CD Review: "3 More Sounds Play Ray Charles"

 3 More Sounds is one of my favorite Jazz trios!  They are out with another winning CD, "3 More Sounds Play Ray Charles".  This prolific trio continues to make outstanding music!  And it's no wonder, since the 3 remarkable musicians involved are at the highest level of musical performance.  Robert Turner never fails to impress his listeners with strong overtones of his hero, Gene Harris.  Henry Franklin provides incredibly strong bass lines and solos and the third member of this trio, musical veteran Carl Burnett provides the final solid rhythm support for the group.  These cool cats can play anything and it always comes out great!

This CD is a tribute to the late and great Ray Charles.  It's hard to describe the talents of Ray Charles but let's start with Ray's unique vocal delivery and soulful phrasing.  How do you duplicate Ray's approach in an instrumental recording?  Look no further than this new CD that 3 More Sounds has recorded. They capture the brilliance of Ray Charles performing some of the songs he made famous. 

3  More Sounds should win an Emmy for this CD.  It's the kind of music you can listen to all night and it never gets old.  Robert Turner, Henry Franklin and Carl Burnett you rock! 

I attached 2 "YouTube" videos for your listening enjoyment.  The first is an up-tempo version of "Let the Good Times Roll" and the second is the Percy Mayfield gem, "Hit The Road Jack".  Please support this wonderful trio and music in general by buying this CD.  You will be playing it for years to come! 

Playlist:

1. Let the Good Times Roll

2. Unchain My Heart

3. Hit The Road Jack

4. Georgia on My Mind

5. Moonlight in Vermont

6. Halleluja I love Her So

7. Cry Me a River

8. I Can't Stop Loving You

9. Drown in My Own Tears

10. Hit the Road Jack (Alt)

Players:

Robert Turner-Piano 

Henry Franklin-Bass

Carl Burnett-Drums 

                                                                       "Halleluja I Love Her So"

                                                                       "Hit The Road Jack"

CD Review: 3 More Sounds, "Live at the Gardenia Club"

Back in January of 2020 I was having dinner at a small restaurant (Backstreet Bistro) in Palm Desert California and ran into the legendary Jazz Bass player,  Henry "The Skipper" Franklin who was playing in a quartet there.  I knew this night would be filled with wonderful Jazz, and it was.  Henry has played with the "Who's Who" of Jazz and I have been fortunate to hear him play with many of the top Jazz performers in the California desert.   He is a real pro and no matter who he is playing with, he always seems to bring the group to a higher level and that's high praise for a Bass player.  But Henry is not just a Bass player, he is a high-level master Bass player and Producer.  In a conversation during one of the breaks, Henry told me about a new CD that he just finished and wanted to get my opinion.  Well, the CD was by 3 More Sounds titled the "Ghetto Princes,  A Tribute to Gene Harris".  I was knocked out by the music on this CD and published a review on my blog on March 20, 2020.  If you missed this review, you can go to my list of published blogs and read the review.

Last month Henry Franklin sent me a new CD from 3 More Sounds titled "Live at the Gardenia Club" that he co-produced with sensational piano player,  Robert Turner.  The Gardenia Club is a famous Jazz supper club in East Hollywood that, like most Jazz supper clubs is somewhat past its prime.  Robert chose this venue because he liked the Piano at the Gardenia Club.  It is not unusual for a Jazz Piano player to find themselves every night playing on Pianos that are less than optimum so when they find a great piano it calls to them!  I had the pleasure of hearing Robert Turner play in person many times at various club-venues in the Palm Spring California area.  He is everything you would expect and desire from a Jazz piano player.  His personality is sparkling and he never hesitates to talk about Jazz Piano with piano-playing amateurs sharing his approach to Jazz piano.  He was greatly influenced by many of the great Jazz piano pianists of the past including one of my personal favorites, Gene Harris. When he plays I can hear parts of all of the great Piano Players of past years mixed into his own personal style.  This CD is live at the Gardenia Club and when you listen to the cuts I have attached below, you will feel the emotion generating from the audience and the performers.  The third member of this group is Carl Burnett who also has a very impressive resume.  Carl is the perfect third member of this trio because he swings hard with a perfect groove that completes this group. 

