This review is a musical change of pace. It is for a new CD from The Chris Saunders Band and it's deep into Jazz blues of the South. Chris Saunders plays Trumpet and Cornet and is also a terrific singer and songwriter. He is a native and current resident of the San Francisco Bay area but there is no doubt that he has been heavily influenced by some of his favorite Blues singers like Joe Williams,Sarah Vaughan, Lou Rawls, Dr. John, Howlin' Wolf and Louis Armstrong. In his new CD, "Dancing With The Widow St. James" Saunders has included a mix of covers and originals which he co-wrote with his collaborator, Pianist and group founder Ken Cook. All of the Saunders and Cook songs tell stories about life and its struggles. The short stories inside these tunes are why the Blues have been so popular over the years. They strike home for the listener and make the music and lyric very relatable to life.
I love the sound and feel of Saunders' voice, his lyrics and his Cornet, they all fit well together. He and his writing partner Ken Cook have the rare ability to take real human emotional experiences and inject them into medley and lyric.
I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure. The first is a tasty song written by Percy Mayfield, "River's Invitation". The second is an original song written by Saunders and Cook. It's the title tune on the CD, "Dancing With The Widow St. James"
Vocalist Alexis Cole is simply the best Jazz vocalist I have heard in many years. Even though she has released several CDs over the past few years, I never had an opportunity to listen to her work. Her new CD, "Sky Blossom" has made me a big fan of her voice and vocal talents. Alexis Cole has an interesting background giving her valuable years of training and experience by singing for seven years in the Army's West Point's Jazz Knights Big Band. She left the service in 2016, trading her uniforms and fatigues for sleek cocktail dresses and chic hats and fully focused on her Vocal skills. On her new CD, "Sky Blossom" she shares the results of all her intensive Jazz studies with us. To find words that describe Alexis' vocal performance to prove without any doubt she has arrived as one of the very best Jazz Vocalists performing today is not difficult! Here are some of the words that came to my mind when listening to Alexis Cole: high energy, flawless pitch, perfect scat technique, warm, rich vocal tones and strong sense of swing! Alexis Cole leaves no doubt that she is a major Jazz star even though a lot of the Jazz world is still yet to discover her.
Her years of experience singing with West Point's Jazz Knights Big Band all come to the forefront in this wonderful Jazz CD. Her seven years singing with the Army Big Band gave Alexis the opportunity to grow as a Jazz Vocalists sharing the stage with a diverse group of musicians from the New York Philharmonic to Kool and the Gang. Singing with a big band is a very different skill than singing with a small group. There is really no way to learn the needed big band vocal skills other than singing with a big band.
Alexis recently founded the website JazzVoice.com, an online educational community featuring singing classes, Professional development workshops and private lessons with some of the top names in vocal Jazz. If you are a vocalist, make sure you check out this site.
Alexis gives us more proof that she is a master musician by selecting a supporting cast of musicians to join her on "Sky Blossom" that is really impressive! I have listed the players below so you can see for yourself. In addition, her playlist of songs is like a master class exam for Vocalists. Alexis has picked a diverse composer list including Clifford Brown, Anthony Newley, George and Ira Gershwin, Miles Davis and Oscar Brown, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Carlos Jobim, Thelonious Monk and Billy Joel!
As a side note, the title of the CD, "Sky Blossom" is a nod from Alexis to her military service. It is a military term for an opening parachute and her credo of jumping into the unknown with faith.
