Mark Meadows' new album, "Somethin' Good" could also have been titled "Somethin' Cool". This Cd highlights Jazz at its best! Mark is not only a talented Jazz pianist but has also mastered the art of composing, educating and putting a great band together. Mark is not a casual musician, he is a student and now a teacher of Jazz Piano at the Peabody Conservatory where he recently completed his Graduate Performance Degree in Jazz Piano. Mark started playing the keys when he was only three years old. He has not stopped playing since or studying his trade. In 2011, Mark earned degrees in Jazz Piano from The Peabody Conservatory and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from The JohnHopkins University.
I was not only impressed by his suburb, creatively-interesting piano playing but also his composing and arranging talents. Most of the songs on this CD were written by Mark, and he produced a wonderful fresh and new arrangement for all songs including "Come Together" the Lennon-McCartney gem. The arrangement of this song while true to its "root" construction allows it to be re-born into a great new Jazz piece. Mark brings similar great new arrangements to "Rock With You" by Rod Temperton,"Groovin' High" by Dizzy Gillespie and the great Ellington classic, "Lush Life".
The supporting cast that Mark has gathered for this CD is of the highest level of musicianship. As a past Alto Sax player, I was especially impressed by the contribution from Brent Birckhead in particular. Joining Brent and also contributing wonderful sounds was Paul Bollenback, Guitar, Warren Wolf, Vibes, Christine Dashiell, vocals, Lean Seikaly, vocals, Eric Kennedy, Drums and Eric Wheeler, Bass.
I found a "YouTube" of Mark playing his own composition "Somethin' Good" that I have attached.
Mark Meadows "Somethin' Good" PLAY LIST 1. "Come Together" 2. "Just Imagine" 3. "Rock With You" 4. "Somethin Good" 5. "Once Upon A Purple Night" 6. "Less Catchy" 7. "Way Up Here" 8. "For You" 9. "Groovin' High" 10. "Get Lost" 11. "Lush Life"
"Jazz is my go-to music, my comfort food" says Isabel Stover. "As vocal artists there is a need to bear our souls to the world, but at the same time make our music accessible to people. Which is why all these other musical influences that I bring to the table must inform what I do, from my choice in songs to how I sing a particular lyric". These words explain perfectly how Isabel Stover created her beautiful new CD, "Her Own Sweet World". Combining her rich and clear voice and marvelous arrangements of tasteful Jazz standards, Isabel has accomplished her singing goals as listed above. Isabel is a seasoned vocalist who has become one of the best Jazz singers on the music scene today. Isabel's pop influences include Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones and Lyle Lovett, not a bad group to emulate! Her rich voice has been compared to Jazz artists, Jane Monheit and Diana Krall. If you love listening to seasoned brilliant Jazz singing, this is the CD for you! Isabel has been performing in the Boston area and worth the effort to go to hear her sing.
Supporting Isabel on this CD are: Jonathan Alford, Piano, Fred Randolph, Bass, Dave Tidball, Saxophone and Dave Bell, Guitar.
Playlist
1. "Feelin' Good"
2. "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise"
3. "Never Let Me Go"
4. "Nature Boy"
5 "Lovin' In My Baby's Eyes"
6. "Four For Kids" 7. "The Song Is You" 8. "Human Nature"
Dreaming of Summer I was recently introduced to an interesting new music site called: "Unsigned Only Music". I know that a lot of the followers of "The Music Man Blog" are composers and would have an interest in this site which supports talented songwriters.
Unsigned Only is a unique music competition designed for solo artists, bands, and singers all over the world who are not signed to a major label record company or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries or imprints. The goal of Unsigned Only is to find an outstanding, talented performer: a band, singer, or solo artist...a newcomer or veteran...raw or polished - the “gem” that needs to be discovered. Unsigned Only is looking for the total package.
Conceived and produced by the team who bring you the prestigious International Songwriting Competition (ISC), Unsigned Only is a fresh and novel approach to other music competitions. Yes, it offers great prizes, recognition, exposure, and the chance to be heard by a group of judges consisting of high-profile recording artists and industry professionals. But, Unsigned Only also takes it a step further and puts the Grand Prize winner in direct, personal contact with the influential record label executives who are the ultimate decision-makers. For the first time ever, a music competition offers the Grand Prize winner the unprecedented opportunity to be mentored by a group of record company presidents, A&R reps, and more. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to directly network with the top echelon of record company professionals and get guidance, advice, feedback, and networking opportunities.
