CD Review: Rich WIlley, "Putting On The Ritz"

 Multi-talented Rich Willey has released a tasty new CD, "Puttin On The Ritz".  Rich Willey is very impressive performing on Trumpet and Bass Trumpet.  Willey also plays Valve Trombone, Tuba and Electronic Valve Instruments (EVI).  Rich Willey has an extensive academic Jazz background and a vast performing resume that includes touring with the Maynard Ferguson's Big Bop Nouveau , Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Cab Calloway Orchestra, the Sammy Kaye Orchestra and the Nelson Ridddle Orchestra.  His Trumpet tone and improvisation skills are at the highest level as his arranging skills are world-class.  He performs regularly in the Southeast.  Willey taught at University of North Carolina Asheville for tweleve years and seven years at Clemson University.  His Jazz education background includes being a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music earning a master's in Jazz performance/Trumpet. 

His style and touch on the Trumpet and his arranging are strongly rooted in the traditional American Jazz approach to music.  "Puttin On The Ritz" contains some beautiful Jazz standards and a few Willey original compositions he arranged for four horns  The CD was produced by the phenomenal Trumpeter and gifted Arranger Carey Deadman.  Deadman also arranged the string parts on eight tunes.

As you listen to the songs attached below, it will transport you back to the time when you first started loving Jazz.  They are intelligent understandable arrangements played by highly professional Jazz artists.

I have attached two "YouTube" videos below.  The first is the standard "If I Should Lose You" with a tasty arrangement and solos by Rich Willey on Trumpet and Paul Mutzabaugh on Piano.  The string arrangement was by Carey Deadman.   The second tune is an up-tempo Willey arrangement of "Poor Butterfly". It features solos by Rich Willey on Bass Trumpet and EVI and Paul Mutzabaugh on Piano.  The string arrangement was done by Carey Deadman. 

                                                                    "If I Should Lose You"

                                                                     "Poor Butterfly"

PLAYLIST:

1. Poor Butterfly

2. If I Should Lose You

3. I'll Be Seeing You

4. Puttin' On The Ritz

5. My Melancholy Baby

6. Holy Trinity

7. Song For Janet

8. Uncle Remus

9. Sweet Lorraine

10. Hard Hearted Hannah

11. But For The Grace of God

CD Review: Katherine Farnham "Alquimia"

 Vocalist, Pianist, Arranger and Composer Katherine Farnham has released her first Latin Jazz CD, "Alquimia".  The first song on the CD that I listened to was "Tango" and I was knocked out by her powerful and clear voice.  The last time I reacted this way to a new voice was after I heard Christina Aguilera sing at age 15.  Katherine Farnham has one of the brightest new voices singing today and singing is only one of her talents.  She composes wonderful music and lyrics and then combines them with creative arrangements.  She is on her way to becoming a megastar.  Katherine gathered 9 songs for this album, some originals and some popular Latin songs.  Two songs I have attached were written and arranged by Katherine Farnham.   Katherine has the ability to sing in four-octaves and is classically trained.  Over the past few years she has been awarded twelve music awards and no doubt there will be many more in her future.

"Alquimia" is a Latin Jazz album but its musical qualities will call out to you even if you don't speak Spanish.  Great music and singing needs no translation.  

Katherine's supporting cast includes and features four-time Grammy Nominee Denny Joist,  well known and beloved Latin artist Guinga and Latin Grammy winner Nestor Torres.

This is an outstanding new Jazz CD released by an outstanding young and talented woman!

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure both composed by Katherine.  The first tune is "Tango" and everything about this song is special, the vocals, the music and the lyrics and the second song is "Discricao".  

