Band Leader, Composer and Arranger, Ian Charleton has just released his second big band CD, "A FreshPerspective" and it is a great big band album on many levels. First, the compositions written by Charleton are impressive. Second, the inspiration for the CD name, "A Fresh Perspective" was selected because Charleton has taken some classic standards and redressed them with some brilliant new arrangements. And lastly, Charleton has assembled a surpurb 18-piece band that plays swinging music that is crisp and clear. It's so great that big bands are still recording great albums like this one. According to Charleton, "It's a matter of picking out the best players one can while also making sure that the musicians have the right attitude, enthusiasm, and work well together." Well, Ian Charleton accomplished his musical mission. This 18-piece band plays tight and terrific like they have been together for years. I have attached two songs from this CD from "YouTube". The first is a swinging "Basie-like tune titled "1 West 67th Street". It is a Charleton original and features Bart Kuebler on Piano and Trombonist John Lloyd. The second is a pure instrumental of the standard "When Sunny Gets Blue" with a wonderful Latin arrangement by Charleton. There are great solos from Trombonist John Lloyd and Tenor Saxophonist Keith Philbrick.
MUSICIANS:
Ian Charleton- Leader, Arranger, Composer
Saxohones: Richard Garcia, Jason Hammers, Keith Phibrick, Michael Ferrante, David Fatek
Trumpet and Flugelhorn: Mark Oates, Pete Sutorius, Mark Nixon, Kerry Moffit
Trombones: John Lloyd, Lisa Drefke, Carl Lundgren, Dandrick Glenn
Vocalist/Songwriter Bruce Brown has recently released his new CD, "Death of Expertise" that contains 14 original songs. He wrote both the music and Lyrics. To get right to the point, Bruce Brown is "Hip" man! I'm not sure that the word hip is still allowed to be used, maybe it has been cancelled, but it's a perfect word to describe Bruce Brown's highly creative and clever writing. Brown's songs have wonderful melodies, but it's his lyrics that really hit home with the listener.
Brown's compositions are full of wit, wisdom and incisive social commentary that reminds me of some of the writing that occurred in the 60's, 70"s and 80's. Brown's fresh lyrical creativity is like a refreshing breeze coming through an open window. His lyrics give clarity to issues of the day without hitting you with a hammer. A much better and I, would guess, a more effective way of sharing social commentary than what we have seen recently in our society. Brown states, "Those ideas are always fleeting, like quick movements of a paintbrush, so the goal is to capture them quickly. Great lyrics have the capacity to get inside and tweak the heart". Brown's melodies are beautiful and written with carefully observed lessons Brown has learned from the Songwriting greats of the past.
Bruce Brown's soft and sensitive voice will surprise you and bring the voice of Chet Baker to mind. His voice is the perfect instrument to allow the listener to focus on the stories the lyrics are expressing. His lyrics are sometimes funny, sometimes emotional but always thought-provoking.
Bruce Brown has lived in New Zealand for over 20 years, and he also lived in Los Angeles for a long period and the LA music scene influence shows and has influenced his writing.
The sidemen Brown has chosen to support him on this CD are all highly established professionals, and they add immensely to the allover enjoyment of this CD. I highly recommend this CD and especially to any lyricists and composers. There is a lot that can be learned from listening closely to Bruce Brown's work.
I have attached two "YouTube" videos for you to listen to. The first is the title track, "The Death of Expertise". I think you will understand Brown's humorous look at where "Googling" has brought us and its unintended consequences. The second attachment "Doreen" is funny, strange and sarcastic but at the same time, a poetic story about human nature.
PLAYLIST:
1. Death of Expertise
2. They're Everywhere
3. Find Three Things to Be Grateful For
4. Love Makes Us Who We Are
5. A Mind Is a Terrible Thing
6. Back in the Day
7. Doreen
8. Love Always Wins
9. To Find Things Out
10. We Click
11. Losers Are People Too
12. Giving Up Is Not an Option
13. The Music Plays Again
PLAYERS:
Bruce Brown- Vocals, Compositions. "Love Always Wins" Music & Lyric by Bruce Brown & Roger Frankham
The Yoko Miwa Trio has released their new CD, "Songs Of Life". Like all of us, pianist Yoko Miwa found the year2020 a tough period to live through. The recording of this album was delayed and her long time home base for performing, Les Zygomates Wine Bar & Bistro in Boston closed its doors for good. Sadly, the pandemic has had the same effect on most musicians. No place to perform and a lot of Jazz venues closed down forever. In addition to this bad news, Yoko's father also passed away. To Yoko's credit she never let these serious roadblocks stop her from continuing her musical creativity. "Once the pandemic started, I decided to write something every day. I just tried to sit down at the piano and play whatever I felt on that day. Of course I was frustrated, but I tried to stay positive". The result of her super positive spirit was the birth of some uplifting emotional and optimistic music that is contained in the five original songs she composed for this CD.
