In fact, on most of the list of ballads that I found, I was not familiar with many of the songs.  How sad that today's generation is only into "Pop" ballads and might never have the pleasure of listening to great love ballads that have survived more than a 100 years. This is not to say that there have not been some great love ballads written more recently because there has been many. There have also been some interesting recordings of classic "Great American Songbook" songs sung by young artists.

So I dedicate this list to both young and old who love great ballads sung by great singers.  It's a mix of new and old songs that should be on everyone's ballad playlist in no particular rank.

1. "Wild Horses"                                                       The Rolling Stones                            

2. "Just The Way You Are"                                     Billy Joel

3. "Body & Soul"                                                       Frank Sinatra

4. "Your Song"                                                           Elton John

5. "Unforgettable"                                                      Nat King Cole

6. "When a Man Loves a Women"                           Percy Sledge

7. "A Song For You"                                                  Leon Russell

8. "You Are So Beautiful"                                          Joe Cocker

9. "You've Changed"                                                  Eva Cassidy

10. "Something"                                                          Tanya Tucker

11. "The Shadow Of Your Smile"                              Tony Bennett

12. "Everything I Do, I Do It For You"                     Bryan Adams

13. "The Very Thought Of You"                                Tony Bennett & Paul McCartney

14. "I Will Always Love You"                                     Whitney Houston

15. "What's New"                                                          Nancy Wilson

16. "At Last"                                                                  Etta James

17. "Here's That Rainy Day"                                        Peggy Lee

18. "Smile"                                                                      Stephen Tyler & Chris Botti

19. "Evergreen"                                                              Barbra Streisand

20. "The Nearness of You"                                            Norah Jones