                                                                        "Tango"

                                                                         "Discricao"

PLAYERS:

Katherine Farnham- Vocals, Piano,Keyboards, Percussion, Composing and Arranging

Nestor Torres- Flute

Denny Joist, Andres Canola, Guinga- Acoustic & Electric Guitars

Roy Vogt- Bass

Marcus Finnie & Rich Adams- Drums

Andres Canola & RIch Adams- Percussion

PLAYLIST:

1. Tango

2. Onde Esta Meu Amor

3. Discricao

4. A Vox do Mundo

5. Besame Mucho

6. Eternidad

7. So Tinha De Ser Com Voce

8. Discricao (Extended Verison)

9. A Vox do Mundo (Acoustic Version)

CD Review: Doug MacDonald "I'll See You In My Dreams"

 

Multi-talented Guitarist Doug MacDonald has released a new CD, "I'll See You In My Dreams" and it's exactly what the best of American Jazz is about.  Doug has included a group of standards and two of his own original compositions on the CD.  In addition, he has brought with him one of the finest Jazz trios performing today, Pianist Tamir Hendelman, John Clayton on Bass and Jeff Hamilton on Drums.  Doug's life evolves around music.  He is always experimenting with music both old and new, recording new CDs, composing and an MC at a local Southern California radio Jazz show.  Doug performs almost nightly in every part of Southern California to the delight of his thousands of fans.

If someone new to Jazz had any questions about what American Jazz is all about they need to listen to Doug's new CD.  Doug and the three musicians playing on this CD have performed some of the greatest music in the country.   All four musicians are outstanding whether playing solo or playing in a group.  

Doug offers these reflextions on why he did this recording. "In the mid-eighties I was a member of the Snooky Young/Bob Cooper Sextet, The Jack Sheldon Group and played in an early version of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Now here we are almost 40 years later, together again".  We are also delighted that Doug, Tamir, John and Jeff got together again!

I have attached two "YouTube" videos from this CD.  The first is the Matt Dennis/Tony Adair standard, "Will You Still Be Mine" and the second is a delightful Blues tune "New Mark".

                                                                  "Will You Still Be Mine"

                                                                       "New Mark"

PLAYERS:

Doug MacDonald- Guitar

Tamir Hendelman- Piano

John Clayton- Bass

Jeff Hamilton- Drums

PLAYLIST:

1. I'll See You In My Dreams

2. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)

3. Don'Cha GO Way Mad

4. My Ship

5. New Mark

6. Easy To Love

7. Tis Autumn

8. More Yesterdays Than Tomorrows

9. Will You Still Be Mine

CD Review: Jorge Garcia "Dedicated To You"

 

Cuban-born master Guitarist, Composer and Arranger Jorge Garcia has released a new CD that is dedicated to many of the esteemed musicians he has collaborated with in past years.  The list includes Tony Bennett, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Chuck Redd, Jon Faddis and Ignacio Berroa.  On his new CD  released in February of this year, Garcia celebrates his collaborations with two other Jazz icons, the late alto saxophonist Richie Cole and Harmonica wizard Hendrick Meurkens along with some of his favorite local musicians from South Florida.

You may not be familiar with Jorge Garcia's body of work as I wasn't but after listening to just the two cuts I have attached from his new album, you will quickly become a big fan.  Garcia demonstrates on his new CD how he can brilliantly move from Be-Bop, Brazilian, Latin, Ballads and Standards seamlessly.  His perfomance skills are at the highest levels.  I was also very impressed with Garcia's compositions.  They are rich and have depth, clarity and melody.   No wonder all the super musicians I have listed above wanted to record with him.  

On the two songs from "Dedicated To You" that I have attached I need to mention the outstanding support that Drummer James Cotmon and Bassist Jamie Ousley contributed to Garcia and his new CD.  

Jorge Garcia has produced a first-class stylish Jazz CD and picking only two wonderful songs from this album was very difficult.  You need to add this CD to your collection. It's one of the best I have heard in many months.

The first tune I attached from "YouTube" was "This One's For Richie".  It was especially written by Garcia to showcase Richie Cole's alto melodic mood over a swinging medium tempo.  Garcia contributes a great solo using a hollow-bodied Guitar.  The second tune is another Garcia original "With You Always".  The song is a warm Brazilian composition that demostrates the fine chemistry between Garcia's Guitar and Hendrick Meurkens's Harmonica.  Also notable on this track is the contribution from Drummer James Cotmon and Bassist Jamie Ousley. 

