CD Review: Craig Davis, "Tone Paintings"

 Pianist Craig Davis is a major player in the Pittsburgh Jazz scene.  He recently released his new CD, "Tone Paintings: The Music of Dodo Marmarosa". Dodo Marmarosa was a major performer in the 1940s and was compared to the giants of bebop pianists like Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk.  He worked in bands led by most of the major swing-era bandleaders, including Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa and Artie Shaw.  He worked with legendary musicians including Lester Young, Barney Kessel, Lionel Hampton, Slim Gaillard and Mel Torme.  But things changed quickly by the end of the decade for Marmarosa due to health reasons and he became a near recluse for much of the rest of his life 

 Craig Davis has been on a mission to raise Dodo's profile in Jazz history.  Both Davis and Marmarosa perform by blending both classical influences and progressive Jazz into one voice.  On his new album,  Davis offers his beautiful interpretations to ten classic Marmarosa tunes as well as a new song he wrote dedicated to Marmarosa.  Davis explains "Dodo's story really resonated with me because he was such an enigmatic figure.  He never got the recognition he deserved beyond having a flurry of fame in the forties.  I thought maybe I could help bring his music to light".  Davis goes on to say "We share similar stylistic interests.  I love bebop and of course he was a bebop innovator, and we're both classically trained and bring those influences to our music. He also tried to push the art form forward a little bit and not just kind of settle on what was popular. Dorsey didn't like him because he was too progressive, but Artie Shaw loved it.  All the music on this CD is musically beautiful! 

Davis brought two of the finest musicians in modern Jazz today to join him,  John Clayton one of the most accomplished Bass players in Jazz history and Jeff Hamilton one of the tecnically proficient Drummers in the Jazz world.  I am sure most of you are more than familar with John and Jeff and know that if they agree to participate in a new CD, it will always produce great sounds.  

I found two cuts from the CD on "YouTube" for your listening pleasure.  The first is "Dodo's Bounce" which gives both Clayton and Hamilton a lot of room to show their stuff.  The second one is "Mellow Mood" a song written by Marmarosa when he was 14 years old.

                                                                  "Dodo's Bounce"

                                                                   "Mellow Mood"

Playlist:

1. Mellow Mood

2. Dodo's Bounce

3. Dodo's Blues

4. Escape

5. A Ditty For Dodo

6. Opus No. 5

7. Compadoo

8. Dary Departs

9. Tone Paintings

10. Battle of the Balcony Jive

11. Dodo's Lament

Players:

Piano-Craig Davis

Bass-John Clayton

Drums-Jeff Hamilton

CD Review: The Flying Horse Big Band, "Good News!"

Recently I have discovered several new big band CDs that are outstanding.  It's always a pleasure to find new big band CDs because this type of CD is so expensive to record,  not to mention the difficulty of getting all the members of the band together in the same place at the same time.  But there is no stopping big bands and the musicians who love to play a part in producing wonderful music!  Today I have the pleasure of reviewing the "The Flying Horse Big Band" directed by Jeff Rupert.  This CD is a collaboration with the UCF Studio Orchestra made up students from
UCF'S Jazz Studies program.   These students are first-class musicians and playing together this band really cooks!

There is a beautiful version of John Lennon's "Imagine" by Jeff "T-Bone Gerard and a superb recording of "Round Midnight"tby the Jazz Professors who teach in the UCF Jazz Studies Program including the band director, Jeff Rupert producing lush and warm tones from Tenor Sax.  It's an outstanding recording!

The playlist chosen for this CD is from the A-list of Jazz composers: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Bob Mintzer.

