Carolyn Martinez Is Impressive at Vickys on Tuesday Nights

Danny Flahive and Carolyn Martinez

Danny Flahive, Carolyn Martinez and Bob Corwin

Ken Steele

Danny Flahive and Bob Corwin

Ken Steele & Carolyn

Don Fraizer, Ron Kalina and Carolyn

Jack Pena, Don Fraser, Shelly Yoelin, Danny Flahive and Bob Corwin

Carolyn Martinez continues to impress large audiences on Tuesday nights at Vickys in Indian Wells, CA.  Carolyn has been performing on Tuesday nights for the past couple of years.  When she first started at Vickys, her audiences were small because not many music fans were familiar with her voice, but it did not take long for the word to get out.  Now she draws large crowds that always include some of the finest musicians performing in the Desert, a sure sign of their respect for her singing ability.  I first heard Carolyn sing 3 years ago, and I became a fan immediately.  Carolyn has a strong, pure voice that when combined with her deep emotional feel for lyrics, makes a powerful performing statement.  I think Carolyn is at her very best when singing Brailizan tunes.  But that's not where her talent ends, she is a terrific Jazz singer and she handles great standards with the skill of a seasoned pro.  If you have not heard Carolyn recently, you need to be at Vickys on Tuesday nights, and I personally guarantee you will love her singing.

Carolyn also is very careful about the quality of supporting musicians she brings with her to her gigs.  She only asks the most experienced pros to work with her.  Tonight was no exception with the marvelous Bob Corwin on Piano and Danny Flahive one of the best Bassists in the West on Bass.  These two seasoned pros could make any singer advance their singing to a higher level.  This duo with Carolyn's beautiful voice was just about perfect!

During tonight's performance, quite a few musicians came by to support Carolyn and sit in with the Trio.  First up was Ken Steele, an extremely multi-talented singer/composer/arranger and producer.  I would love to see Ken have the opportunity to sing on an evening of his own.  He has a beautiful mellow deep voice and his phrasing especially on Standards like " The Nearness of You" are dead center perfect.  In the meantime, I will be happy to hear him sing in almost every place there is live music.  The fact that all the top musicians always ask Ken to sit in and sing a couple of songs is a tribute to his wonderful singing talents.

Also sitting in tonight was Tenor Sax great, Shelly Yoelin, Don Fraser on Drums and Jack Pena on bongos.  

Eric Lindstrom Performs at AJ's On The Green

Eric Lindstrom

Beverly Jensen & Eric Lindstrom

Francesca Amari & Eric Lindstrom

In case you have not heard, AJ's on the Green located inside Date Palm Country Club in Cathedral City now has live music 7 nights per week.  Eric Lindstrom , known to many as a terrific Trombone player gets to perform on Keyboard and Vocals.  AJ's has turned into a Jazz supper club and owner/chef Art Herrera and co-owner John Farrow are also serving excellent food.  Eric show is part of the Monday series called "Acoustic Stew" Mondays which includes his playing and singing and also allows for lots of Valley entertainers to sit in during the evening.  The club has a really low key vibe and the line-up of various musicians performing during the evening provides a lot of relaxed fun.  

Tonight among the many performers on hand, I was especially impressed by Beverly Jensen and Francesca Amari who sang beautifully with accompaniment from Eric.  

In addition to playing wonderful Trombone in several groups here in the Desert, Eric Lindstrom also turns out to be a wonderful keyboard player and vocalist.  Eric is universally liked by all of the musicians in the Valley and is considered one of the "Good Guys" of the Valley music scene.  Eric will be back at AJ's on Sunday from 11:30 to 2:30 and on Monday, March 2 from 7 to 10.

