CD Review: Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine, "Mazel Tov Kocktail"

The Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine has been performing since 1979 under the guidance of Producer/Conductor and Artistic Director, Ira Liss. The current group of players in this Band are some of the top names in Jazz and have been joined from time to time by Bob Mintzer, Barbara Morrison, Wayne Bergeron, Holly Hofmann and Eric Marienthal.  There are also some really special guests that have joined the Band to contribute to this wonderful Big Band CD:  Nathan East on Bass, Andrew Neu on Tenor Sax, Dan Radlauer on Accordion and Mike Vax on Trumpet.  The Band has two great big band Vocalists, Janet Hammer and Carly Ines.  This is the  Band's 6th recording release and it is packed with new compositions and new arrangements of standards.  Ira states, "The Band is the sum of its parts, and every chair is important. Big Bands need a creative vision to push the music forward, and I like a lot of variety".  Ira delivers on his promise, "Mazel Tov Kocktail" delivers everything any big band fan would be looking for.  The sound is always tight, the Arrangements are fresh and new and the execution by the seasoned members of this Band is perfect.  

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for you to sample.  The first is an up-tempo version of the evergreen "Where or When" that features  Janet Hammer on the Vocal.  This standard was given new life by the Arranger, George Stone.  The second video is a swinging tune, "Gimme That"  Composed and Arranged by special guess, Andrew Neu.  Andrew also plays an outstanding Tenor Sax solo on this song.  I know you will enjoy these cuts!    

PLAYERS:

 PLAYLIST:

1. Gimme That

2. High Wire

3. Key To The City

4. Love You Madly

5. Bass: The Final Frontier

6. You'd Better Love Me While You May

7. Mazel Tov Kocktail

8. I Wish You Love

9. Springtime

10. Joy Spring

11. West Wings

12. Where Or When

                                                                      "Where or When"

                                                                            "Gimme That"

CE Review: Mark Winkler and David Benoit, "Old Friends"

 

Singer/Songwriter/Lyricist Mark Winkler has released a new album that is a tribute to his 37 years of friendship with Pianist/Composer/Arranger David Benoit.  37 years is a long time but I am glad to report that both of these seasoned  musicians are at the very top of their musical game on this CD!  Mark Winkler is not only a remarkable Songwriter and Lyricist, he still is one of the most currently active Vocalists performing today.  He seems to be everywhere in the current music scene, cutting new CDs, producing new CDs for other up and coming younger Vocalists and writing great new music and Lyrics.  Even though Mark is a renowned Vocalist and Composer, I admire his willingness to give back to his industry by helping younger talent break out.

Multiple Grammy nominee David Benoit has a resume that most musicians would die for.  He has recorded over 35 projects as a leader and has worked with the best in contemporary Jazz performers like the Rippingtons,  Dave Koz, Faith Hill, David Sanborn, CeCe Winans and  Brian McKnight.

The idea for this album was born after Benoit invited Winkler over for dinner, after which the two retired to the living room where Benoit started accompanying Winkler on the piano.  The informal session started with the idea to pick songs and composers who were meaningful to them.  

This CD presents Mark Winkler and David Benoit at the very best of their musical careers.  The bond of friendship and musical communication between these two mega-stars is wonderful to experience.  I Consider Mark Winkler's vocals on this CD his best work to date.  I am already looking forward to "Old Friends II"!

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure.  Picking just two cuts from this CD was difficult.  So my first pick was a song that in my opinion has been under-appreciated and under-recorded, "Some Other Time".  This song was written by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Greene and it's a classic beauty.  My favorite version of this song is a recording made by Tony Bennett and Bill Evans but Winkler and Benoit version is mighty good also!  My second selection is "In A Quiet Place Kei's Song" a song composed by Benoit with lyric co-written by Winkler and Shelley Nyman.  It's a wonderful love poem!

Players:

Mark Winkler- Vocals

David Benoit- Piano

Clayton Cameron- Drums

Gabe Davis- Bass

Pat Kelley- Guitar

Kevin Wizard- Percussion

Stefanie Fife- Cello

Arrangements- David Benoit

Producer- Barbara Brighton

Playlist:

1. I've Got Just About Everything

2. Sweet Kentucky Ham

3. The Shadow Of Your Smile

4. Better Than Anything

5. Two For The Road

6. Old Friends/Bookends

7. When This Love Affair Is Over

8. I Think It's Going To Rain Today

9. In A Quiet Place (Kei's Song)

10. I Wish I'd Met You

11. Dragonfly

12. Thirty Years (Only Sunshine Days)

13. Some Other Time

                                                              "Some Other Time"

 