Playlist:

Players:

I have attached two "YouTubes" that highlight how good this band and its talented musicians are.  The first one is the first cut on the CD "  a musical gem from Miles Davis, "The Serpent's Tooth".  The second is perhaps the most famous composition from Monk, "Round Midnight".  You must add this CD to your big band collection.
                                                                       "The Serpent's Tooth"

                       
                                                                 "Round Midnight"

CD Review: Nick Grinder "Farallon"

Trombonist, Composer and Arranger Nick Grinder is one of the brightest new musicians on the Jazz scene today.  His tone and technique bring the Trombone back to the forefront of important voices in Jazz today.  Slide Hampton had this to say about Nick, "An import future voice in Jazz Trombone".  Alan Ferber said,  Nick has "The best blend of Saxophone-like technique with the expressive nuances of the Trombone".  Nick studied at Cal State Northridge in Los Angeles with Bob McChesney and pursued his master's degree at NYU.  His bi-coastal studies exposed him to many different approaches to Jazz that show up in his playing and composing.  Nick wrote 8 of the 9 songs on "Farallon" that was released last month.

The name of the CD was inspired by the Farallon Islands that lie just 30 miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge that provide a secure home to a rich variety of seabirds and marine mammals.  Nick has a deep attachment to the islands.  "When you grow up in a place, you have these markers that end up having a special meaning and feeling that sneaks in and helps to define who we are".

Nick has written 8 wonderful fresh, new compositions for this CD and one from a Thelonious Monk classic, "Reflections" that evoke the sentiments he derives from his own favorite music.

The approach Nick takes to composing is certainly modern but stays closely to warm melodies and  welcoming emotions.  He has brought some talented musicians who are also friends,  Juanma Trujillo on Guitar, Ethan Helm on Saxophone, Walter Stinson on Bass and Matt Honor on Drums.  I am looking forward to many years of wonderful new music from this Trombone superstar!

Playlist:
1. "New and Happy"
2. "Potential"
3. "5 Steps"
4. "Inaction"
5. "Belly Up"
6. "Deciduous"
7. "Farallon"
8. "Staged"
9. "Reflections"

Players:
Nick Grinder- Trombone, Arranger, Composer
Ethan Helm- Saxophone
Juanma Trujillo- Guitar
Walter Stinson- Bass
Matt Honor- Drummer

I have attached two "YouTube" videos highlighting songs from this CD.  The first is a Nick Grinder composition entitled "New and Happy"  and the second is the classic Thelonious Monk composition "Reflections".  I am sure you will enjoy both!

CD Review: Deborah Latz "sur I'instant"

Take a look at the picture of Deborah Latz on the front of her new CD, "sur I'instant".  She looks like a happy and carefree person, right?  I think these personality traits present themselves when she sings. I had never heard Deborah sing before this CD but after listening to her sing a couple of times, it feels like I have known her all my musical life.  Deborah has a clear voice and perfect pitch and when combined with her sensitivity and interpretive skills makes her a major-league Jazz vocal star!  Deborah tries to extract from each song its core narrative.  In her words, "With each interpretation I ask myself, Did you tell the story?  ---that's the ultimate goal. I wanted the album to be about focus-to always ask "What is this song?" Deborah has been performing around New York for the past few years.  I recently caught a "YouTube" of her recent performance at the "Blue Note" that you might want to check out.

I am always fascinated by the song selections picked by vocalists for CDs they are recording.  I think it tells a lot about the singer.  I think Deborah's selections match her love for lyric and melody. The mix is perfect for me, some classics and some Jazz compositions that are great stuff but we just don't hear them too often.  Take a look at the list below and you will see what I am talking about.

Deborah spotlights "Weep No More" written by Dave and Lola Brubeck,  "MR. P.C". by John Coltraine with lyrics by Jon Hendricks and Thelonious Monk's "Blue Monk".  These terrific Jazz compositions, combined with some great "Evergreens" make Deborah's interpretation a delight for any listener.

Deborah is greatly supported on this CD by the Marvelous Pianist Alain Jean-Marie and Bassist Gilles Natural.

          Playlist:
1. "Love Theme From "Spartacus"          2. "Throw It Away"
3. "Weep No More"                                     4. "All The Things Your Are"
5. "Four"                                                      6. "Blue Monk"
7. "Mr P.C."                                                 8. "Nature Boy"
9. "Over The Rainbow"

Deborah Latz-Vocals
Alain Jean-Marie-Piano
Gilles Naturel-Bass
















I have attached a "YouTube" video of Deborah singing the great American classic "All The Things You Are" from her new CD.  The Piano work from Alain Jean-Marie is terrific on this cut.