PLAYLIST:
1. Joy Spring
2. Pure Imagination
3. How Long Has This Been Going On
4. All Blues
5. Estate
6. Across The Universe
7. Triste
8. How I Wish
9. Social Call
10. New York State of Mind
11. Our Love Is Here To Stay
12. American Anthem
Players:
Alexis Cole-Vocals
Tracks 2-7, 11
Jeff Jarvis-Conductor
Scott Arcangel-Arranger
Ryan DeWesse, Cade Gotthardt, Evan Hamada, Andrew Solares-Trumpets
Phineas Crisp, Ken Eernisse, Anna Menotti, Bobby Burton-Trombones-
Stephen Wood, Erik Larsen, Nathan King, Tanner Olivas, Chris Cockrill-Saxophones
Pianist, Composer and Arranger Alex Collins has joined together with Bassist Ryan Berg and renowned Drummer Karl Latham andreleased their new CD in June and it's a piece of musical art. All three of these New York based highly-skilled and talented musicians have provided their own personal interpretation to some timeless Jazz standards. They bring these old classics back to life with creative interplay and very new and fresh improvisations. I have attached two "YouTubes" that I know will be adding to my latest playlist. The first is "Alone Together" that opens with a drum solo from Karl Latham and then moves into a high tempo when he is joined by the band. The song was written by Arthur Schwartz with Lyric by Howard Dietz in 1932 but it's reborn again by this talented group. The second is an absolutely wonderful rendition of the classic Van Heusen song,"Polka Dots and MoonBeams". This song is quite long 12 minutes and 27 seconds but it's so good you will be looking for more when it ends!
Guitarist, Composer and Arranger Graham Dechter has recently released his 3rd CD as a leader. It is at times hard to believe that Graham Dechter is still in his twenties because he has made such a big impression on the Jazz world over the last 15 years. Graham was hired by John Hamilton and John Clayton to join the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra at the age of 19. He was only 22 when he released his first recording as leader, "Right On Time" that received rave reviews. His second release "Takin' It There" was on the Jazz Week chart for 22 weeks including 12 weeks in the top five spot and two weeks at number 1.
For this new CD Graham brought what many Jazz lovers, including me, think is one of the best rhythm section performing today, John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton. The icing on this Jazz cake was the addition of Tamir Hendelman. These three magnificent Jazz musicians have been making some of the best Jazz music together for years and adding Graham Dechter as leader has produced another brilliant Jazz CD.
Graham wrote and arranged all but one of the tunes. He also co-arranged the classic "Pure Imagination" with Jeff Hamilton. According to Graham, "After completing seven originals and co-arranging "Pure Imagination with Mr. Hamilton, I came to the realization that every song on this recording, whether consciously or subconsciously, was dedicated to and/or directly influenced by one or more of my musical heroes"; Herb Ellis, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, George Shearing, Art Blakey, Larry Goldings and Thelonious Monk.
Graham Dechter has a busy schedule on the Jazz circuit including appearing with many of the most popular Jazz musicians performing today including Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Cole, Michael Buble, Leon Russell and Charles Aznavour. He was also featured on the soundtrack for the hit film "La La Land".
We all look forward to many more Jazz sounds from Graham Dechter in the future!
I have attached two "YouTubes" videos with cuts from "Major Influence" for your listening pleasure. Both are original compositions by Graham. The first is entitled "Reference" and the second is "Bent On Monk".
Vocalist and composer Jacqui Naylor released her eleventh album back in February of the year but I never got to it until recently. Jacqui is a remarkable vocalist and songwriter. Her voice is soulful and full with deep tones that are unusual on today's music scene. She is well known for her ability to interpret a diverse repertoire, bringing together music from different genres and generations. Jacqui has coined a name to describe her arranging technique, "acoustic smashing". This technique involves singing the lyrics and melody of a Jazz standard over the music of a well-known rock anthem. I have attached a brilliant example of this technique with Jacqui singing the Coldplay song "Fix It" while the band plays background support of a Miles Davis-inspired "It Never Entered My Mind".
There is a synergy that listeners will hear immediately when listening to this CD between Jacqui Naylor and her talented band. The band leader is Art Khu on Piano and has this to say about the synergy of the band, "Each member of this band is an accomplished musician and storyteller, sensitive to Jacqui's mission and lyrics, supportive, intuitive and compassionate. Decades of work culminate in "The Long Game" as each band member uses their individual talents to contribute, shine and support each other. Jacqui's interpretations are deep, thoughtful but also human and unpretentious." The second "YouTube" I have attached will instantly broadcast the synergy of all the players performing the Van Heusen and Burke classic, "Like Someone In Love". Joining Jacqui and Art are Jon Evans on Bass and Guitar and Josh Jones on Drums and Percussion.