Yoko Miwa plays piano with a Jazz-inspired spontaneity and when it is combined with her classically-trained virtuosity she moves to the top with the list of today's great pianists. Legendary pianist Ahmad Jamal had this to say about Yoko playing, "At 90 years plus, I have known and heard most of the great pianists, including Art Tatum, Oscar Dennard, Phhineas Newborn, Nat Cole, Dodo Marmarosa, Johnny Costa, and Erroll Garner. Yoko is amazing and will continue to grow."
The Yoko Miwa Trio has been performing together for more than 15 years and consists of Yoko Miwa on Piano, Will Slater on Acoustic Bass and Scott Goulding on Drums. When this trio plays they seem inspired and produce music sounds that are a joy to hear. This CD was inspired by Billy Preston's"Song of Joy""With every note I play, I play with love...With all the happiness this melody brings".
MUSICIANS:
Yoko Miwa- Piano
Will Slater- Acoustic Bass
Scott Goulding- Drums
Brad Barrett- Acoustic Bass-Track 11
PLAYLIST:
1. Freedom
2. Largo Desolato
3. Song of Joy
4. Small Talk
5. The Lonely Hours
6. No Problem
7. The Rainbirds
8. Think of Me
9. Inside A Dream
10. Tony's Blues
11. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
I have attached two "YouTube" songs from the CD for your listening pleasure. The first is the BillyPreston's tune, "Song of Joy" and the second is a Yoko Miwa original "The Rainbirds".
I enjoyed and reviewed Albare's last CD, "Albare plays Jobim" a while ago. He has now published "Albare Plays Jobim Vol 2", and it is just as good as his first Jobim CD. Guitarist and Composer, Albare was born in Morocco and grew up in Israel and France. Amazingly his musical development was completely self-taught. Albare was 14 when he first heard the music of Jobim but he waited until he was in his 60's to produce his tribute to Jobim's music. Why the wait?, a reporter once asked him. He started thinking about the question and first answered "I liked the music and it's Samba rhythms". But as he thought about his quick first response, he knew the answer was deeper than this. "When I first started recording in the 90's, it was not Bossa Nova. As much as my love for the music kept growing, I assumed that everything in that genre was already said and done. As I got older, I felt a tinge of nostalgia and romance for my earlier years. Jobim's music was clearly in the past. So I decided that "if I was going to honor the music of my youth that I loved , I had to find my own voice".
So glad Albare came to this decision because great music never gets old. His sensitive Guitar playing brings new life into the wonderful music world of Antonio Carlos Jobim.
MUSICIANS:
Albare- Co-Producer, Acoustic and Electric Guitar
Joe Chindamo- Arranger, Orchestra Conductor, Piano
Pablo Bencid- Drums (Except for Once I Loved and Dindi)
Luisto Quintero- Percussions
Ricardo Rodriquez- Bass
Phil Turcio- Co-Prodiucer, Mixing, Mastering
Guest Musicians:
Randy Brecker- Fluglehorn (On Favela and So Dance Samba)
Nestor Turres- Flute (On Summer Samba and How Insensitive)
Antonio Sanchez- Drums (On Dindi and Once I Loved)
PLAYLIST:
1. Dindi
2. Summer Samba
3. A Felicidade
4. So Danco Samba
5. Caminhos Cruzados
6. How Insensitive
7. Triste
8. Girl From Ipanema
9. Once I Loved
10. Favela
11. Meditation
I have attached two beautiful and romantic "YouTube" videos for your listening and viewing pleasure. The first is "So Danco Samba" featuring guest artist Randy Brecker playing Flugelhorn and the second is "How Insensitive" featuring guest artists Nestor Torres on Flute.
Guitar Master and ComposerDoug MacDonald has just released a new CD, "Toluca Lake Jazz". The CD is a string Duo with Doug and world-class Bassist, Harvey Newmark. This talented Duo had some creative fun interpreting 7 standards and 6 original tunes composed by Doug. The inspiration for the CD came from the long history of live Jazz in the area. The Lakeside Golf Club was a place where many musicians performed regularly. The Club was also a destination for old Hollywood where many famous Hollywood giants were members including Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and W.C.Fields. This CD is meant to be a tribute to the wonderful Jazz that was performed here and in local Jazz clubs in the area and to a wonderful tradition of live Jazz music.
Doug MacDonald and Harvey Newmark are two of the most in-demand musicians in the country but especially in the Southern California area where they both reside.