                                                             "In A Quite Place (Kei's Song)

CD Review: Roseanna Vitro, "Listen Here"

 

While a reviewer's job is to look for new talents and new material, I find it so satisfying when I uncover a musical gem that I missed.  In this case, it's the reissue of Roseanna Vitro's 1984 debut album, "Listen Here" featuring The Kenny Barron Trio. This wonderful CD launched Vitro's long career as a performer, recording artist, educator and journalist.  Even though this was her first CD, Vitro's performance matches even the most mature Jazz singers.  Singing a playlist of Jazz standards, Vitro applies her own unique touch to these evergreens bringing her own style and sense of swing to each of them.  Esteemed Jazz journalist Neil Tesser had this to say in USA Today: "Roseanna can sing rings around half the vocalists you can name.  Her warm, confident clarity of tone is immediately noticeable, but most startling is her boldness of phrasing."  I couldn't agree more!

What really puts this over the top is the group that accompanied Roseanna on this CD.  To say they were great hardly expressed the level of their musical skills.  The supporting Trio is made up of Kenny Barron on Piano, Buster Williams on Bass, Ben Riley on Drums.  Joining this super Trio is Arnett Cobb on Sax, Duduka Da Fonseca on Percussion, Scott Hardy on Guitar and Bliss Rodriguez on Piano for cut # 3, "Centerpiece".  The arrangements were written by the always remarkable Fred Hersch.  This group of talented musicians along with the remarkable voice and phrasing of Roseanna Vitro have produced a CD that any Jazz fan would love!

I have chosen two songs from this CD for you to enjoy.  The first one is "No More Blues" and the second one is "You Took Advantage of Me".

"No More Blues"

"You Took Advantage of Me"

Playlist:

1. No More Blues

2. You Go To My Head

3. Centerpiece

4. Love You Madly

5. A Time For Love

6. This Happy Madness

7. Listen Here

8. It Could Happen To You

9. Easy Street

10. Sometime Ago

11. You Took Advantage Of Me

12. Black Coffee

Players:

Roseanna Vitro- Vocals

Kenny Barron- Piano

Buster Williams- Bass

Arnett Cobb- Sax #3, 4, 8

Bliss Rodriguez- Piano #3

Scott Hardy- Guitar  #6

Duduka Da Fonseca- Percussion #1, 6

Arrangements: Fred Hersch

 

 

CD Review: VR Smith, "Once I Loved"

 

The Jazz world lost a very special Jazz singer recently, Verna Rose "VR" Smith who died 2 days after this CD was completed.   VR  Smith had been performing and recording with her husband Bassist Putter Smith and his highly regarded Jazz quartet for many years in LA Jazz clubs.  VR Smith was the prototype of what a Jazz singer should be.  She made singing seem easy and comfortable.  VR sings from the soul with her own interpretation of rhythm mixed with class and her own style.  She always considered her voice to be a part of the band, carefully taking her turn in songs and always blending rather than staring.  Her husband the great Bass player, Putter Smith provides the exact amount of support behind VR.  Putter is a Southern California legend and has worked with an endless list of Jazz musicians including Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Duke Ellington, Billy Eckstine, Art Pepper and the Manhattan Transfer just to name a few.  His approach to Jazz tunes is sensitive and caring and it's a perfect match for VR's voice and interpretation of lyrics.  VR offers, "The words have to mean something to me. Having acted I learned that you have different choices on how you say a thing.  I try to let the tune be the focus and let the words fall into that."

Putter Smith's  band consists of a fine group of Jazz musicians that know how to produce great music.  Chuck Manning does an outstanding job on Tenor, Michael Kanan on piano is as good as it gets, and Tim Pleasant provides the perfect support on Drums.  What can you say about Putter Smith's Bass playing,  it's a master class in how to play Bass for Jazz ballads.

My thanks go out to another great Multi-talented Bass player, Henry Franklin who produced this CD and turned me onto VR Smith!  The CD was released on Henry's own label, Skipper Productions. 

I have picked a couple of YouTube videos for you to listen to.  The first is a wonderful balled composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Ray Gilbert ,"Once I Loved".  This tune has been recorded by many outstanding vocalists but VR's version is uncomplicated but overflowing with life emotion that she puts into the lyric.  Chuck Manning's opening chorus sets the stage perfectly for VR.   The second song is a golden oldie composed by Albert Hague and Arnold Horwitt, "Young and Foolish".   VR makes this song's wonderful lyric so real and understandable that it feels like an intimate conversation between her and the listener! 

