CD Review: Jorge Garcia "Dedicated To You"

 

Cuban-born master Guitarist, Composer and Arranger Jorge Garcia has released a new CD that is dedicated to many of the esteemed musicians he has collaborated with in past years.  The list includes Tony Bennett, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Chuck Redd, Jon Faddis and Ignacio Berroa.  On his new CD  released in February of this year, Garcia celebrates his collaborations with two other Jazz icons, the late alto saxophonist Richie Cole and Harmonica wizard Hendrick Meurkens along with some of his favorite local musicians from South Florida.

You may not be familiar with Jorge Garcia's body of work as I wasn't but after listening to just the two cuts I have attached from his new album, you will quickly become a big fan.  Garcia demonstrates on his new CD how he can brilliantly move from Be-Bop, Brazilian, Latin, Ballads and Standards seamlessly.  His perfomance skills are at the highest levels.  I was also very impressed with Garcia's compositions.  They are rich and have depth, clarity and melody.   No wonder all the super musicians I have listed above wanted to record with him.  

On the two songs from "Dedicated To You" that I have attached I need to mention the outstanding support that Drummer James Cotmon and Bassist Jamie Ousley contributed to Garcia and his new CD.  

Jorge Garcia has produced a first-class stylish Jazz CD and picking only two wonderful songs from this album was very difficult.  You need to add this CD to your collection. It's one of the best I have heard in many months.

The first tune I attached from "YouTube" was "This One's For Richie".  It was especially written by Garcia to showcase Richie Cole's alto melodic mood over a swinging medium tempo.  Garcia contributes a great solo using a hollow-bodied Guitar.  The second tune is another Garcia original "With You Always".  The song is a warm Brazilian composition that demostrates the fine chemistry between Garcia's Guitar and Hendrick Meurkens's Harmonica.  Also notable on this track is the contribution from Drummer James Cotmon and Bassist Jamie Ousley. 

PLAYERS:

Jorge Garcia- Guitar, Compositions, Arranging

Richie Cole- Alto Sax

Rick Doll- Bass on 1,2

James Cotmon- Drums

Jamie Ousley- Bass on 3,4,6

Gino Castillo- Percussion

John Yarling- Drums 4

Paul Banman- Piano

Hendrick Meurkens- Harmonica

Wendy Pedersen- Vocals

PLAYLIST:

1. Minority

2. This One's For Richie

3. With You Always

4. Somewhere Over The Rainbow

5. You Fascinate Me

6. S'Wonderful

7. Dedicated To You

         

                                "This One's For Richie"

                                                                   "With You Always"

CD Review: "With Love" Arranged And Conducted by Jeremy Fox

Jeremy Fox

The new CD, "With Love" is as much about the singers as its about the arranger, conductor, producer and engineer, Jeremy Fox.  Jeremy has gathered 10 of the most highly acclaimed voices singing today.   In order to make Jeremy's final 10, each singer had to prove they had the ability to not only understand the lyrics of each song, but prove they could deliver it with the composer's implied emotion.

For those of us who love singers who can understand and perform songs from the "Great American Songbook", this CD is a gem.  The value of the arranger of songs is sometimes overlooked by many listeners but not by experienced singers.  They all know that a good singer can quickly become a great singer with the addition of a fabulous arrangement.  One has only to review the career of Frank Sinatra and his respect and desire to record with only the very best arrangers to recognize their value.

The singers on this CD have a close relationship with the songs and lyrics they perform and the results are some great performances.  The selection of songs on this CD are also a work of art.  Jeremy put hours of work and planning into producing this CD.  He is very proud that he used the talents of over 80 talented musicians and no artificially synthesized instrumentation.  The final product has made all his effort worth it.  This is a first class CD by a first-class arranger and performed by first class singers.

              List of Songs
1.  "That Old Feeling"---featuring Kate Reid
2.  "All My Tomorrows"--featuring Kate McGarry
3.  "Three Little Words"--featuring Kevin Mahogany
4.  "Get Out Of Town"--featuring Derek Fawcett
5.  "Not While I'm Around"--featuring Sunny Wilkinson
6.  "Girl Talk"--Featuring Wendy Pedersen
7.  "Dindi"--featuring Rose Max & Ramatis Moraes
8.  "Friendship"--featuring Anders Edenroth
9.  "I'm Glad There Is You"--featuring Peter Eldridge
10."Moonray"--featuring Lauren Kinhan
11."So Many Stars"--featuring Kate Reid