The playlist listed below is worth studying. It's new and old, diverse and familiar all at the same time. If you like soulful singing and interpretations you really need to buy this CD!
"Fix You"
"Like Someone In Love"
PLAYLIST:
1. Like Someone In Love
2. Give Me One More Chance
3. Fix You
4. I'll Be Loving You
5. Love Look What You've Done
6. Walkin' Out The Door
7. Smile
8. The Thrill Is Gone
9. Space Oddity
10. The Long Game
11. Don't Give Up
12. Speak Low
13. It's The Right Time
14. All My Life
PLAYERS:
Jacqui Naylor-Vocals, Compositions
Art Khu-Piano, Arrangements, Organ, Rhodes, Guitars
Jon Evans-Basses, Guitar #2 and #3, Background Vocals, Arrangements
Musician, Multi-Instrumentalist, Composer and Arranger Benjamin Schnake is at the top of his musical game as proven by the wonderful music he has composed for his new CD, "The Joy Of Playing". The album released in late October proves that he is 100% right about his title "The Joy Of Playing". Listening to his Ensemble and his compositions, one gets the feeling of musical joy. Benjamin has a colorful and wide-ranging musical history. Born in Santiago de Chile, he started classical and popular guitar lessons at the age of 10. In 2017 Benjamin started his Masters in Music at Howard University in Washington, DC. His next stop was at New York University in Manhattan, NY studying guitar and composition with some of the greatest musicians of the New York scene: John Scofield, Peter Bernstein, Adam Rogers, Alan Ferber Gil Goldstein and Alan Broadbent.
According to Schnake "My deepest musical background comes from Latin American music, particularly folk music form the Andes". He earned a Master of Music in Instrumental Performance with a focus on Jazz Studies in February 2019. I have listed only a short list of his studies and experience in the music world. He is no casual student of music. His life is totally entwined with music and the music he creates proves he has learned his lessons well. I particular like the way he creates his songs with heavy involvement with Jazz but never forgets the importance of strong melody.
I have attached two "YouTube" videos for you to sample. The first is an irresistible Latin rhythm tune entitled "Marisol" that takes only one hearing to love. The arrangement is musically perfect and I fell in love with it before it even ended. The second is a beautiful ballet entitled "She's Gone". Benjamin has always loved Jazz ballads and his composition is very emotionally moving.
"Marisol"
"She's Gone"
PLAYLIST:
1. Marisol
2. The Joy Of Playing
3. Fragment
4. She's Gone
5. Aju
6. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
7. Lakitas
PLAYERS:
Benjamin Schnake-Nylon-string Guitar, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Compositions and Arrangements
Multi-talented David Larsen is one of only a few superb Baritone Sax players recording these days. But David Larsen's talents don't stop at Baritone Sax. David is an exceptionally good composer. His compositions have won many awards and has been performed and recorded by a wide variety of groups around the US and abroad. He is also a noted educator who is currently the director of instrumental studies at Spokane Falls Community College. He holds a PhD from Washington State University and degrees from Pacific University, University of Oregon and Western Oregon University.
This CD was started as a COVID-19 escape and you will see the four players performing in the first "YouTube" song, "He Who Getz The Last Laugh" all in separate spaces. David credits the compositions on this CD originated from his life experiences in the last four years of his life. During these four years he earned his doctoral degree and had more exposure to Jazz composers from a variety of eras and genres.
Composing music has never been easy but David Larsen makes it look easy. His compositions are new and creative but still are anchored in the tradition of great Jazz composers of the past.
I have attached two videos from "YouTube" for your listening pleasure. The first one is titled, "Who Getz The Last Laugh" and David wrote this as a nod to the great Stan Getz. It's a sparkling composition and the video shows the group in action. The second cut is "Augmented Reality" that features Jazz master Ken Peplowski on Clarinet. I think you will like both of these David Larsen originals.
"Who Getz the Last Laugh"
"Augmented Reality"
Players:
David Larsen- Baritone & Tenor Saxophone. Compositions