Playlist: 

1. Once I Loved

2. East of the Sun

3. Why Did I Choose You

4. Who Cares

5. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

6. You're My Everything

7. Soul Eyes

8. Speak Low

9. Young and Foolish

10 Goodbye

Players:

VR Smith- Vocals

Putter Smith- Bass

Michael Kanan- Piano

Chuck Manning- Tenor Sax

Tim Pleasant- Drums

                                                                        "Once I Loved"

  "Young and Foolish"

 

CD Review: Mon David, "D+N+A"

 Mon David (pronounced moan da-Vid) has released his fourth US release, "D+N+A, a duet with brilliant Pianist, Composer and Arranger Josh Nelson.  Mon David is a classic example of what a Jazz Vocalist should be; original style with a unique approach to lyrics and a world class ability to scat sing.  David left a  lucrative and successful career in the Philippines and moved his family to the US in 2007.  He felt that he had to make this move to pursue a career as a Jazz Vocalist.  Since moving to California he has been a popular mainstay one the Southern California music scene.  

David's new release DNA is a duo project featuring Josh Nelson and it's a truly creative and imaginative musical accomplishment.  David provides a refreshing new approach to some wonderful standards while still capturing the essence that has kept these songs popular for years.  Josh Nelson's piano performance is always inventive and his improvisations are always new and yet comfortable and accessible.  He never falls to impress!   David's primary instrument is his voice but he also plays Guitar, Piano and Drums.  David says, "for me, the human voice is the primary instrument for expressing the emotional depth of a song, but the Piano is a close second. That's why I wanted to work with Josh. His solo performances are terrific, but when he plays with a singer or other instrumentalists, his music has an almost symphonic quality".   

DNA is an album of music created by two young,  but seasoned master musicians!  Bravo to David and Nelson for their musical achievements publishing this album.   I have attached two "YouTubes" for your listening pleasure.  The first cut is a vocal tribute to Monk and Bird,  a medley of "Straight No Chaser" and "Billie's Bounce", with a great arrangement and feel.   David wrote additional Filipino lyric and joined them because they are two of his favorite pieces. The second is a newer song composed by one of the hardest working singer, composer and arranger,  the talented Mark Winkler.   The song is "I Chose the Moon".  I was not familiar with this tune but it's a beauty! 

PLAYERS:

Mon David- Vocals

Josh Nelson- Piano, Keyboards

PLAYLIST:      

1.  Did I Ever Really Live

2.  You Must Believe in Spring

3.  Lush Life

4.  Devil May Care

5.  Here's to Life

6.  In Praise of Bill Evans

7.  If You Never come To Me/Skylark

8.  Straight No Chaser/Billie's Bounce

9.  Imagine

10.  Blame It On My Youth

11.  I Chose The Moon

12.  Always And Forever

                                                                 "Straight No Chaser"

                                                          

                                                                    "I chose the Moon"

CD Review: Igor Kogan, "In A Big City"

 

Bassist, Composer and Bandleader, Igor Kogan has recently published his debut studio album, "In A Big City".  This album comprises the personal reflections of Kogan's own experiences living in different places.  Igor wrote the music on this album for his Jazz quintet.  

Igor was born and grew up in Russia and then moved to Israel when he was fifteen.  Later he moved to the US and lived for several years in New York before moving to Los Angeles.  Kogan says,  "All the places I lived in are Big Cities and the main move which is most related to the music in the album is the move from Israel to the US, nine years ago.  It is profoundly personal and is when I began my professional music career".

The songs and sounds on this CD while new are very much in today's music environment, they also pay tribute to the historical path of Jazz in America.  It always fascinates me when I find a great Bass player who also can compose and lead the way for his own group.   When I do find a great Bass player composer,  they usually all have a great understanding of melody and musical construction.   Igor Kogan is an excellent example of what I am talking about.  His compositions are built on Igor's personal reflections of his own experiences living in different places.  

Igor explains that the first tune on the CD, "Takeoff"  is an optimistic piece emoting a feeling of forward-motion for good.  When the airplane physically takes off the ground,  you are also taking off mentally, filled with new beginnings,  big hopes and fulfilling dreams.  The composition starts with a wonderful Tenor solo from Jeremy Lappitt and is quickly followed by a beautiful Trumpet solo from Joshua Aguiar.  And if that is not enough to fill your Jazz appetite, the Pianist Marco Apicella provides more.  Not to be left out of the mix, Igor Kogan steps up next to show us why he is considered one of the best Bass players on the scene today. The song runs 9:19 minutes long and I never tire of listening to even one second of it.   I have attached a "YouTube" of "Takeoff" for your listening pleasure.  