Judges include: John Oates (Hall & Oates); Neon Trees; Black Francis (The Pixies); Mike Posner; David Crowder; Delbert McClinton;Craig Morgan; Robert Smith (The Cure); Rosanne Cash; 3 Doors Down; Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Of Monsters and Men; Aaron Shust; G. Love; Jason Gray; Alt-J; Dustin Lynch; Rapsody; The Mountain Goats; Anthony DeCurtis (Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone); Josh Jackson (Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Paste Magazine); Chris Richards (Pop Music Critic, The Washington Post); Michael Hann (Music Editor, The Guardian); Lucy Jones (Deputy Editor, NME); and more to be announced...
Mentors include: Monte Lipman (Chairman and CEO, Republic Records); Jeff Castelaz (President, Elektra Records); Seymour Stein (Chairman, SIRE Records and VP of Warner Bros Records); Pete Ganbarg (Executive VP/Head of A&R, Atlantic Records); Mike Elizondo (Sr. VP of A&R, Warner Bros. Records); Tony Kiewel (VP of A&R Sub Pop Records, Hardly Art, Sub Pop Publishing); Allison B. Jones (VP of A&R, Big Machine Label Group); Josh Bailey (Sr. VP of A&R, Word Label Group); Kim Stephens (President, Forward Entertainment and A&R/Capitol Music Group); Lenny Santiago (VP of A&R, Roc Nation); Dino Paredes (Sr. VP of A&R/GM, American Recordings); Evan Peters (Director of A&R, Virgin Records); Anthony Musiala (Managing Director, Minty Fresh); and more to be announced.
The winners of this songwriting competition have just been announced and you can get to the list of winners and actually hear some of their songs at:(http://www.unsignedonly.com/winners.
My first listening introduction to Julie Kelly was by way of her new CD "Happy To Be". After listening to just the first few songs, it became clear why Julie is one of the most respected Jazz singers on the West Coast. If anyone ever asks you to define Jazz singing, save your time and theirs by simply telling them to listen to Julie Kelly and her CD "Happy To Be". Julie's pure warm voice has a sensibility to melody and lyric that's very rare. Her selection of songs on this CD reinforces her perfect taste in the best in melody and her wonderful lyric writing abilities. She wrote the lyrics for two songs on the CD, "The Blues According to Orpheus" and "For Joni". "For Joni" began as a poem she wrote for Joni Mitchell. Tierney Sutton the marvelous Jazz singer in her own right calls this tune nothing less than a "gorgeous anthem" to all who love Joni Mitchell.
One of the essential talents that all Jazz singers need to develop is the ability to pick the best musicians who will lift the singer to higher levels. The musicians Julie has selected to support her on this CD are spectacular! Bill Cunliffe has worked with Julie on other projects and is a widely respected pianist and Grammy Award-winning arranger, Anthony Wilson the outstanding guitarist who works with only the best musicians including Diana Krall, Tom Warrington known as one of the best Bass players in the country, world-class Drummer Joe LaBarbera who worked with BillEvans for years and a Horn section comprised of A-list players including Bob Sheppard, ClayJenkins, Ron Stout and Bob McChesney. Also, there is an additional contribution made by the following fine musicians: Walter Rodriguez, Percussion, Kim Richmand, Saxophone and on Vibes the "superb" Nick Mancini.
Julie Kelly has given the Jazz world a wonderful gift of great music that validates that Jazz singing still has a special place in today's music scene!
I have attached a "You-Tube" video of Julie singing "You're The Dangerous Type" from her CD "Happy To Be".
"Solitary Moon" is a major league tribute to one of the best composers of Jazz, Pop and Film Music, Johnny Mandel. He has long been recognized within the music industry as one of its creative giants yet, it has always been my belief that Johnny Mandel has never received the deserved level of credit from the music public. But make no mistake about it, the multitalented Mandel is equal to the best songwriters and musicians of the past 100 years.
This CD starts with a tribute to Johnny Mandel, but that is not where the magic ends. GingerBerglund and Scott Whitfield could have recorded this CD with just the two of them, and I know this CD would have been terrific. However, Ginger and Scott chose to bring along some of the most respected musicians performing on the Jazz scene today. The result is a musical product that is close to perfection music and a musical treat for the ears.
Ginger Berglund has a sterling resume of work as a vocalist including recording with Steve Allen and the great pianist Paul Smith. She has sung with Kenny Rankin and the great Brazilian Jazz vocalist Flora Purim and her husband, the premiere fusion Jazz Percussionist Airto Moreira. Ginger still performs with the Stan Kenton Alumni Band, The Modernaires, TheTracy Wells BigBand and the Jumpin' Joz Band.
Scott Whitfield is a world class Trombonist, Arranger and Singer. He is internationally recognized for his work with many contemporary big bands, including the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, The Clare Fischer Bib Band, TheBill Holman Band, The Phil Norman Tentet and his own Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra. Whitfield also plays trombone for the Johnny Mandel Orchestra.
