New York based Vocalist Ben Cassara released his new album, "What A Way To Go" in late December of 2022. Ben is a cabaret and Jazz club singer whose singing will bring you back to when Jazz clubs in both NYC and LA were having their finest hour. His voice and his interpretion of Lyric and Music is exceptionally good in my opinion. No noise here, just pure understanding of lyrics performed in a traditional Jazz method. Cassara sounds cool and calm on his CD and he brings along some of the finest musicians to support him. The Arrangements from Josh Richman and Ronny Whyte are refreshingly good.
The Playlist Cassara put together for his CD are classic Jazz vocalist examples of cool music. He draws heavily on the lyrics of Dave Frishberg while including two terrific songs from Jobim. I have attached a "YouTube" of Cassara singing Jobim's "Living On Dreams" which includes English lyrics by Susannah McCorkel.
It is so wonderful that gentle Jazz voices like Ben Cassara's can find small and intimate Jazz clubs in which to perform in major cities across the country. He understands the messages that great songs have and he sings like he is telling a story to his audience. Sadly, today there are not a lot of Vocalists who can pull off singing lyrics that are sensitive and tell a story. Ben Cassara is a shining example of what makes Jazz cabaret singing so wonderful, and I am happy to support him and get the word out to my Jazz friends.
Arranger, Conductor and Alto Sax genius Ron Aprea and Vocalist Angela DeNiro have recently published their new album, "Swingin' With Legends 2" which includes the marvelous singing from Angela DeNiro, TheRon Aprea Big Band with special guest artists, Randy Brecker, Ken Peplowski and Lew Tabackin. The first "Swingin' With Legends" album was published in 1997 to outstanding critical praise! Now 26 years later, Ron and Angela have published their second "Swinging With Legends 2" album and its a spectacular example of what Big Band music with a vocalist is all about. This new CD swings and reminds us all of the golden years of Big Band Jazz so sadly missing from today's music scene. The truth is that this music is still wonderful but very expensive to produce. Thanks to Ron Aprea's and Angela DeNiro's relentless desire to keep Big Band music going, we can still enjoy this exceptional music today. Ron and his big band featuring vocalist Angela DeNiro are still performing and recently appeared at several Jazz venues in the New York area including a recent performace at Birdland.
Ron Aprea has an amazing musical resume that includes a long-time association with his friend, Alto Sax giant Phil Woods back in the 1970s. Ron and Phil remained close friends until Phil's death in 2015. Ron composed and arranged "For Phil" as a tribute to his friend. I have attached a "YouTube" so you can listen to Ron's tribute to Phil. It's a terrific arrangement with a vocal by Angela and some sweet Alto work by Todd Bashore.
I was first introduced to Ron and Angela by two California desert friends, Steve Madieo and Pat Rizzo. Steve and Pat both played along side Ron when they were all living in New York many years ago. Ron's and Steve's friendship started when they both recorded with John Lennon and continued throughout their lives.
Ron and Angela were married in 1985 and have been making beautiful music ever since. They both are dedicated to their music and have never let anything stop them from performing and recording sensational music. The songs they selected for this album are perfect for anyone who loves the big band sound. Ron Aprea's arrangements are refresing, new and inspiring as you will discover from Angela's major league vocals.
My personal thanks to both Ron Aprea and Angela DeNiro for continuing to make music for the rest of us to enjoy! If you are a fan of the big band sound and great music in general, please buy this album and support this talented pair of world class musicians.
I had a difficult time picking just two cuts from this CD. The first one is the classic "You'd Be So Easy Tolove" and I think Angela vocal just excell. For all vocalist, singing with a big band charging behind you is always a difficult task that few ever master. Angela's voice and phrasing on this CD become one with this blazing band, never too little and never too much. The second "YouTube" is the original Aprea tune, "For Phil", composed by Ron as a tribute to the late Phil Woods.
A year ago I reviewed Kenny Shanker's CD, "Beautiful Things" and I thought it was an amazing collection of music. It describes perfectly the kind of music Kenny Shanker selects and plays. Kenny Shanker is not just a great Alto and Soprano saxophonist, he also plays Piano and is an award-winning composer. On Kenny's newly released album, "Vortex" he has put together a collection of original compositions and Jazz standards.
Kenny Shanker's style excites me in the same way I was excited when I first discovered Jazz from the Dave Brubeck Quartet in the late 50's. Kenny's tone and phrasing reminds me of my all-time favorite Alto player, Paul Desmond. "Vortex" combines some of Shanker's favorite supporting players and all 10 songs on the playlist are terrific.
For all the up-and-coming Alto players reading this review, Kenny Shanker gives private lessons on Sax and Piano and you can find out more about this exciting opportunity by going to his site, www.kennyshanker.com.
I picked two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure. The first one was picked because it's beautiful but because it is also a simply a classic Jazz tune, "Autumn Leaves". The second song was written by Dave Brubeck and titled "The Duke" and gave me a very positive reminder about how much I love Dave Brubeck and his quartet.
Vocalist, Saxophonist, Arranger and Composer, Darmon Meader has released his second solo project, "Losing My Mind". When I received the promotion copy of this CD, I saw a photo of Darmon standing holding a Tenor Sax and I thought the music would feature the Tenor. However, as I got further into the promotional material, I discovered that while Darmon is an outstanding Tenor player, he is also a great Jazz Vocalist. This album shines a light on classics from the Great American Songbook and Meader proves without any doubt that he has the vocal chops to handle these great songs. He gives us a master class in the art of scatting. His phrasing is dead-on and his voice has a soft comfortable feel that is the perfect match for the classics in this CD. We also get to hear a couple of original Meader tunes that are wonderful.