Johnny Morris is Back At Backstreet Bistro on Mondays

There is good news for all lovers of great piano music and the best songs from the "Great American Songbook". Johnny Morris has started his 3rd season at Backstreet Bistro and plays from 6:00 to 9:00 every Monday night.  Johnny Morris is highly respected by all of the best musicians in California and for good reason.  He can play everything from accompanying vocalists or leading a swinging band or Dixieland band.  But I think Johnny is at his best playing and singing the great songs from the "Great American Songbook".  Tonight was Johnny's season opening Monday night at Backstreet Bistro and the outside terrace was crowded with fans who love the music Johnny plays and sings.  Johnny has one of the best musical memories of any performer I have seen. During his performance, he repeatedly asks the audience for requests and without hesitation plays the tune without reference to any sheet music.  But what is even more impressive is that Johnny can sing the lyrics of these songs without hesitation!  Johnny Morris is a polished professional performer but his mastery of the piano did not come over night.   Johnny has spent his entire adult life honing his musical skills.  During his career, he was musical director and played with Kai Winding regularly at the New York Playboy Club.  He also toured with the Buddy Rich quintet traveling around the world including Brazil, the Far East and India.

The setting at Backstreet Bistro could not be better.  Having dinner outside on the Terrace with Johnny at the Keyboard ten feet away playing some of your favorite songs is priceless.  And the food and service at Backstreet is also tops!  

For your listening enjoyment, I have found a "YouTube" video of the Buddy Rich Quintet playing "B.R. Blues" with Johnny Morris on Piano.

CD Review: Tom Keenlyside's New Release, "Musica Brasileira", Music For Jazz Flute

I have had the pleasure of listening to Tom Keenlyside play Flute and Saxophone for the past several years.  When I say, "Pleasure" that is exactly what I mean.  Tom is an amazing musician and a gentle and caring human being.  Tom's career has spanned four decades and during this time he has performed and recorded with many of the biggest and most talented names in the music world.  I'll name just a few: Diana Kroll, Harry Connick Jr., Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Torme, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Jon Bon Jovi, Oscar Peterson and David Foster.

Tom is Canadian and he has been spending his winters in the California Desert for the past 4 years. Tom has dedicated the last 40 years of his life and energy to music much like a master oil painter.  In order to paint a truly beautiful picture a master painter must visualize his subject for long periods of time, sometimes years before he can produce the emotion that he feels from the subject.  So too, a great musician like Tom Keenlyside has spent almost his entire adult life studying sounds, lyrics, instruments and rhythms of every kind of music he could get his hands on trying to understand its emotional message.  This was the foundation for his desire to record a CD of Brazilian music.  Tom's journey started  in the Spring of 1963 and continued through his trip to San Paulo in 2007.

Tom wrote the cover notes for this CD and rather than paraphrasing his brilliantly written and emotional words about how this project came about, I'll let Tom tell his story:

" In the Spring of 1963, I was treated to my first exposure to Brazilian music in the form of the iconic "Girl From Ipanema".  I was astonished by how present, clean, and well, frankly, perfect the music sounded.  Dry and sonically unadorned, the harmonies and stark melodic beauty of Astrid Gilberto's voice dazzled from the hi-fi like diamonds: the sound had an enormous effect on my early teenage ears, and would continue to influence my Jazz playing throughout much of my career.  Later in my teens, I sought out the works of the Brazilian greats, and gradually acquired a vague inkling of saudade, the longing woven throughout much of Brazilian melody and harmony.

In 2007, I had the great fortune to spend time in Sao Paulo and Rio, listening to and playing with some of the great players in Brazil today.  Impromptu Rodas or Chore jam sessions would pop up out of nowhere. The unearthly joy of sitting on Rogerio Souza's front porch playing "Doce de Coco" jamming "Noites Cariocas" with 200 others in the park under a giant banyan tree, or playing "Desafinado" with the great mandolinist Izaias Bueno de Almeida was irrefutable and magic."

It's obvious Tom would have made darn good writer also!  After all the years of Tom's inner feelings about Brazilian music,  he decided the time had come to record some of the songs that have been in his mind for years and "Musica Brasilia" was born.  The CD has 13 songs including two original songs Tom composed.  Cut 9, "Feather in the Wind" written by Tom is a beautiful song that is gracefully rhythmic, and if you close your eyes you can see a feather gently floating in the wind.  "A Raposa" a wonderful song was also written by Tom with Mike ONeill.  The background voices in this recording are haunting and Tom's Flute solo is excellent.  Most of the other songs on the CD will be familiar to you.  If you are a lover of Brazilian music, you should own this CD.  It is available on "CD Baby".