CD Review: Claire Ritter "Soho Solo"

Pianist/Composer Claire Ritter records her 2nd solo album and her 11th CD overall.  Claire Ritter is a song-writers' song-writer.  On her new CD, it seems to me that she takes us on a musical ride that transfers the joy of song-writing painlessly to the listener.  On her new CD, Claire performs 18 new songs she has written taking us with her on her free ranging music trip through her wide-ranging musical passions. "Creating music which is unique and uplifting is a challenge for any musician", Ritter says.  "But this recording felt lighthearted yet poignant with a twist of the South. Some of the songs are self-portraits".  Songs range from the abstract-whimsical tunes to ballads that haunt me".  Claire's description of her writing style and music direction are right on target.  Her melodies at times appear simple and free-spirited and yet are constructed in a beautiful and masterful way.  Her writing and playing are succinct using notes skillfully and sparing that reminds me of way Claire's inspiration the great Thelonious Monk wrote and played.

Clair Ritter has composed over 200 compositions, most of which have been published and recorded; and performed in festivals, concert halls and museums in the US, Canada, Europe and Asia.  As I listened to the songs on "Soho Solo" I could not help wishing some up and coming top notch Lyricist   steps up and provides lyrics for these wonderful new songs.  This CD is scheduled to be released on May 26 on Zoning Records.  If you love listening to new songs that are anchored in the past but embrace the present and future, this CD will make you happy!

I was able to find a song from "Soho Solo" on "YouTube" and have attached it for your listening pleasure.  Here is Claire Ritter performing her own composition, "Integrity".

CD Review: Five Plus Six "Such Sweet Thunder"

Jazz is alive and well in all parts of the USA.  Most of the new Jazz CDs I am asked to review, especially big bands are either the West Coast or the East Coast.  However, Vance Thompson's new Jazz band, Five Plus Six direct from Knoxville, Tennessee proves that great Jazz is being creative all over the USA.  Vance Thompson is an outstanding Jazz Trumpet player, and he has provided some  sensational arrangements of classic Jazz composition from the masters of Jazz: Thelonious Monk, Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington.  And believe it or not Vance has arranged a gem from the musical pen of Dolly Parton that would knock Dolly off her chair, "Little Sparrow".

The heart of this new eleven-piece band combines Vance Thompson's core quintet with six additional horns.  The additional horn players while younger musicians, play with seasoned musicianship and add a noticeable excitement to the overall big band sound.  Five Plus Six has produced a terrific Jazz product and would thrill anyone who loves the big band Jazz sound.

As a side-note, this CD was made possible through a fund raising project done in coordination with the site, "Pledgemusic.com".  Its great that we have so many sites now where musicians can get financial support to record new CDs that benefit all music lovers.  The world is a better place because musicians like Vance Thompson can share their creative talents with us.

        The Lineup:
       
        "The Five"
Vance Thompson- Trumpet & Flugel and all arrangement except "Four in One".
Michael Wyatt-Trumpet
Joe Jordan-Trumpet
Tylar Bullion-Trombone
Sean Copeland-Tenor & Bass Trombone

         "The Six"
Keith Brown-Piano & Fender Rhodes
Jamel Mitchell-Alto & Soprano Sax
Taylor Coker-Bass
Greg Tardy-Tenor Sax & Bass Clarinet
Nolan Nevels-Drums
David King-Baritone and Soprano Sax

"Four and One" arrangement by Donald Brown and Keith Brown
Executive Producers: Barbara and Jeffrey Crist
Associate Producers: Bill and Elisabeth Rukeyser

Playlist:
"Pannonia"-Thelonious Monk
"Isfahan"-Billy Strayhorn
"Little Sparrow-Dolly Parton
"Ugly Beauty"-Thelonious Monk
"Such Sweet Thunder"-Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn
"Prelude To A Kiss"-Duke Ellington
"Rocklin In Rhythm"-Duke Ellington
"Four In One"-Thelonious Monk
"He's Gone Away"-Traditional Appalachian Folk Song

I found a "YouTube" of Five Plus Six playing "Rockin In Rhythm" that is guaranteed to make you feel good!