Veronica Thomas, "They Say It's Wonderful"

I have the pleasure of listening to many great musicians as part of my blog reviews but I have always had a special place in my music for Jazz Vocalists.   I know that most of us think we could be a pretty good Jazz Vocalist with enough practice.  After all, we all sound pretty good singing in the shower, right?  But the truth is becoming a truly top shelf Jazz vocalist is one of the hardest accomplishment to master.   

Veronica Thomas makes my last statement seem untrue because she sings and swings with utter ease and style making it seems easy.  And that's the mark of a true professional not only in the music world but of all worlds.  This summer, Veronica Thomas released her second CD, "They Say It's Wonderful".  The CD has a collection of 12 classic Jazz standards and these evergreens never sounded better.  Veronica has a velvet, soulful voice that she weaves around perfect storytelling phrasing that any of the great composers of these songs could have ever wished for.  When I first listened to this CD it seemed to have a certain balance in emotion that I could not get my brain around.  After several more listening sessions and a chance to consider the supporting cast of players on "They Say It's Wonderful' the light finally went on.   Veronica lives and performs in New York City and New York Jazz musicians have a slightly different approach to Jazz compared to West Cost Jazz players.  I live in the New York Metropolitan area for 6 months and the California desert area for 6 months and listen to live Jazz as much as possible so I can tell you there is a different approach to Jazz on each coast.  What I was feeling when listening to Veronica Thomas' CD "They Say It's Wonderful" was the coming together of this New York City Vocalist singing with a group of top West Coast players.   So it's East coast meets West coast.  The leader of the West Coast group is Pianist, Vocalist, Arranger and Producer, John Prouix.   John Prouix is still young but his skills are terrific.  He would surely be in the group of top 10 pianists in the country who a Jazz Vocalist would kill to have on the piano playing for them.  Also, supporting Veronica and Prouix is Bob Sheppard on Sax and Flute.  Bob Sheppard is and has been one of the top Sax and Flute players performing today and adds greatly to this CD.  The rhythm section is also superb with Mike Gurrrola on Bass and Kevin van den Elzen on Drums.  "They Say It's Wonderful"  is a first class Jazz CD and Veronica Thomas has given us a marvelous performance that makes us want more of her!

I have attached two cuts from Veronica Thomas' CD.  The first is an underplayed standard written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, "Almost In Your Arms".  John Prouix provides a swing arrrangement for this gem.  The second is a classic written by Irving Berlin, "They Say It's Wonderful".  Bob Sheppard shows us why he is considered one of the best reed men performing today with some great Tenor support.

PLAYERS:

Veronica Thomas- Vocals

Piano, Arranging- John Prouix

Bass- Mike Gurrola

Sax and Flute- Bob Sheppard

Drums- Kevin van den Elzen

PLAYLIST:

1. Almost In Your Arms

2. Get Out Of Town

3. Invitation

4. They Say It's Wonderful

5. If I Were A Bell

6. Dindi

7. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

8. Speak Low

9. Stuck In A Dream

10. A Sleepin' Bee

11. Too Late Now

12. Two For The Road

                                                             "Almost In Your Arms"

  

                                                                 "They Say It's Wonderful"                         

CD Review: Noah Haidu, "Standards II"

Listeners who miss the live piano mastery of Keith Jarrett, you have amply reason to celebrate Noah Haidu's performance of "Standards II" with his two soul mates, Bassist Buster Williams and Drummer Billy Hart.  I reviewed and loved Haidu's first masterpiece "Standards" that was released in 2023.  Haidu's second album is without question another masterpiece of musical greatness.  All three of these master musicians share their own sensitive perfect understanding of the seven standards on this album. 

This Jazz trio could possibly be the best trio performing today.  I know that's high praise but everytime I listen to this album, it seems to get better.  It's got the emotion, energy, creativity and sensitivity that is missing from so much of the new Jazz music I hear today.  It's a musical interruption of 7 aclaimed standards that we all know by three master Jazz musicians.  This CD is the lastest in a five-decade collaboration between Pianist Noah Haidu, Bassist Buster Williams and Drummer Billy Hart.  Haidu offers, "With Standards II", I've committed to performing with my own Standards Trio as a regular part of my touring Schedule.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to build a voice in the canon, and for the amazing response from audiences on our recent tours.  While I'm still composing my own music and continuing with various projects outside of the American Songbook repertoire, my Standards Trio is an important statement for me and an integral part of my identity as a musician".