Tom brought together a talented group of musicians:

1. Tom Keenlyside- Flutes, all Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals
2. Michael ONeill- Acoustic and Electric Guitar,; tracks 2,5,8,12
3. Bill Coon- Acoustic and Electric Guitar; tracks 3,4,6,7,9,11
4. Bill Saitta- Acoustic Bass; tracks 5,11,12
5. Rene Worst- Acoustic Bass; tracks 3,4,6,7,9,11,13
6. Jeff Olson- Drums; tracks 3,7,9
7. Dennis Burke- Drums; tracks 5,11,12
8. Liam MacDonald- Pandeiro and Credo; tracks 2,4,5,12
9. Angela Kelman- Vocals; tracks 7,8,12
10. Jennifer Scott- Vocals; tracks 4,6,11,13

Tom Keenlyside did all the arrangements except track 8 done by Tom and Michael Neill. Walter Keenlyside did the Album design.

               Playlist
1. "Flauta So' "Triste"
2. "Brejeiro"
3. "A Felicidade"
4. "Carinhoso"
5. "Biruta"
6. "Eu Te Amo"
7. "We and The Sea (Nos e o Mar)
8. "A Raposa"
9. "Feather In The Wind"
10. "Corcovado Intro"
11. "Corcovado"
12. "Assanhado"
13. "Brazil"

I found a "YouTube" on Tom Keenlyside performing with the group "Altered Laws" at the 2011 Vancouver Jazz Festival that I know you will enjoy.

 

The Star Spotlight Shines On Linda Peterson At Backstreet Bistro

Linda Peterson

A lot of my readers have lunch at Backstreet Bistro on Saturdays to hear Linda Peterson perform in the courtyard.  Linda is an extremely talented Keyboard player, Vocalist, Arranger, Composer and all-around good person.  That is why she has fiercely loyal fans who turn out no matter where she is performing.  Tonight was Linda's night to shine and she wasted no time singing and playing the music she loves.  She became so engrossed with her music that she forgot about even taking a second break.  Linda just did not want to leave the stage to the total enjoyment of the capacity crowd at Backstreet.  Tonight Linda was supported by rock solid Jay Lewis who usually plays in a quartet with Bill Siatta.  Tonight Jay was really rocking and showed us a little more of what he could do.  Jay is a marvelous drummer and any Jazz buff would welcome him into any group.  He never disappoints!  Joining Jay was Kelly Corbin who seemingly keeps getting better and better.  I have only seen Kelly playing Jazz in a quartet with Bill Siatta.  I like to describe his playing as "Sax on steroids".  Tonight, Linda was playing some great ballads from the Great American Songbook and Kelly surprised me with his sensitive riffs and solos around Linda's sweet voice.  So Kelly Corbin can play ballads, who knew?

At the end of the night's program, Linda invited up Jeannie Norris to sing and she sang with
the ease of a seasoned pro.  Then Linda pulled the great Carole Hampton up to sing some blues which brought the audience to its feet.  I never get enough of Carole's singing and always enjoy her when she sits in.  Linda Peterson will be performing again at Backstreet Bistro on Tuesday, February 3!

Jay Lewis, Kelly Corbin and Linda Peterson

Kelly Corbin and Linda Peterson

Jay Lewis

Jay Lewis and Kelly Corbin

Jeannie Norris

Carole Hampton Singing And Having Fun

 

CD Review: Opera great Rose Kingsley Sings Standards On Her New CD "This Is My Life"

I am sure many of you know Rose Kingsley A/K/A "Simply Rose" as one of the world's most celebrated opera singers.  Rose, a soprano, performed at the New York Metropolitan Opera for 15 years.  Rose has been singing Opera throughout Europe to rave reviews for many years.  She has appeared in concert with Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra. After years of exploring her four octave range, Rose decided it was long overdue for her to explore her more intimate side and decided to record some of her all-time favorite standards in Jazz form.  According to Rose, "My goal was to find songs that really come from my soul and that affected me emotionally.  Some I had sung before, and had not.  They're tunes that touched me that I felt could have the same impact on an audience.  How right she was!  Rose sings the 12 classic standards on this CD with intimacy and emotional understanding of the lyrics.  Her phrasing is perfect and all hers.   Don't expect to hear what we normally hear from female Jazz vocalists, Rose goes her own way with her unique singing style.  The songs she selected for this CD generate great intimate emotion and as I was listening I became more and more under her spell.  The lyrics will move you greatly as they did me.   Who knew an Opera singer could also reach this level excellent of Jazz vocals.  Well, Rose Kingsley knew and she is sharing her inner-self with everyone on her first Jazz vocal CD.