3 More Sounds live at the Gardenia Club is a CD that every Jazz lover should have.  It's real Jazz played by three of the very best American Jazz musicians performing today.  It would make a wonderful present for any Jazz lover you know including yourself.    

I have attached two "YouTubes" from this new CD.  The first is the group's  up-tempo version of the standard "On A Clear Day".  This cut will answer all questions about how good these three Jazz performers are!  Robert Turner just keeps surprising us with his spectacular Jazz Piano skills, Henry Franklin performs creative and tasty Bass work that explains why he has played with almost all of the Jazz greats and Carl Burnett gives the group a driving beat that's perfect for his two amazing Jazz performing partners.  I spent a lot of time picking the second cut because every song on this CD is wonderful.  I finally decided to share "Green Dolphin Street".  Enjoy the 3 More Sounds,  this is what real Jazz is all about!

"On A Clear Day"

                                                                    "Green Dolphin Street"

   

CD Review: Henry Franklin and Robert Turner and "3 More Sounds" Release "Ghetto Princes" A tribute to Gene Harris

Henry "The Skipper" Franklin and Robert Turner and their group " 3 More Sounds" have produced and recorded a terrific new CD that is a tribute to Gene Harris.  The idea for the CD was born when Robert's and Henry's paths crossed in 2014 in Hangzhou, China.  Henry was just finishing  a tour gig in this Chinese city and  Robert was just coming in to replace Henry Franklin's Band.   Henry Franklin had worked with Gene Harris on numerous occasions and Robert Turner always treasured Gene Harris as one of his playing heros.  As soon as Robert found out that Henry had a long playing history with Gene Harris, he couldn't ask questions about Gene quick enough. After many hours of discussion,  these two major players decided that they would someday cut a CD as a tribute to Gene Harris and "Ghetto Princes" is the result.  As you listen to the cuts on this new CD,  you will hear Robert at times playing very much in the Gene Harris fashion.

Robert Turner is one of the brightest musical stars playing today and his ability to arrange and swing music is recognized throughout the Jazz world.  He is not just a casual player, Robert is a fine technician and has a clear understanding of music composition and how it develops.  I have heard him playing live with several artists and he can handle any kind of music for vocalists or instrumentalist with easy, style, and creativity.

Henry "The Skipper" Franklin is a living legion and continues to impress Jazz lovers wherever he performs.  I have heard him with small trios and also with big Jazz groups and he can do it all.  His high level of Bass playing is internationally known and sought out.  He has a long list of Jazz giants that he has worked with like Roy Ayers, Gene Harris, Freddie Hubbard and Joe Williams just to name a few.

Joining these two remarkable Jazz performers is Khoran Harrison on Drums.  Khoran and Robert have been playing friends since they were teenagers and know each others' playing style inside out.  Veteran Drummer Carl Burnett was added as a special guest and he plays Drums on Cuts 2, 4 and 9.

"Ghetto Princes" is an easy listening Jazz recording because it's simply great Jazz music and arrangements.  No gimmicks or tricks here,  just great American Jazz!

Playlist:
1. "Ghetto Princes"
2. "Besame Mucho"
3. "Willow Weep For Me"
4. "Uptown Sop"
5. "I Thought About You"
6. "Love For Sale"
7. "You Don't Know Me"
8. "Battle Hymm of the Republic"/  "John Brown's Body"
9. "Things Ain't What They Used To Be"

Players:
Robert Turner- Piano
Henry "The Skipper" Franklin- Bass
Khoran Harrison- Drums
Carl Burnett- Drums  Cuts 2, 4, and 9

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure.  The song is Cole Porter's "Love For Sale" that features a terrific Bass solo from Henry Franklin.  The second song is an up-tempo version of "Besame Mucho" composed by Consuelo Velazquez.