Jazz Tuba Player Jim Self has joined musical forces with Guitarist John Chiodini to record their new CD, "Hangin' Out". I have been a fan of Jim Self ever since I heard an absolutely beautiful CD he recorded with master Harmonica player, Ron Kalina. The CD was titled "The Odd Couple" and it's still one of my favorites. Let's be serious, how many Jazz CDs feature a Tuba player? And yet, the talented John Self continues to produce wonderful Jazz. Self is joined by the talented Guitar player, John Chiodini and while paring of a Tuba with a Guitar which is certainly unusual, I think they pull it off perfectly. "Hangin Out" contains an unusual assortment of tunes that is not surprising considering the long list of well-known artists both Self and Chiodini have performed with over the years. Both performers also included one of their original compositions.
This CD is a very sensitive and intimate musical conversation between the two master-class musicians. In addition, they have asked four equally master musicians: Scott Whitfield on Trombone, David Angel on Baritone Sax, Tom Peterson on Tenor Sax and Ron Stout on Trumpet & Flugelhorn, to join them on several songs.
I want to mention that in addition to playing the Tuba on this CD, Self also plays an instrument called a Fluba. Self describes this instrument as a tuba-sized Flugelhorn.
I have attached two "YouTubes" of two cuts from the CD. The first one will surprise you, a Tuba and Guitar playing Stevie Wonder's gem "Sir Duke". The second one is the classic "It Could Happen To You" with Self and Chiodini joined by their four special guests. It's a treat!
I would venture that any real Jazz fan living in Southern California knows that on Saturday nights the only place to be is at Peter Carlson's Golf and Tennis Store in Palm Desert, CA. During the day, Pete's place is one of the biggest and best golf and tennis stores in the country but on most Saturday nights, Pete's team cleans out the golf bags and golf clubs in one room and as if by magic, it turns into a Jazz Club! Pete rolls out a baby Grand and then it's straight-ahead Jazz for the night. Pete has been hosting these world-class Jazz sessions since 2010. The proceeds from these 30 or so concerts each season go to support music education and scholarships for young musicians in the Coachella Valley and the American Jazz Institute. It's a great win for everyone. Jazz lovers get to hear the best current live Jazz in the Country, and the kids get financial support to keep music playing in their schools! It's a lot of work for Pete and his wife Edna, but it is a labor of love!
Pete is also a founder, director and broadcaster at a new local 24-hour Jazz radio station right here in Palm Desert, KAJI 95.3 FM. For anyone not living in this area, you can tune in to the station by logging onto your computer at www.amjazzin.org. The radio broadcasting legend, Alan Schulz is the program director for KAJI and also hosts his own show. Alan has spent the major part of his life involved in the Jazz world and has wonderful stories he shares about every Jazz great, past or current.
Tonight Pete hosted "The Phil Norman Tentet" one of the most talented and respected Jazz bands playing today. The musicians in this band are stellar, every single one is multi-talented and a Jazz star in his own right. Take a look at the advertisement posted above and you are sure to know most of the veterans who play in this band. This wonderful band filled the house wall to wall with Jazz fans from all over the Valley and they were not disappointed. From the first downbeat, these masters of Jazz performed one great Jazz tune after another. The arrangement charts were also as good as it gets bringing memories of the great bands from years ago. Mark your schedule for next week, Saturday, January 26 when the outstanding flutist, Holly Hofmann, will be joined by the Mike WoffordQuartet.
The band played many great songs last night, but I particularly enjoyed their arrangement of "Surrey With The Fringe On Top" and I have attached a "YouTube" of the band performing it.
"Solitary Moon" is a major league tribute to one of the best composers of Jazz, Pop and Film Music, Johnny Mandel. He has long been recognized within the music industry as one of its creative giants yet, it has always been my belief that Johnny Mandel has never received the deserved level of credit from the music public. But make no mistake about it, the multitalented Mandel is equal to the best songwriters and musicians of the past 100 years.
