CD Review: "Absinthe" The Music of Billy Strayhorn From Joe LoCascio and Woody Witt

Billy Strayhorn is well known to any lover of Classic American music. He is remembered by many for his collaborations with Duke Ellington which at times tend to put him in the shadow of "The Duke".  However, many music historians credit Strayhorn for much of the inspiration that Ellington turned into some of the greatest American songs ever recorded. Joe LoCascio, a marvelously talented Pianist, did extensive research into some of the lesser known songs in the Billy Strayhorn songbook and selected 9 of his gems! There is genius in song writing and Billy Strayhorn is certainly in that class. Even the lesser known songs stand up perfectly to the test of time. They are brilliantly written and sound new even more than 50 years after Strayhorn wrote them.

Joining Joe LoCascio on this CD is the very talented Saxophonist Woody Witt. Woody plays Tenor, Alto and Soprano Saxophones on this beautiful CD and the chemistry between Woody and Joe is remarkable. The level of improvisation from both of these world-class musicians is thrilling. Even better is that they improvise with a closeness you would only expect from brothers. The result is they have given life to the Strayhorn masterpieces they have chosen for this CD. The music is new, soft and sensitive. Exactly what you would expect from the brilliant song writing of Billy Strayhorn. The CD was mixed and mastered by Blue Bamboo Music. Chris Cortez was the executive producer and did wonderful job overseeing the recording and mix of this CD.

This CD is really good, and I highly recommend that you pick up a copy.

     Song List
1. My Little Brown Book
2. Charpoy
3. A Flower is a Lovesome Thing
4. Rain Check
5. Chelsea Bridge
6. Lotus Blossom
7. Isfahan
8. Absinthe
9. Daydream

I have attached a video from Facebook of Joe and Woody playing the first cut from the album, "My Little Brown Book".

 

Exceptional Musicians Name Their Top 10 Songs, Chapter 7: Judy Wolman

Judy Wolman

Judy Wolman is one of the most-well liked people in the music industry.  She is not only a caring person, she is also one of the best pianist playing today.  Judy is a women of remarkable talents and is the Founder and Artistic Director of  "Sing! Sing! Sing!", a non-profit organization that features a small group of rehearsed singers who joyfully ease the audience into singing "All the songs you love to sing".  Audiences love the experience!  Everyone is given lyric sheets and each song is introduced with a brief and entertaining commentary.  Judy is a classically trained pianist with a degree in Music from Washington University in St. Louis and has taught vocal music and music appreciation in public and private schools.  After she moved to Los Angeles, she joined the Gregg Smith Singers, a professional, classical choral group and spent 10 years touring and recording with them.  Judy has sung in films and television including "Empire of the Sun", "Jurassic Park" and "The Incredible Hulk". 

Judy has a deep love for the songs in the "Great American Songbook". She always plays them with complete love and inspiration.

                          Judy Wolman's Top 10 Favorite Songs....in no particular order

1.  "Here's That Rainy Day"
2.  "Where Or When"
3.  "Embraceable You"
4.  "All The Things You Are"
5.  "My Shining Hour"
6.  "Young and Foolish"
7.  "I Can't Get Started"
8.  "You Must Believe in Spring"
9.  "Someone To Watch Over Me'
10."Body and Soul"

CD Review: Adam Schroeder's "Lets"

I started playing Alto Sax when I was in 3rd grade, but it wasn't until 8th grade when I fell in love with the sound of the Baritone Sax. That's when I discovered Gerry Mulligan and the magic he was able to produce with his Baritone Sax. I never had much success in creating a pleasing tone from my Baritone Sax which only increased my desire to hear anyone that could make this giant Saxophone sing! Over the years, there have been few Jazz Bari Sax players that have caught my interest until I heard Adam Schroeder on his new CD, "Let's".  Adam Schroeder produces a remarkably rich tone when combined with his amazing dexterity (on this big horn) and brings the listener to musical heaven. His ability to produce rich lows and soar to exciting highs from his Bari Sax are so good that at times the listener might forget these sounds are coming out of a Baritone Sax!