Rose has put together the perfect trio of accomplished musicians to back her on her debut CD.  The trio is led by musical director and superb piano player, Bob Corwin.   Bob is sought out by the best singers in the business and he served as Johnny Mercer's longtime accompanist for years.  In addition, he has been a Musical Director for Jazz legends Carmen McRae, Anita O'Day and Peggy Lee.  Desert favorite Danny Flahive is on upright Bass and Doug Dean is on Drums and Percussion.

"This is My Life" from "Simply Rose" is an excellent CD that any lover of intimate ballads from the "Great American Songbook" will love.

                             Playlist
1. "Here's To Life"                                         2. "Over The Rainbow"
3. "Come In From The Rain"                        4. "Don't Cry Out Loud"
5. "Send In The Clowns"                               6. "Can't Help Loving That Man Of Mine"  
7. "Cry Me A River"                                      8. "The Man That Got Away"
9. "One For My Baby"                                   10. "In The Wee Small Hours"
11. "Where Do You Start"                              12. "This Is My Life"  

You can listen to Rose signing songs from her CD on her website: http://www.simplyrose.info/   

Pat Rizzo A/K/A "The Riz" Holds Musical Court on Saturday Nights At Vickys

Pat Rizzo

Pat and Yarek Urant

Jim DiGulio

Dennis Burke

 Everytime I go to see Pat Rizzo I think about what makes him such a great performer?  Let's start with the fact that Pat is considered by the best musicians as one of the finest Sax players performing today.  Even the "Voice" Frances Albert Sinatra loved the way Pat blew his horn and made Pat his mandatory Sax player whenever he was performing in California or Vegas.  However, Pat Rizzo is so much more than a fantastic Sax player.  Pat is the total entertainer and seems to have a magical relationship with his audiences who love him.  Pat has what every musician wants, stage presence that makes him a star.  When Pat hits the stage, he tells stories about the musicians he played with,  tells funny jokes and still maintains an ability to respond to his audience with sharp wit.  When I first met Pat many years ago,  he was playing Sax and Flute more than he was singing.  For me, I thought he should be singing more because he has a very special voice.  But more than Pat's voice, its Pat's understanding of lyric and phrasing that sells his vocals.  I have had more than a few conversations with Pat about his phrasing and he told me that all during the many years he played with Sinatra, he was usually seated directly in back of Frank and he became a student of Sinatra's breath control and phrasing.  Now when Pat sings, his breath control and phrasing would please any Sinatra fan.  Do you self a favor and go over to Vickys on Saturday night to listen to Pat and his group.  I guarantee a good time and some of the best sounds you have ever heard from his band.  Pat also performs with Dennis Michaels at Nicolino's Italian Restaurant on Wednesdays from 6pm to 9pm.  

Joining Pat's group is another Sinatra favorite player, Jim DiGuilo.   Jim along with Pat always got the call anytime Sinatra was performing in the West including Vegas.  Jim is universally recognized as one of the best technically competent bass players performing in the US today.  When Pat sings a Sinatra tune, you will heard Jim play the bass line exactly as Sinatra like it!  Pat's piano player is Yarek Urant who I know is considerated one of the best Desert.  As a result, Yarek is constantly sought out by other groups looking for a Piano or Keyboard player but on Saturday night, Pat has Yarek locked up!  Drumming today was Dennis Burke a relatively new musical player from Canada.  Dennis is the newest member of this group and fits in perfectly.  Maintaining the proper rhythm support but never overshadowing his fellow players.

I am not overstating when I say that this quartet is one of the best Jazz group performing today.