PLAYERS:

Jorge Garcia- Guitar, Compositions, Arranging

Richie Cole- Alto Sax

Rick Doll- Bass on 1,2

James Cotmon- Drums

Jamie Ousley- Bass on 3,4,6

Gino Castillo- Percussion

John Yarling- Drums 4

Paul Banman- Piano

Hendrick Meurkens- Harmonica

Wendy Pedersen- Vocals

PLAYLIST:

1. Minority

2. This One's For Richie

3. With You Always

4. Somewhere Over The Rainbow

5. You Fascinate Me

6. S'Wonderful

7. Dedicated To You

         

                                "This One's For Richie"

                                                                   "With You Always"

CD Review: Owen Broder, "Hodges: Front and Center, Vol 1"

 

When I first started listening to Jazz the first saxophone player who captured me was Johnny Hodges. I discovered him entrenched in the Duke Ellington Orchestra.  I loved Johnny's alto sound and his melodic solos and that love has stayed with me over the years.   Saxophonist Owen Broder pays tribute to Johnny Hodges in his new CD "Hodges: Front and Center, Vol 1".  Broder has taken a deeper dive into Hodges' music world an focused not only with his work with Ellington but also into Hodges' work with small groups particularly two 1959 releases, "Back to Back and Side By Side".  

In developing the Hodges Project, Broder carefully selected some outstanding musicians that were well versed in both modern Jazz and the vintage styles that is this album's focus.  The band features trumpeter Riley Mulherkar, Carmen Staff on Piano, Barry Stephenson on Bass and Bryan Carter on Drums.  The result produced a totally enjoyable journey back to the golden years of Jazz and a overdue reminder of the brilliant Saxophonist Johnny Hodges.  The sounds on this CD will remind all Jazz fans that good Jazz never gets old!

Owen Broder is based in New York City and he is involved in multiple music projects. His debut album, "Heritage" was praised by DownBeat Magazine as a "Transcendent work of art".  His quintet Cowboys and Frenchmen has received critical acclaim for its three full-length recordings.  Broder is a member of the Grammy nominated Anat Cohen Tentet and the Manhattan Saxophone Quartet.  He teaches Jazz Theory and Jazz Arranging at Portland State University.

I have attached a "YouTube" video of a terrific Broder arrangement of Ellington's signature song "Take The A Train" that showcases his arranging skills and also his playing excellence.  All of the tunes on this CD are great, including his arrangement of "Royal Garden Blues' an"Ballade for the Very Sad and Very Tired Lotus Eaters".   The CD's release date is October 14 and would make a perfect Christmas gift for any Jazz lover.

                                                                      "Take The A Train"

PLAYERS:

Owen Broder- Alto and Baritone Saxphones, Arrangements

Riley Mulherkar- Trumpet

Carmen Staff- Piano

Barry Stephenson- Bass

Bryan Carter- Drums

PLAYLIST:

1. Royal Garden Blues

2. Viscount

3. 18 Carrots for Rabbit

4. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter

5. Digits

6. Ballade for the Very Sad and Very Tired Lotus Eaters

7. Take the A Train

8. Just a Memory

9. You Need to Rock.

CD Review: Joel Quarrington, "The Music Of Don Thompson"

 

World-class Classical Bassist Joel Quarrington has joined with Pianist, Bassist, Composer and Arranger Don Thompson to create a unique musical joining from the Classical and Jazz world.  All the music was specifically written by Don Thompson for this project with the exception of "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square".  

This CD is a master piece of beautifully composed music and Joel Quarrington's performance on Bass is beyond description.  Joel's improvisation, dexterity and tone are at a level that few Bass players can even dream of.  Joel Quarrington is a former bassist for the London Symphony Orchestra and one of the premier classical Bassists in the world.  In this new CD, "Joel Quarrington, The Music of Don Thompson" Joel gets to bring his Bass skills to the world of Jazz.  The result is a spectacular 45 minutes of wonderful, exciting music.