Ginger and Scott chose 15 tracks for this CD and Whitfield did all the arrangement from big band to small group, from vocal duets to a cappella five-part harmony. Singing together they treat us with beautiful Mandel melodies and perfect harmonies that you will seldom hear today. They are perfect singing together! Both Berglund and Whitfield are also members of the Modernaires, the legendary vocal group that performed in the 1940's for The Glenn Miller Band. Whitman is also a member of the LAVA (Los Angeles Vocal Alliance), a new vocal group of brass players who sing in four-part harmony. They make their recording debut on Whitfield's version of the Mandel classic, "Emily".
I can't end this review without listing the superb list of musicians that contributed to this wonderful CD. I am sure that you will know many of them from their past work. Thank you Ginger and Scott for sharing your wonderful musical talents with us! Ginger Berglund: Voice Scott Whitfield: Voice, Trombone, All arrangements Corey Allen: Piano Jennifer Laitham: Bass Kendall Kay: Drums Roger Neumann: Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Bass Clarinet Rusty Higgins: Alto Sax, Flute, Alto Clarinet Billy Kerr: Alto Sax Pete Christieb: Tenor Sax, Clarinet Nancy Newman: Bari Sax Jamie Hovorke: Trumpet Carl Saunders: Trumpet Ira Nepus: Trumbone Linda Small: Trombone Rich Nullock: Bass Trombone John Dickson: Horn Stephanie O'Keefe: Horn SPECIAL GUESTS: Ken Peplowski: Clarinet Don Shelton: Clarinet Jack Peterson: Guitar Airto Moreira: Percussion The Modernaires: Julie Dickson, Ginger Berglund, Jimmy Stephens, Joe Croyle, Scott Whitfield Lava: Jonathan Dane, Larry Williams, Scott Whitfield, Rich Bullock
I have attached a "YouTube" video of Ginger and Scott singing the first cut from "Solitary Moon" "Cinnamon & Clove".
Murali Coryell, a contemporary soul-blues singer/guitarist and songwriter released a new, terrific CD "Restless Minds" on August 19, 2014. I published a review of Coryell's last CD "Live" on this site on 1/10/2013. This new CD is another gem! If you are a Blues and Jazz fan, Murali Coryell is your guy. He continues to impress not only with his Guitar playing but with his soulful singing ability that matches his Guitar playing perfectly. "Restless Mind" features 11 original songs written by Coryell and a great cover of Marvin Gaye's classic "Let's Get It On".
Murali Coryell has truly arrived as one of the great contemporary soul-blues singer/guitar players. He has paid his dues over many years honing his trade, but his last two CDs prove that he has truly arrived to the forefront of soulful Blues performing today. The group of musicians that Coryell has put together for this CD are outstanding in their own right. Ernie Durawa on Drums, Chris Alcaraz on Bass, Joe Morales on Saxophone and Jimmy Shortell on Trumpet. If you love the Blues, you need to get this CD for your collection.
Song List 1. "Waiting and Wasting Away" 2. "Kiss Me First" 3. "Restless Mind" 4. "I'm So Happy" 5. "Sex Maniac' 6. "Crime of Opportunity" 7. "I Can't Give You Up" 8. "Tag Along" 9. "I Need Someone To Love" 10. "Lonely Eyes" 11. "Everyday is a Struggle" 12. "Let's Get It On"
I have attached a "YouTube" video of Coryell singing "Crime of Opportunity" one of the original songs he wrote for "Restless Mind".
Crime of Opportunity Written and Performed by Murali Coryell
Over the past few years Frank DiSalvo has quickly become one of the most popular and loved entertainers performing in the Coachella Valley. When I first played this CD, I was surprised by the great arrangements but not by the outstanding singing. Frank has always been a great voice, but I think the quality of his singing on this CD is exceptionally good. In spite of the huge amount of success and following Frank has developed, he has never stopped working to improve his trade. The sounds on this CD prove that all of Frank's efforts have brought him to a much higher level as a singer.
"All Things Are Possible for Those Who Believe" is a "feel good" CD that is guaranteed to lift your spirits and appeal to your patriotism! The songs represent Frank's personality and his beliefs and the spirit within these songs is contagious. I have to admit that after years of following Frank's career, it is so satisfying to see the development of his singing skills. Frank has always been a talented performer, but the release of this CD proves that he has truly arrived as a major league singer!
If you would like to buy a copy, just go to Frank's website: frankdisalvo.com and send Frank an email and he will give you the details.
Song List 1. "You Raise Me Up" 2. "Wind Beneath My Wings" 3. "The Prayer" 4. "The Impossible Dream" 5. "Wonderful World" 6. "Hallelujah" 7. "God Bless The USA" 8. "Liberty" 9. "I Come Back To You Again" 10. "Heartlight"