In picking the songs for this album, Adam wrote 5 out of the 11 songs.  The remaining 6 songs were selected by Adam using Melodies as his criteria. "Each of the songs written by others had to have the great melodies first and foremost. These are tunes that make you smile when you first hear them, and then reveal their compositional and harmonic depth the more you listen to them. They also offer vast freedom of expression for everyone to improvise on."

Adam has been able to put together what I think is the "Dream Team" of supporting musicians for this CD. Starting with Anthony Wilson on Guitar, John Clayton on Bass and Jeff Hamilton on Drums.  I first discovered this group of fabulous Jazz players when they backed Diana Krall on her "Live in Paris" album. This album is still one of the best Jazz standards album I have ever heard. As they like to say on the PGA Tour, "These guys are good"! The solos from this trio of world-class musicians are wonderful. They all have a way of improvising that is new and refreshing. The listener can hear every single note they play and yet they are always part of the supporting group even though each one of them could take the lead any time.

This CD will be release on June 17 on Capri Records. Make the effort to get this CD; it will be a keeper for your Jazz collection for many years to come.

I found a cut from the CD on YouTube and would like to share it with you. Attached below is Adam Schroeder Playing his own composition from his new CD "Let's".  The song is titled: " A Hawkeye, A Hoosier and Two Cali Cats". Great Music!

                                         

Exceptional Musicians Name Their Top 10 Songs, Chapter 6 Gordon Camp

Gordon Camp Shares His Top 10 Favorite Songs

I am sure that many of my readers have heard Gordon Camp play. He sits in with many of the bands playing here in the Valley.  Gordon loves to play the Trumpet, and he is really good at it.  Gordon studied Trumpet with Jazz greats Doc Severinsen and Donald Byrd.  He has also toured with Aretha Franklin, Sammy Davis Jr., Barry White and Natalie Cole, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and Lou Rawls.  Gordon is a great addition to all the other world-class musicians who spend their winters in the California Desert.

                                                  Gordon Camp's Top 10 Songs....In No Particular Order:

1.  "Up Jumped Spring"

2.  " Lush Life"

3.  "There is No Greater Love"

4.  "Stardust"

5.  "Stella By Starlight"

6.  "The Scene Is Clean"

7.  "Hi-Fly"

8.  "Moon River"

9.  "Skylark"

10 "Bye Bye Blackbrid"

Ron Aprea Remembers John Lennon

Steve Madaio, Ron Aprea and John Lennon
(Ron Aprea's photo from 1974)

Ron Aprea, composer, arranger, producer, saxophonist, clarinetist and flutist is working on a new CD, "Lennon and the Beatles, A Jazz Tribute". In 1974, Ron cut a album with John Lennon and Elton John called "Walls and Bridges". Also recording with Ron on this album was a super-talented horn section that included Howard Johnson, Frank Vicari and Palm Desert favorite, Steve Madaio.

Ron is raising money to produce this new Lennon Tribute album using the Kickstarter site. I know everyone will be interested to hear Ron tell some interesting stories about the making of this album and his experiences with John Lennon in recording the "Walls and Bridges" album. It's sure to be a blockbuster CD and Ron needs some help to raise the money for it.  I have attached some information I just received from Ron including  the site address so you can hear Ron's stories and also contribute to support this wonderful musical project.

Dear Friends and Relatives,

Just wanted to update you on my John Lennon jazz tribute album "Kickstarter" campaign, and thank those who've contributed.  I can't tell you how thrilled Angela and I are at the positive response we've received.

We are currently in Week 3 (of 6) and we are approaching 50% of our goal of $5,000, which is amazing, but we have to get to 100% to receive any of the pledges.  So please for this next push, forward the below link to any and all of your friends.  Also, I would love to give recognition to our donors via my Facebook and Kickstarter page, but I've been hesitant to do so, without your permission.  So for those who have already donated (or will) please let me know if you have any objection to your name being posted.

Here's the link:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/134490756/lennon-and-the-beatles-a-jazz-tribute

Thank you again for your continued support in helping me create my "dream" album.

