CD Review: Jacqui Naylor, "Treasures of the Heart"

Vocalist and Composer Jacqui Naylor has just released her 12th album, "Treasures Of The Heart".   For those of you who are not familiar with Jacqui Naylor's work you are in for a treat.  Jacqui's new CD, "Treasures of the Heart" is a sensational gift for all music lovers.  Jacqui Naylor's voice can be described as smokey and rich. She has her only style and while the listener may be reminded of other major Jazz vocalists, her voice is very special and her own. She includes a wide variety of new and old music and takes us for a musical ride with songs immersed in Jazz, R & B, Soul and Pop.  Jacqui along with her Pianist and husband, Art Khu composed 10 of the 14 songs on this CD.  Art Khu created all the exciting arrangements.   His piano work fits Jacqui's vocal style perfectly.   Her reimagined approach to the four well- known standards will surprised you both with her wonderful vocal stylizing and Art Chu's refreshing bright arrangements.   Jacqui has headlined some of the most important and famous festivals throughout the world including Monterey Jazz Festival, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Vancouver Jazz Festival, London's Ronnie Scott's,  Berlin's Quasimodo, Lisbon's Jazz Palacio Baldaya, New York and Hamburg's Birdland and the Blue Note in New York, Milan and Tokyo.  Once you listen to "Treasures of the Heart" you will quickly understand why Jacqui Naylor is in high demand where ever Jazz is loved!  

The supporting band for this album are rock solid Jazz professionals.  Starting with her Pianist, Art Khu, who co-wrote the 10 original songs for the album.  His support behind and along side Jacqui is terrific.  Khu has worked with some of the biggest Jazz players like Donald Byrd, and Idina Menzel.  Richie Goods, who has toured and recorded with Jacqui and worked with Lenny While, Milt Jackson, Russell Malone, Vincent Herring, Chris Botti, Christiana Aguilera and Whitney Houston is outstanding on Bass. Drummer and Percussionist Ele Howell provides faultless and creative rhythms that add interest to every song.  Erik Jekabson plays Trumpet and Flugelhorn and completes this band.  Erik has performed with Phil Woods, Benny Golson, Brian Lynch and Tito Puente.  

I have attached two "YouTube" videos that I know you will enjoy.  The first is Jacqui's reimagined version of the Rodgers and Hart evergreen "I didn't know What Time It Was" with an Afro-Cuban rhythm.  The second song is the title tune "Treasures of The Heart" written by Jacqui and Art Khu.  The lyric summarizes the album's theme "I found joy when only dark clouds came to call/ I felt springtime when the leaves began to fall/ in the sunshine and the rain/ in the joy inside the pain/ joy is a treasure of the heart".

PLAYLIST:

1. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

2. Treasures Of The Heart

3. All That We Could Be

4. Happy Adventure

5. Walk Out In The Sun

6. Love's Around

7. True Colors

8. You're The One For Me

9. Love In Springtime

10. Lovely Day

11. Picture Book Of You

12. This Guy's In Love With You

13. Hold On

14. We'll Shine Through

PLAYERS:

Jacqui Naylor- Vocals, Composing

Art Khu- Piano, Organ, Rhodes, Celeste, Guitar, Composing, Arranging

Richie Goods- Basses

Ele Howell- Drums, Percussion

Erik Jekabson- Trumpet, Flugelhorn

                                                        "I Didn't Know What Time It Was"

                                                                "Treasures of the Heart"

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!

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.