The second "YouTube" I have attached is the recording of the song "Vocalise" sung without words by perhaps the foremost Jazz Vocalist performing today, the always spectacular Tierney Sutton.  After listening to Tierney Sutton's free improvisational wordless dialogue on this recording, you will fully understand why she has received 9 Grammy Award nominations.  Igor wrote this song with Sutton in mind knowing her voice and style would fit perfectly.  He was so right!  The song starts slowly but builds dynamically and emotionally with a Flugelhorn solo by Joshua Aguiar that creates an emotional climax.   A marvelous piece of music from Igor Kogan and a surpurb vocal performance by Tierney Sutton.

PLAYLIST:  

1. Takeoff

2. Qwerty aka False Start

3. Expectations

4. Illumination

5. Emergency Call

6. Bass Introduction

7. New York Blues

8. Vocalise (Feat. Tierney Sutton)

9. Big City

Players:

Igor Kogan- Bass

Jeremy Lappitt- Tenor Sax

Joshua Aguiar- Trumpet/Flugelhorn

Marco Apicella- Piano

Matthew Baker- Drums

Tierney Sutton- Vocal (Track 8)

                                                                                 "Takeoff"

 

                                                       "Vocalise" Featuring Tierney Sutton

CD Review: Allegra Levy, "Lose My Number"

It's hard to believe it has been almost five years since I reviewed Allegra Levy's first CD,  "LonelyCity". 

 I loved that album on which Allegra did an amazing job of phrasing inspiration on a group of songs out of the "Great American Songbook".  As an extremely talented Singer Songwriter and Arranger, Allegra Levy has selected 9 songs that were written by famed Jazz Trumpeter,  John McNeil and wrote her own lyrics for all of them.  This collaboration was a long time in coming because McNeil is a longtime friend and mentor and he produced her first two Albums.  McNeil who has performed with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Horace Silver Quintet and Gerry Mulligan was very open to have a new take on some of his songs especially from Allegra whom he has much respect for as a lyricist and vocalist.  McNeil says "Allegra's lyrics have a somewhat cynical, noir-ish take on the world--right up my alley.  Collaborating with her was an absolute joy".  The feeling was mutual.  "John is my most important collaborator",  Levy says . "He's always been in my corner and always been such an empathetic and important person in my life.  I always felt that his melodies were really memorable , and that they told these stories."  Creating lyrics for Jazz tunes written by an instrumentalist for other instrumentalists is always a difficult task.   Levy says, "Lyrics only add to the experience by letting people find their own stories in the music." 

Levy brings her strong, clear voice to this project as well as her carefully chosen lyrics.  Today I often find singers who label themselves as Jazz Vocalists but really never hit the target.  Allegra Levy not only hits the target but knocks it out of the park!  She is in every sense a supurb Jazz singer and a brilliant composer and lyricist.  I often thought about what separates a world-class Jazz Vocalist from a Singer of Jazz music.  I think Allegra's composing chops and certainly her respect for the composing history of the "Great American Songbook"contain at least part of the answer.   Rather than reject music just because it has age on it,  she embraces the lessons contained in historically popular music and tries to break new ground by keeping a piece of this past in her writing.  She offers "The music is timeless, so I didn't want to change it.  I just wanted to bring my own voice into the picture."  

This wonderful CD not only spotlights Levy's distinctive singing style and writing skills but also brings forth three remarkably talented women musicians,  Carmen Staaf on Piano, Carmen Rothwell on Bass and Colleen Clark on Drums.  Levy is an active supporter of the "Women in Jazz Organization" and tries to perform with women on the Jazz scene whenever possible.  Selecting these three fine musicians was a no-brainer because their performing skills are as good as it gets!   

I have selected two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure.  The first one became a favorite the first time I heard it,  "Livin' Small".  The second selection, the title tune for the CD has tons of attitude, "Lose My Number".  According to Levy she wrote "Lose My Number" with McNeil in mind.  Levy says "McNeil is one of the gentlest, kindest, and most compassionate people she has ever met.  Yet as anyone who knows him can attest, he is also infamous for his wicked wit and an acerbic side he makes no attempt to hide".

    

                                                                         "Livin Small" 

                                                                            "Lose My Number"

Players:

Allegra Levy- Vocals, Lyrics and Arranging

Carmen Staaf- Piano

Carmen Rothwell- Base

Colleen Clark- Drums

John McNeil, Compositions, Trumpet, Arranging

Pierre Dorge- "Ukulele"

Playlist:

1. Samba De Beach

2. Livin' Small

3. Tiffany

4. Strictly Ballroom

5. C.J.

6. Dover Beach

7. Ukulele Tune

8. Zephyr

9. Lose My Number