Doug MacDonald has an interesting music background. He started in career in Hawaii and then relocated to Las Vegas where the music scene was bursting with opportunities to perform. While in Vegas, Doug performed with many of the Jazz greats like Joe Williams, Carl Fontana, Jack Montrose and Carson Smith. After many years performing in the Vegas scene, Doug moved to LA and performed with Bill Holman, Ray Anthony and John Clayton. He recorded with Jake Hanna, Rosemary Clooney, Jack Sheldon, Bob Cooper, Ross Tompkins, Ray Brown Buddy Rich and Ray Charles. You won't find any musician busier than Doug MacDonald! He has a regular Wednesday gig at AJ's on the Green inCathedral City California and still finds time to compose and tour participating in 300 performances a year from coast to coast. He also broadcasts a Jazz radio show on KAJI, a terrific local Jazz station in Palm Desert, CA.
Harvey Newmark was born in Hollywood California and startedlearning the Bass while he was in middle school. It was love at first sight of the Bass, and by the time Harvey entered Hollywood High School he was working with Bands playing for private events on weekends. After graduating from college, Harvey joined the Buddy Rich Band and at the age of twenty was asked to join the Lawrence Welk Band. Harvey has toured and or recorded with Terrence Blanchard, Carmen McRae, Joe Henderson, Anita O'Day,Cal Trader, the Baja Marimbo Band, Milt Jackson, Eddy Jefferson, Pepper Adams and Terry Gibbs.
The joining of these two wonderful experienced musicians together has produced a delightful musical Duo of great music! It is fun sitting back and listening to how they interpret old standards and also experience Doug MacDonald's creative composing.
I am already hoping to hear more from this talented Duo in the future with the appearance of "Toluca Lake Duo II". I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure. The first is an interesting MaxDonald original titled "New World". Doug shared that he wrote this song based on the changes of "It's a Blue World". The second song is the standard "Easy Living" with some outstanding Bass work from Harvey Newmark.
PLAYLIST:
MUSICIANS:
Doug MacDonald-Guitar and Composer for cuts 5, 6, 7, 9. 11, & 13
It's been quite a while since I published a review of a Country Blues singer but the wait is over. I just listened to Joyann Parker singing songs from her new CD release "Out of the Dark". There is no way I could pass over reviewing this Blues/Country/Rock/Gospel Vocalist. She is the real thing with a voice that is strong, covers several octaves and performs effortlessly. Her singing is natural and real and she would be a welcomed addition to any fine Country-Western band. Her voice and singing reveal a strong attachment to Old-school Country and Blues. Joyann is a big fan of Patsy Cline because "she sang fromher soul" and that's exactly what Joyann does. As wonderful as Joyann's voice is, her greatest talent may be in her composing ability. All 11 songs on the CD were written by Joyann and Guitarist Mark Lamoine. If she keeps writing songs like these 11, her songbook will be very valuable in the coming years. The lyrics on these songs ring true to anyone even with minimal life experience.
I spent a lot of time going back and forth listening to the songs on this CD trying to pick two. Turns out they are all terrific and and different in terms of their feel. But limited to two picks, I picked the title tune "Out of the Dark" and I just could not skip ""Dirty Rotten Guy". "Out of the Dark" was inspired by the virus lockdown which stopped just about everything. Parker says, "It's about the way I've been feeling and changing over the past year, figuring out who I am. I was coming out of my own darkness." "Dirty Rotten Guy" is just a fun New Orleans flavored ode to a pleasure song. Pianist TimWick provides perfect keyboard work to support Parker.
Cathy Segal-Garcia is a remarkably talented Vocalist who also Composes and Arranges beautiful music. She came to mind recently in August of 2020 when I reviewed a new CD from Mayita Dinos, "The Garden Is My Stage". Cathy Segal-Garcia has a major part in producing this CD and putting together the talented musicians who supported Mayita on her recording. So I checked out "YouTube" to find out what Cathy has been doing in the past few years and it turns out that she has been very busy creating beautiful new music. I was particular interested in a CD that Cathy actually recorded in 2011 on a trip to England. The CD sat on the shelf for a long time until she appeared on the Clifford Bell radio show in LA and he suggested that she pull it off the shelf and rework it as a new release. This turned out to be an excellent idea. Cathy brought the rough cuts to Engineer John Leftwich who turned them into musical gems.
The trip to England was arranged by an old friend of Cathy's, Super Sax player, Andy Macintosh. Andy also secured some of the best Jazz players in England to join him and Cathy on this CD. The CD contains a mix of original songs written by Cathy and some evergreens that never get old.
I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure. The first is a very sensitive rendition of the classic Hoagy Carmichael song, "I Get Along Without You".Cathy Segal-Garcia is at her very best singing this tune. It feels like she is having a very private and heart-felt conversation with the listener. This recording certifies her remarkable understanding of Lyric that all Jazz singers should strive for. The second song, "Shake It Down" was composed by Cathy after being inspired by a girl friend who loves to dance. Enjoy!
