Today's review is for a CD that was released a while ago. I never got to listen to it until recently, and once I heard it I knew I had to get the word out. The CD, "Standards" is by Pianist/Composer Noah Haidu who is joined by Bassists Buster Williams and Peter Washington, Drummer Lewis Nash and guest Sax player Steve Wilson. The CD was inspired and celebrates the 40th anniversary of the remarkable Jarrett, Peacock and DeJohnette's first "Standards" album. Noah Haidu says, "There's something so vulnerable about playing in this context, when you're completely exposed. Of course, I love composing because you can create an entire world, your own language of sound. But with these old standards all you've got is your own musicality and the connection you have with the music and the players. That requires a willingness to let go and see where the song takes you, something that can't be taught or practiced." The theme of lost love is the emotional center of so many of the standards on this CD like "Skylark", "All The Way" and "I Thought About You". Haidu says "There've been a few painful breakups in recent years and I lost my father with whom I was very close. That universal feeling of lost love comes into play on so many standards, especially the ballads." It's wonderful that we have another highly-talented young Pianist willing to continue the Keith Jarrett tradition of spot-lightning a new look at standards for Jazz fans today!
I have attached two "YouTube" videos. The first is a beautiful presentation of . "Skylark". The second is the classic ballad, "Beautiful Friendship".
Multi-talemted Drummer, Composer, Educator and Jazz Producer Jae Sinnett has released a terrific new straight-away Jazz album, "Commitment".Sinnett is a highly trained and admired Drummer but he brings so much more to the Jazz musical table. Jae has written over 250 compositions and has also scored music for five documentaries In addition, he is a dedicated Jazz educator teaching history, theory and percussion at many universities. In his spare time during the last 37 years, Sinnett has been the Jazz Producer and host for NPR affiliate WHRV-FM 89.5.
The Sinnett "Zero TO 60 Quartet" contains five outstanding highly experienced Jazz musicians who all get to shine on this CD. Trumpet great Randy Brecker is a special guest and adds greatly to the total Quartet sound on this CD. Allen Farnham is on Piano and he also composed two songs on this CD. Steve Wilson playing Alto and Soprano Sax shines on the Sinnett compostion, "Takin It There" and has excellent solos on the rest of the playlist. Terry Burrell provides a solid foundation for the group on Acoustic and Electric Bass. Leading the group with outstanding Drum work is Jae Sinnett who has managed to merge all these players into one terrific band.
This CD is a perfect example of the best Jazz has to offer to listeners both young and old. It upholds the traditional Jazz format but adds new windows to what Jazz can offer today. It's a surpurb Jazz CD!
I have attached two cuts from the Album, Jobim's "Chega De Saudade" (No More Blues) and an original Sinnett compostion "Takin It There".
"No More Blues" (Chega De Saudade)
"Takin It There"
PLAYERS:
Jae Sinnett- Drums, Leader, Arrangements and Compositions
Guitarist, Arranger and Composer Peter Leitch has just released the debut 2-disc recording with his New Life Orchestra. Peter a respected Jazz Guitarist who has worked with some of the top names in American Jazz including Oscar Peterson, Ron Carter, Milt Jackson, Woody Shaw, Pepper Adams, Jake Byard, JackMcDuff, Kenny Wheeler, Al Grey and John Hicks. His long and successful playing career came to a quick stop in 2012 after he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Eight years later he is still alive but unable to play his guitar. Peter's story is so inspiring and uplifting I wanted to share it with you.
Peter started his intense treatment of chemo and radiation which quickly resulted in the loss of his left arm effectively ending his playing career. As a life long musician, you can imagine how devastating the realization that he could not longer play guitar had on Peter. After a relatively short period of mental adjustment, Peter relates "It occurred to me that I was free from the tyranny the Jazz Guitar--of having to practice every day. I realized I could create music that was not limited to four fingers on six strings. I began to write." "I couldn't play anymore but I couldn't get rid of this urge to be involved in music and it seemed to me that the only way I could do it was to start writing." Peter spent two years composing, Arranging and Orchestrating the 17 pieces that are included in this 2-CD project. The results are outstanding by any musical measure. Every song on these 2-CD's has special meaning for Peter including the name of his Orchestra, The Peter Leitch New Life Orchestra. Yes, rather that l spend his life regretting his loss of ability to play the instrument the loved, Peter reinvented himself as a highly talented Composer, Arranger and Band leader.
The 14 original composition Peter wrote and arranged for this project are all stunningly beautiful. They cover a wide range of musically thoughts with ideas that are new and sometimes classically inventive while being fully accessible and enjoyable for the listener.
I have picked and attached two cuts from these CD's and a third one of Peter playing a solo on the standard "Yesterdays". for your listening pleasure. These three songs will give you a good look at Peter immense talents as a Composer, Arranger and Guitarist. The first tune is the opening track on the first CD, "Mood For Max". Peter wrote and dedicated this song to Dr. Maxim Kreditor, the oncologist who saved his life. This joyous music Jazz composition expresses Peter's feelings about his medical past, his talented doctor and his newly found musical life. The next tune is the standard written by Thelonious Monk, "Round Midnight". Its a fresh and wonderful interpretation of his great song by the outstanding 17-piece orchestra. I attached the third song, a solo by Peter Leitch in order to let you experience his talented Guitar playing, Peter plays the standard "Yesterdays".
Pianist, Arranger and Composer, Pete Malinverni has a long list of varied and successful projects in the form of a trio, a quintet, solo piano, a big band and choir formats. With his newest release "Heaven", Pete as a result of unfortunate health and life situations involving his wife, singer Jody Sandhaus who died in 2012 along with his own health scare, decided that it was time to deal with some spiritual things. Pete says that going through these health ordeals over the past few years had given him a certain clarity that he wanted to embrace through his music. The album features songs that speak in varied ways of spirituality.
Normally, I would not review a CD with such emotional and deep feelings, but the music and Pete's beautiful playing and arrangements just captured me. "Heaven" is a thoughtful and sensitive collection of songs that is inspiring and yet comforting at the same time. Malinverni says, "We all want to look up, we hope, maybe we even trust, that somewhere there is unalloyed truth and beauty. Much art memorializes tristesse, encouraging us to abide, to await Relief, Rest, or Joy. This recording is meant to reconcile those two perspectives, presenting music of various traditions with one thing in common - the notion that even this vale of tears is tinged with the essence of the transcendent, of the beautiful and the true".
The wonderful Malinverni Trio consists of Pete Malinverni on Piano, Ben Allison on Bass and Akira Tana on Drums. The CD "Heaven" was release on June 16, 2017 and it's not to be missed by anyone who loves to hear fresh and creative inspirational music. Pete Malinverni is one of the most creative and unique Composer/Arranger on the American music scene today!
It was very hard to pick just two songs from this CD for you to sample. I picked the first two cuts, first the title tune from the track, "Heaven"."Heaven" is a wonderful song written by Duke Ellington and "Palm23" is a Peter Malinverni composition that I fell in love with. I hope you enjoy both. Also featured on this CD is a wonderful soulful performance of "Shenandoah" by Karrin Allyson that is just about dead on perfect. Also adding to the party is Trumpet player, John Faddis and Alto Sax player Steve Wilson.
