CD Review: Paul Marinaro, "Not Quite Yet"

 

I am delighted to introduce Vocalist Paul Marinaro to Music Man followers.  Paul's hometown is Chicago where he regularly performs at Joe and Wayne Segal's Jazz Showcase, The Green Mill, Andy's Jazz Club and Winter's Jazz Club.  Paul has all the tools necessary to establish himself as one of the top male Jazz singers performing today.  First and foremost he is a story teller who brings life to the lyrics he sings.   His baritone voice is deep and golden.  Lastly and perhaps most importantly,  Paul takes his choice of songs for his albums very seriously.  The playlist is unusual in song selection because each song and emotional lyric is very different, and, yet they fit together perfectly.  According to Paul,  "this album is an honest and personal collection of songs which address themes and reflect moods that are characteristic of me at this stage. Though these eternal themes are common our interpretations were colored and shaped by the circumstances in which we most recently found ourselves."

Take some time to review the playlist list below.  I think it's a fascinating group of songs from many different genres that work great together.  Picking a couple off "YouTube" was no easy task.  There are two songs from David Bowie, a couple of songs from the Bergmans, one from Sondheim and others from outstanding composers of our time.   I attached two songs that I think illustrate the vast talents of Paul Marinaro.  The first is a song written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells called "Born To Be Blue" and the second song "No One Ever Tells You" was written by Hub Atwood and Carroll Coates for Frank Sinatra.  A special mention of Mike Allemana who in addition to playing Guitar on the album also wrote  outstanding, creative arrangements for all the songs.   

PLAYLIST:

1. Born To Be Blue

2. Someone To Light Up My Life

3. Make Me Rainbows

4. 5:15 the Angels Have Gone

5. Remind Me

6. No One Ever Tells You

7.  Invitation

8. The Island

9. Taking A Chance on Love

10. On A Wonderful Day Like Today

11. That's All 

12. Searching

13. I Remember

14. No Plan

PLAYERS:

Paul Marinaro- Vocals

Mike Allemana- Guitar and Arrangements

Tom Vaitsas- Piano

John Tate- Bass (All except 5, 13)

George Fludas- Drums

Horns (Tracks 1,3,6,7,9,10)

Marques Carroll- Trumpet

Raphael Crawford- Trombone

Chris Madsen- Tenor Sax

Greg Ward- Alto Sax

Rajiv Halim- Clarinet (Track 11 only)

Jim Gailloreto- Flute (Track 12 only)

KAIA String Orchestra  (Tracks 2,4,8,9,11,12,14)

Victoria Moreira- Violin

Naomi Culp- Violin

Amanda Grimm- Viola

Hope DeCelle- Cello 

                                                                  "Born To Be Blue"

                                                               "No One Ever Tells You"

CD Review: Brian Landrus, "Red List"

 

Baritone Saxophonist, Bass Clarinetist and composer, Brian Landaus has released his 11th album as a leader titled "Red List".  The album is dedicated to the preservation of our endangered species.  Landrus is collaborating with the organization "Save The Elephants" to sound alarm and he hopes he can facilitate  "Critical yet uncomfortable conversations about changing our global habit of destroying nature for out own gain".  

Brian has invited a talented group of musician friends to support him on this CD and help present the wonderfully musical compositions he has composed especially for this project.  Landrus organized a "GoFundme" campaign for "Red List", donating 20% of all proceeds and 100% of the profits to "Save The Elephants" which has been working to ensure a future for African Elephants for nearly 30 years.

At the "Red List" sessions, Landrus conveyed to his supporting musicians the sense of urgency he was seeking in his music.  "I told them that I wanted the energy to be very intense, I wanted it to be like,  it's now or never".

The song I selected to attach from the album is titled "Tigris" and it gives the listener the intensity the composer and his supporting cast were trying to capture.  Landrus performs a scorching Bari Sax solo and Alto Sax player Jaleel Shaw follows in suit.  Then Guitarist Nir Felder takes the lead to give it a proper finish.  This is a sensations piece of writing and performances!

Brian Landrus is a major voice on Baritone Sax and Bass Clarinet and a prolific composer.  He wide-ranging credits include playing with some of the world's great Jazz musicians like Fred Hersch, Esperanza Spalding, Rakalam Bob Moses, Billy Hart, Geroge Garaonem the Maria Schneider Orchestra and his teacher and mentor Bob Brookmeyer.  He also has a great resume on the pop-side also, touring with The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Coasters The Drifters and Martha Reeves.

PLAYERS:

Brian Landrus- Baritone Sax, Bass Clarinet, Compostions, Arrangements

Ryan Keberle- Trombone

Geoffrey Keezer- Keyboard

Nir Felder-Guitar

Ron Blake- Tenor Sax

Jaleel Shaw- Alto Sax

Lonnie Plaxico- Bass

John Hatfield- Percussion:

Steve Roach- Trumpet

Rudy Royston-Drums

Corey King- Vocalist

PLAYLIST:

1. Canopy of Trees

2. The Red List

3. Giant Sands

4. Nocturnal Flights

5. Tigris

6. The Distant Deeps

7. Save The Elephants

8. Mariana Dove

9. Bwindi Forest

10. Congo Basin

11. Leatherbacks

12. Upriver

13. Only Eight

14. Laquita

15. Javan Rhino   

                                                                             "Trgris"                                                            

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.