This CD starts with a tribute to Johnny Mandel, but that is not where the magic ends. GingerBerglund and Scott Whitfield could have recorded this CD with just the two of them, and I know this CD would have been terrific. However, Ginger and Scott chose to bring along some of the most respected musicians performing on the Jazz scene today. The result is a musical product that is close to perfection music and a musical treat for the ears.
Ginger Berglund has a sterling resume of work as a vocalist including recording with Steve Allen and the great pianist Paul Smith. She has sung with Kenny Rankin and the great Brazilian Jazz vocalist Flora Purim and her husband, the premiere fusion Jazz Percussionist Airto Moreira. Ginger still performs with the Stan Kenton Alumni Band, The Modernaires, TheTracy Wells BigBand and the Jumpin' Joz Band.
Scott Whitfield is a world class Trombonist, Arranger and Singer. He is internationally recognized for his work with many contemporary big bands, including the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, The Clare Fischer Bib Band, TheBill Holman Band, The Phil Norman Tentet and his own Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra. Whitfield also plays trombone for the Johnny Mandel Orchestra.
Ginger and Scott chose 15 tracks for this CD and Whitfield did all the arrangement from big band to small group, from vocal duets to a cappella five-part harmony. Singing together they treat us with beautiful Mandel melodies and perfect harmonies that you will seldom hear today. They are perfect singing together! Both Berglund and Whitfield are also members of the Modernaires, the legendary vocal group that performed in the 1940's for The Glenn Miller Band. Whitman is also a member of the LAVA (Los Angeles Vocal Alliance), a new vocal group of brass players who sing in four-part harmony. They make their recording debut on Whitfield's version of the Mandel classic, "Emily".
I can't end this review without listing the superb list of musicians that contributed to this wonderful CD. I am sure that you will know many of them from their past work. Thank you Ginger and Scott for sharing your wonderful musical talents with us! Ginger Berglund: Voice Scott Whitfield: Voice, Trombone, All arrangements Corey Allen: Piano Jennifer Laitham: Bass Kendall Kay: Drums Roger Neumann: Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Bass Clarinet Rusty Higgins: Alto Sax, Flute, Alto Clarinet Billy Kerr: Alto Sax Pete Christieb: Tenor Sax, Clarinet Nancy Newman: Bari Sax Jamie Hovorke: Trumpet Carl Saunders: Trumpet Ira Nepus: Trumbone Linda Small: Trombone Rich Nullock: Bass Trombone John Dickson: Horn Stephanie O'Keefe: Horn SPECIAL GUESTS: Ken Peplowski: Clarinet Don Shelton: Clarinet Jack Peterson: Guitar Airto Moreira: Percussion The Modernaires: Julie Dickson, Ginger Berglund, Jimmy Stephens, Joe Croyle, Scott Whitfield Lava: Jonathan Dane, Larry Williams, Scott Whitfield, Rich Bullock
I have attached a "YouTube" video of Ginger and Scott singing the first cut from "Solitary Moon" "Cinnamon & Clove".
Judy Wexler has just finished recording her 4th album, "What I See". Judy has a marvelous, pure, clean voice, but that's only one part of what makes her such a special singer. First and foremost, Judy is a wonderful storyteller. When you hear Judy sing any of the songs that she carefully hand picks, she brings life to the lyrics. She has the rare ability to magically combine the story with her beautiful voice and captures the full attention of the listener. The songs Judy recorded on this album cover a wide range of times and styles; and, yet, Judy has been able to put them together as if these songs were written just for this album. There are few singers who have the ability to select the songs Judy has and bring them to life as she does. After selecting her songs, Judy applies the final magic to her CD by bringing together some of the most talented sidemen on the West Coast: Larry Koonse on Guitar, Bob Sheppard on Bass Clarinet and Alto Sax, Ron Stout on Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Scott Whitfield on Trombone, Billy Hulting on Percussion, Chris Colangelo on Bass, and Steve Hass on Drums. These are a lot of parts to pull together and make it all fit together perfectly. So Judy, brings in her long-time Pianist/Arranger, Jeff Colella to co-produce the album. Jeff who spent almost two decades as the Music Director for Lou Rawls put together all the beautiful arrangements that make this CD one of the best Jazz albums of the year.