I have attached two "YouTube" videos for you to listen to. The first was written by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II, "The Song Is You" and you will love it. The second is the title track, "LosingMy Mind" written by Stephen Sondheim. This CD is terrific and an example of current American Jazz that is easily assessable by any listener.
Jazz Vocalist and Songwriter Chole Jean has just released her new CD, "Fairy Tale Fail". The CD playlist is very interesting because it combines five original compositions, covers of four classic standards and a latin arrangement of Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy". The playlist illustrates Chloe Jean's ability to perform across many music styles with the same high level of vocal skills. Chloe lyrics are very personal and give us insight into her own life and experiences. Success in the music business environment today is beyond hard for artist. It's brutal and Chloe's title song, "Fairy Tale Fail" warns us that life does not have Disney endings. "Prince charming may "pick you up, but eventually lets you down."Musicans performing today need unbelievable strength to keep pursuing their musical dreams. Chloe like all musicians experienced times when she questioned her motives about pursing music as a career. Fortunately for us, she has worked through these dark periods and now has published proof of her skills as a Vocialist and Composer. Her voice is strong and clear with a sort of bluesy quality to it. Her phrasing is at times R & B inspired, but in her CD she proves without a doubt that she can handle time honored standards also with no problem.
Guitarist Ray Oviedo did a wonderful job producing and arranging this CD. The supporting cast of musicians contributing to this CD are all seasoned musicians and performed at the highest level. All and all, I found this CD very enjoyable and accessible. I love Chloe's music and lyrics and thought she handled the standards perfectly. If you are a fan of exceptionally good Jazz vocals make sure you buy this CD, and I am positive Chloe Jean will quickly become one of your favorites.
I have attached two "YouTube" videos for you to listen to that will present Chloe's talents clearly to you. The first is a cover of Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy" that I found interesting. The second is an original titled "Crazy" that speaks to the insane behavior that one echibits when in love.
Well do I have a surprise for all our Chet Baker fans, and who isn't? You are in for a real musical treat. The Archival Label, Jazz Detective has just released a two-CD set of previously unreleased studio performances from Chet Baker that were recorded in Holland in 1979. The CD package is titled "Blue Room: The 1979 VARA Studio Sessions in Holland". The first group of songs that were recorded in April 1979 included Pianist Phil Markowitz, Bassist Jean-Louis Rassinfosse and Drummer Charles Rice. A second session on November 9th, 1979 feature Pianist Frans Elsen, Bassist Victor Kaihatu, and Drummer Eric Ineke.
The quality of Baker's playing and singing on this two-CD set is at the highest level. Honestly, I think it's some of his very best work. The CD includes a booklet loaded with "Must Know" information about Chet Baker. The booklet includes an overview by Dutch journalist Jeroen de Vale, Essays by Producer Zev Feldman, Frank Jochemsen and Edwin Rutten. There are also interviews with sidemen Markowitz, Rassinfosse, and Ineke. Trumpeters Randy Brecker and Enrico Rava and Pianist Enrico Pieranunzi have personal tributes included.
What a miracle that these studio performances were found and recovered in excellent condition. Pianist Markowitz who supplied masterful support and solos says "I'm grateful for the lessons I learned with him back then...This recording is really great. Chet Baker's fans are going to be absolutely thrilled because he sounds unbelievable on this recording."
Randy Brecker one of the most highly respected Jazz Trumpet players performing today had some very interesting comments about Baker's Trumpet skills, "Boy, he got to the heart of the instrument like nobody else. You hear him and you want to take everything from his playing, his whole conception, his sound, his melodic content. He was really an improviser. He played off the melody and he played what he heard. To this day, I try to use all those elements. I especially concentrate on playing less, rather than more."
Trust me, this CD is Chet Baker at the top of his game. If you are a Chet Baker fan, you have to buy this CD, If you are new to Chet Baker this CD will make you a fan for life.
I have attached two cuts from the album. The first one is the opening tune on CD#1, "Beautiful Black Eyes". It's a Wayne Shorter tune that features Baker playing as good as I have ever heard him. It's a great piece of music. The second tune has Chet Baker singing the song made famous by the Four Freshmen, "Candy". It's clasic Chet Baker.
Jazz Vocalist and radio host Mary Foster Conklin has released her fifth album, "These Precious Days" in February of this year. The theme of this CD features mostly outstanding women composers plus a mix of lessor-known but terrific Jazz and Pop tunes.
Conklin has been playing music that celebrates women composers and lyricists on her radio show, called "A Broad Spectrum-the Ladies of Jazz", since 2016. The program streams online every Sunday on WFDU.FM's HD2 channel at http://www.wfdu.fm which is broadcast from Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.
Mary Foster Conklin has a strong, clear voice and she has a real focus on the lyrics in the songs she selects. Her phrasing and understanding of the meaning of the lyric of every song she sings makes listening to her a real pleasure. Master oil painters have often said that you need to have a connection to any painting you work on or it will project no emotional message. The same is true for singing, the very best Vocalists have an emotional connection with the the lyric. Mary Foster Conklin not only sings songs that have lyrics she can relate too, she also chooses melodies that inspire her. Both of these personal requirements show up on her new CD, "These Precious Days". The collection of songs is wonderful and satisfiying to the listener.
I selected two songs on the album to attach for your listening pleasure that really appealed to me. The first is "Summertime" but it's not the Gershwin classic. This song was written by the great poet, Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson. Conklin sings this song like she is telling her own story. The second one is a relatively unknown song written by Dory Previn and her x-husband Andre Previn set to a samba tempo.
Conklin has invited some very high-level musicians to join her on this CD. John Di Martino is on Piano and wrote all the arrangements. Sara Caswell plays violin and will be heard on the first cut, "Summertime".Ed Howard on Bass, Vince Cherico on Drums, Guilherme Monteiro on Guitar and Samuel Torres on Percussion.