Don Thompson, the Pianist and Composer of the memorable music for this CD has also played Bass for over 60 years and had this to say about Joel Quarrington's Bass performance "I've played Bass for over sixty years and the problem for any Bass player, any musician actually is to make the music more important than the instrument.  Bass is, for most of us a difficult instrument that can be very hard to get along with.  My own Bass (and I have a great Bass) will only let me play when it feels like it and even then, my playing is a compromise between what I want to play, and what it will allow to play.  Joel is one of the very few Bass players I've ever heard, Jazz or Classical, that has the technique and the total understanding of the music he needs, to be able to put the music before himself."

John Patitucci had this to say after listening to this CD "Joel Quarrington is an incredible Bassist whose sound, virtuosity and emotional depth are striking.  His unique command and flexibility make playing Bass on this extremely high level sound so effortless and easy.  Indeed, it makes me want to throw my bow in the fireplace!!!!!"

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for you to enjoy.  The first is a joyous arrangement and performance of the standard "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" that allows you to watch Joel and Don perform the full glorious 10 of music.  The second is a Don Thompson original composition, "Egberto" which was inspired by Don's love of Brizilian music and dedicated to the great Brazilian musician Egberto Gismonti.

                                                     "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square"

                                                                          "Egberto"

PLAYERS:

Joel Quarrington- Double Bass

Don Thompson- Piano, Compositions, Arranger

Travis Harrison- Double Bass 2

 Joseph Phillips- Double Bass 3

Roberto Occhipinti- Double Bass 4

PLAYLIST:

1. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square

2. Another Time, Another Place

3. Egberto

4. A Quiet Place

5. Quartet 89 for Bass Quartet

   

 

CD Review: Orlando Haddad & Patricia King, "Minas Beatles in Bossa

Orlando Haddad and Patricia King Haddad are long time partners in marriage and music.  They formed their group Minas in 1978 at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.  They began playing in the Eastern United States before moving to Brazil.  They returned to the US in 1984 to continue building their reputation as one of the most sought-after Brazilian groups of its kind.  Multi-talented Orlando and Patricia Haddad are Composers, Vocalists and Instrumentalists who are comfortable in Brazilian Jazz, Folk and Classical genres. 

I have always been a fan of good covers of great music.  In their new CD "Minas Beatles in Bossa" this talent duo presents the case very well.  Combining songs written by the Beatles with the Brazilian sounds and American Jazz touches has produced a beautifully listening CD that will please any audience.  The arrangements on this CD are terrific, new and creative, taking traditional rock and roll song to a new level for a new generation.

American Patricia King Hadad's earlist musical influences were formed listening to Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 while Brazilian Orlando Haddad fell in love with the Beatles and credits them as the inspriation for becoming a musician and later immigrating to the the US.   Together they have creative a terrific sound and given new birth to some of our favorite Beatles songs.

PLAYLIST:

1.Blackbird

2.Come Together

3, She Loves You

4. Day Tripper

5. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

6. I Will

7. Can't Buy Me Love

8. Eleanor Rigby

9. Within You Withhout You

10. Here Comes The Sun

11. Norwegian Wood

12. With A Little Help From My Friends

13. In My Life

14. Get Back

PLAYERS:

Orlando Haddad-Vocals, Guitar, Berimbau

Patricia King Haddad-Vocals, Piano, Keyboards

Jim Stager-Acoustic and Electric Bass

Tom Cohen-Drums

John Swana-EVI, Flugelhorn, Trumpet

Andrew Neu-Saxes and Flute

Cyro Baptista-Percussion, Berimbau

Jordan Haddad-Vocals

Rob Hyman-Accordion

I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listending pleasure that will give some the satisfying sounds on this CD.  The first is "Eleanor Rigby" and the second song is "Get Back". 

                                                                       "Eleanor Rigby"

                                                                        "Get Back"