Warmest regards,

Ron

CD Review: "Where Do You Start" with Bill Cote

In a normal month, I receive 10 to 12 new CDs to review. Usually, I discover at least a couple that I really like. The CD I received today titled, "Where Do You Start" with vocals by Bill Cote accompanied by the wonderful Tamir Hendelman Trio is stunningly good!  Bill Cote is a successful businessman and lawyer who has been singing and performing informally for quite a long time.  He has been an avid Jazz supporter and counts among his close friends several Jazz luminaries. It is clear that he must have been a very good listener because his deep rich voice and phrasing skills are polished and professional.  His voice and impeccable phrasing reminds me of the great Johnny Hartman.  The songs he personally selected are nothing short of sensational.  Bill shared that he had been thinking about these songs for years and "Each song resonates with him for a myriad of different reasons".  Bill's singing fills each song with a deep emotional connection that gives life to the melody and the lyrics that transfers to the listener.  My only question to Bill Cote is "Bill, why did you wait so long to record your first CD?

Tamir Hendelman, the award-winning pianist who is a regular in the spectacular Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra did all the wonderful arrangements.  Tamir is one of my favorite pianists ever since I first heard him playing with The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.  His arrangements are perfect, and his piano solos are impeccable examples of great Jazz playing.  Joining Tamir are a group of some Southern California's best Jazz musicians, including Joe LaBarbera on Drums, Bob Sheppard on Sax and Flute, Graham Dechter on guitar and Martin Wind on Bass.

This is an award-winning CD that will be released on April 15, 2014.  If you love songs out of the "Great American Songbook" sung by a seasoned singer who can make lyrics come to life, then you must buy this CD.  As a side note, Bill has included 16 cuts on this CD.  I haven't seen this many cuts on a CD in 20 years, and it still works real good for me.

                      Track Listing
1.  "Where Or When"
2.  "When Do The Bells Ring For Me"
3.  "Teach Me Tonight"
4.  "What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life"
5.  "LA State of Mind"
6.  "Who Can I Turn To"
7.  "Satin Doll"
8.  "Where Do You Start"
9.  "Sunday In New York"
10. "My Funny Valentine"
11. "When Sunny Gets Blue"
12. "Never Let Me Go"
13. "On A Clear Day"
14. "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most"
15. "I just Found Out About Love"
16. "Indian Summer"

Michael Dees, David Ring and Danny Flahive Perform Wonderful Music at the Purple Room

Michael Dees, Danny Flahive and David Ring

Michael Dees

Michael Dees

Danny Flahive

Michael Dees and David Ring

David Ring

The Purple Room is a new supper club re-born in a room that has deep historical musical roots in Palm Springs.  The old Purple Room established in 1960 was famously the home to Sinatra's Rat Pack.  During the 1960s, the Purple Room was the rallying spot for Sinatra and his famous friends. They sang, they played and just had fun there.  Now the Purple Room under new management has transformed the Purple Room into it's former self.  The owners of "Trio Restaurant" have applied their capital and restaurant skills to create a great new supper club with live music 6 days a week.  On Tuesday nights starting at 6:30 pm Michael Dees sings and plays the drums with David Ring and Danny Flahive who was sitting in tonight for Larry Holloway. Michael Dees is a relatively new singer in the Desert, but he has already added to the music scene with his beautiful voice, impeccable timing and Sinatra-like phrasing. Michael is one of the most impressive singers I have heard in many years.  In addition to singing some of the greatest songs from the Great American Songbook, like "My One and Only Love", "I'm Old Fashioned" and the "The Way You Look Tonight",  Michael also sings some of the songs and lyrics he has written.  His songs are stunningly beautiful and stand up perfectly against the classic songs listed above.  He is a brilliant musical talent and I highly recommend that music lovers in the Desert get to the Purple Room to hear him sing.

David Ring was playing Keys tonight and every time I hear David I gain more and more respect for his musical talents.  David plays Jazz that is new and inventive unlike any other of the currently playing in the Desert.  He supports Michael's voice and phrasing perfectly!  Danny Flahive was a joy to listen to on Bass.  Danny has a huge following of supporters in the Desert and for good reason.  Danny always plays with emotion that supports the message of the lyrics.

The Purple Room has an early bird dinner from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM that includes a 3-course dinner for $19.95.  This is the best deal in the Valley,  the great sounds of Michael Dees, David Ring and Larry Holloway and a 3-course dinner for about the cost of a tip at many other restaurants!