CD Review: Deb Bowman, "Reflection"

 

Actress, Storyteller and Vocalist Deb Bowman has just published her 4th Jazz album, "Reflection". The album is a tribute to three of the greatest American songwriters, Michel Legrand, Burt Bacharach and Stephen Sondheim all whom have passed away between 2019 and 2023.  The recording process was done over a few years during which selections were revised to include a wide range of composers.  Bowman is an accomplished Actress who has appeared in many live productions as well as in television and her acting skills have helped her to not only understand the meaning of musical lyrics but also how to phrase them so they tell compelling stories.  .

Bowman has worked closely with her musical director and Pianist, Dean Fransen to create wonderful arrangements that support Bowman's voice and phrasing.  The results are Jazz vocals that sound fresh and new!  

I have attached two "Youtube" video tracks from "Reflection" for your listening pleasure.  The first is "He Was Too Good For Me" a seldom heard song from the pen of Lorenz Hart.  Hart's lyric covers a 😏 wide range of emotions and Bowman starts with a verse that is seldom heard. but is an interesting part of the story in the Lyric.  The second is the classic Michel Legrand song, "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" with sensational lyric from Alan and Marilyn Bergman.

PLAYERS:

Deb Bowman- Vocals

Dean Fransen- Piano, Organ and Arrangements

Jim Donica-Bass

Jakubu Griffin- Drums

Joel Mateo- Percussion

Tom McCaffrey- Guitar

Kurt Bacher- Woodwinds

Bruce Harris- Trumpet

Rashaan Salaam- Trombone

Tim Aucoin- Bass (2,8)

Jared Lanham- Drums (2,8)

Marla Feeney- Woodwinds (8)

PLAYLIST:

1. Send In The Clowns

2.. Moon River

3. Somewhere Over The Rainbow

4. This Girl's In Love

5. He Was Too Good To Me

6. Somewhere That's Green

7. How Do You Keep The Music Playing

8. Till There was you

9. Baby Mine

  

                                                              "He Was Too Good For Me"

                                                     "How Do You Keep The Music Playing"

CD Review: Darmon Meader, "Losing My Mind"

Vocalist, Saxophonist, Arranger and Composer, Darmon Meader has released his second solo project, "Losing My Mind".  When I received the promotion copy of this CD, I saw a photo of Darmon standing holding a Tenor Sax and I thought the music would feature the Tenor. However, as I got further into the promotional material, I discovered that while Darmon is an outstanding Tenor player, he is also a great Jazz Vocalist.  This album shines a light on classics from the Great American Songbook and Meader proves without any doubt that he has the vocal chops to handle these great songs.  He gives us a master class in the art of scatting.  His phrasing is dead-on and his voice has a soft comfortable feel that is the perfect match for the classics in this CD.  We also get to hear a couple of original Meader tunes that are wonderful. 

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for you to listen to.  The first was written by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II, "The Song Is You" and you will love it.  The second is the title track, "Losing My Mind" written by Stephen Sondheim.  This CD is terrific and an example of current American Jazz that is easily assessable by any listener.

 Playlist:

1. It Could Happen To You

2. Losing My Mind

3. Last Call

4. Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise

5. Gaia's Lament

6. I hear Music

7. Lembra de Mim

8. The Last Thing On My Mind

9. Lovely Day

10. East of the Sun

11. All My Loving

12. The Song Is You

Players:

"The Song Is You"

    Vocal-Darmon Meader

    Piano- Andy Ezrin

    Bass- Jay Anderson

    Drums- Ben Wittman

    Alto& Tenor Sax- Darmon Meader

    Bari Sax- Steve Kenyon

    Trumpets- Frank Greene & Scotty Barnhart

    Trombones- Mike Davis & Jay Ashby

"Losing My Mind"

    Vocal- Darmon Meader

    Piano- Andy Ezrin

    Guitar- Romero Lubambo

    Bass- Jay Anderson

    Drums- Ben Wittman

    Flute- Steve Kenyon

    Clarinet - Darmon Meader

    Violins- Gina Buzzelli & Maria Rusu

    Cello- Cesar Colmenares & Teodore Tusu

                                                                    "The Song Is You"

                                                                    "Losing My Mind"

The Top 20 Greatest American Standards: 2011 Edition

It is that time of year when we post a new list of the Top 20 Greatest American Standards.  This year I have decided to remove the requirement that a song be at least 50 years old because I feel it is too restrictive and keeps some exceptionally great songs off the list. The class of 2011 has 4 new songs that have made the Top 20 cut.

    1. "How Do You Keep The Music Playing": 1982 music by Michel Legrand and Lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Berman for the movie "Best Friends".
    2. "Something": 1969 music and words by Beatle George Harrison
    3. "The Shadow Of Your Smile": 1965 Music by Johnny Mandel and Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster for the film, "The Sandpiper". This song won a Grammy for Song of the Year and also an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
    4. "Send In The Clowns": 1973 Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim for his 1973 musical, "A Little Night Music".

THE 20 GREATEST AMERICAN STANDARDS: 2011 EDITION
1.   You've Changed
2.   What's New?
3.   The Nearness of You
4.   My Funny Valentine
5.   Embraceable You
6.   The Very Thought of You
7.   Here's That Rainy Day
8.   I've Got You Under My Skin
9.   Over The Rainbow
10. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
11. In The Still Of The Night
12. Night And Day
13. Someone To Watch Over Me
14. How Do You Keep The Music Playing?
15. Something
16. The Way You Look Tonight
17. They Can't Take That Away From Me
18. Send In The Clowns
19. The Shadow Of Your Smile
20. These Foolish Things


These are my personal favorites and how I rank them.  I am sure you have your own favorites. I would love to get some comments from you!

The Best Love Songs Written In The Fifty Years From 1960 to 2010. A Special Valentine Playlist For Your Special Person

One of my long time followers of the Music Man Blog, Zelda, recently suggested that the great Beatles' tune "Michelle" should be on the "Greatest Love Songs of All Times" list.  As I was thinking about this suggestion, Zelda offered another suggestion that maybe we should have a new list developed for great songs written after 1960. Excellent suggestion especially since Valentine's Day is just a few days away. Here is a knockout playlist to share with that special person on Valentine's Day.

1.  "Michelle" 1965 by John Lennon & Paul McCartney

2.  "Your Song" 1970 by Elton John & Bernie Taupin

3.  "The Summer Knows" 1971 by Michel Legrand

4.  "The Shadow Of Your Smile" 1965 by Johnny Mandel & Paul Webster

5.   "Something" 1969 by George Harrison

6.   "Evergreen" 1976 by Barbara Streisand & Paul Williams

7.   "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" 1982 by Michel Legrand

8.   "Yesterday" 1965 by Paul; McCartney

9.   "Just The Way You Are" 1977 by Billy Joel

10. "Send In The Clowns" 1973 by Stephen Sondheim

11. "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life" 1969 by Michel Legrand

12. "God Only Knows" 1966 by Brian Wilson

13. "My Girl" 1964 by Smokey Robinson & Ronald White

14."I'll Be There" 1970 by Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis & Willie Hutch

15."Wonderful Tonight" 1977 by Eric Clapton

16. "Save The Last Dance For Me" 1960 Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman

17. "You Are the Sunshine Of My Life" 1973 by Stevie Wonder

18. "Have I Told You Lately" 1969 by Van Morrison

19. "Three Times A Lady" 1978 by Lionel Richie

20. "You Are So Beautiful" 1974 by Billy Preston & Bruce Fisher

I am sure you have lots of your own personal favorite love songs that are not on the list.  Let me know if you have any love songs that should be on this list!  Happy Valentine's Day to all!