I have selected and attached two "YouTubes" for you to listen to.  Selecting just two was a difficult task as this talented trio brings so much to each standard on this album.  The first song selected is the George and Ira Gershwin gem "Someone To Watch Over Me".   The second selection is an uptempo verison of "After You've Gone".  I encourage you to add this CD to your Jazz collection,  it's worth every penny you pay for it and,  I promise you will be playing it for years to come.

PLAYERS:

Noah Haidu- Piano

Buster Williams- Bass

Billy Hart- Drums

PLAYLIST:

1. Over The Rainbow

2. Someone To Watch Over Me

4. Obsesion

5. Days Of Wine and Roses

6. After You've Gone

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

CD Review: Piper & The Hard Times, "Revelation"

 

Wake up all Blues fans.  The focus of today's blog is the dynamic Blues band, Piper & The Hard Times and their national debut recording, "Revelation".  The band's leader is Al "Piper" Green who does the Vocals.  This band is intense and lives in the vintage Blues world and leaves nothing in the recording room.  The band's soul is strongly rooted in the Blues but they also mix in touches of R & B, Soul and Rock.  If you are new to traditional Blues, you will enjoy listening to "Revelation".  If you are already a true Blues fan you will not be disappointed with the 12 songs on this CD.  The recording is terrific and gives the listener the feeling he would get if he was listening to a live performance.

The core musicians consist of Al "Piper" Green, Steve Eagon and Dave Colella who have been playing together for  over 20 years.  Al "Piper" Green performs the vocal with intensity and earthiness.  Piper grew up in a muscially inclined family in Bolivar, Tennessee where he sang in gospel choir while being fascinated by the best of Soul, Pop and Rock on the radio.  He sings with strong emotion and authority that make the lyrics believable.

Guitarist Steve Eagon grew up in Northern Ohio and has been playing since his teen years.  He notes that his style developed from his early influences from artists Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan.  Eagon also is the principal Composer for the band along with contributions from Piper and Colella.

Drummer Dave Colella is the only core member from the North, a New Jersey native.  But you would never guess he was not from the deep South when you listen to the strong and solid Blues foundation he provides for this group. 

"Revelation" is this band's debut recording but it's sure to become a classic Blues CD!

I have attached two "YouTube" videos so you can experience the flavor of this outstanding Blues CD.  The first is a New Orleans-flavored tune "Trouble Man" with a hard driving vocal from Piper.  The second is a slow Blues song filled with ache and emotion, "Twenty Long Years".

PLAYERS:

Al "Piper" Green- Vocals 

Steve Eagon- Guitar and principal Composer

Dave Colella- Drums

Amy Frederick- Keyboard

Parker Hawkins- Bass

Shaun Murphy, Lisa Oliver-Gray, Melissa Gardner- Background Vocals

Chris Floyd- Harmonica

Dick Aven- Tenor

PLAYLIST: 

1. Trouble Man

2. The Hard Times

3. Heart For Sale

4. Preacher Blues

5. Revelation

6. Working Farm Blues

7. Crave You

8. Come Back Knockin

9. Why Not Me

10. You're Gonna Miss Me

11. Walk With Me

12. Twenty Long Years

                                                                "Trouble Man"

                                                                    "Twenty Long Years"

CD Review: Rose Mallett, "Dreams Realized"

 I was delighted when I received a review copy of Rose Mallett's new CD from Jazz Promo Services.  I have had the pleasure of knowing  Jazz and Blues vocalist Rose Mallett for 15 years.  I first met her when I visited the Escena Country Club Lounge in Palm Springs California.  Rose had recently moved to the desert and was taking any gigs she could find.  I was immediately impressed with Rose's voice and her confidence as a performer.  The setting at a Country Club Lounge was not a perfect setting for Rose's soft lush voice but it was a gig and she knew that in order to improve, she had to sing wherever she had the opportunity.  I did a Rose Mallett Trio review at the Escena Lounge on February 28th, 2012.  Since my first review of Rose Mallett,  I have periodically done reviews on Rose and her progress as listed below:

   " Simply A Great Jazz Singer "  2/11/14

    "Rose Mallett's Favorite Top 10 Songs"  4/4/14  

    "Woody's in Palm Springs"  2/22/15

    "Vicky's of Santa Fe"  1/20/18

I encourage you to look up these past posts on my blog as they will provide you with a good feel of the hard work Rose has expended to reach her current level of accomplishment.  It brings to mind a comment I heard from Bobby Darin, "It's taken me 25 years to become an "Overnight" success".  The music industry has never been easy and I have personally witnessed many of the negative experiences Rose has had to face during her career and I can tell you that she handled every bump in the road with style and grace.  Unlike many vocalists I observe who reach a level of popularity and then stop their growth, Rose has always worked to improve her  voice, phrasing and performances.  The result has put Rose Mallett into the rare group of top Jazz and Blues singers performing today,  I encourage you to buy her CD and also next time you find yourself in the Coachella Valley desert area, I encourage you to look up Rose because she is still performing in several venues in the California desert. 

PLAYERS:

Rose Mallett- Vocals

Robert Kyle- Producer/Arranger/Sax/Flute

Jamison Trotter- Piano

Trey Henry- Bass

Mike Shapiro- Drums

"Munyungo" Jackson- Percussion

PLAYLIST:

1. Ain't Nobody

2. Feelin' Good

3. My Funny Valentine

4. Creepin

5. Send In The Clowns

6. The Snake

7. The Way He Makes Me Feel

8. Building Dreams

9. It's Impossible

10. Rock Me Baby

11. If I Never Sing Another Song

I have attached two "YouTube" videos that show Rose's versatility.  The first is a down and dirty Blues standard, "Rock Me Baby"  and the second is a tender ballad that Rose handles perfectly, "If I Never Sing Another Song".

                                                                    "Rock Me Baby"

                                                                "If I Never Sing Another Song"

  

CD Review: Karen Mack, "Catch & Keep"

 Vocalist Karen Mack is a regular at some of the top New City Jazz venues, but I clearly hear the influence of West Coast Jazz in the way she uses her velvety smooth voice to tell her musical stories.  Karen can Swing but she can also handle a ballad with clarity and sensitivity.  Being stuck at home during the pandemic gave Karen time to reevaluate what she wanted to do for herself as an artist.  "I wanted to lift people up and find my own voice.  For me, that involves having the freedom to improvise and to explore new ways of creating music and storytelling".  Karen's Jazz debut Album  "Catch and Keep" makes it clear that she chose the right musical direction for her and her Jazz audience.  "Catch and Keep' contains a diverse group of songs, some well-know standards, some terrific but lesser known standards,  Some original songs written by women composers and two songs written by Mack and her old friend and renowned Jazz artist, Peter Eldridge.  "Catch and Keep" is a wonderful present to all Jazz vocalist lovers!  The vibe on this CD is so refreshing you will find yourself playing it over and over again.  Karen has the rare ability to sing lyrics with the same comfort and understanding you would get having an easy conversation with an old friend.

Karen worked closely on this CD with Peter Eldridge, a founding member of the internationally acclaimed vocal group, New York Voices.  Eldridge did the arrangements on the CD and also played Piano and Organ.  Eldridge and Mack brought in a group of some of the most talented musicians in New York to support them on this Album and the results show it.  The fit between Karen's vocals and her supporting musicians is perfect. 

PLAYERS:

Karen Mack- Vocals

Peter Eldridge- Piano, Organ, Arrangements

Jesse Lewis- Guitars

Matt Aronoff- Upright Bass

Jared Schonig- Drums, Percussion

      Special Guests:

Darmon Meader- Saxes on tracks# 3, 4,6, and 8

Nadje Noordhuis- Trumpet on track# 1, Flugelhorn on track# 10

Elliot Roth- Piano, Vocals, Arrangement, on track# 12

PLAYLIST:

1. Nothing Like You

2. Imagination

3. From Now On

4. Come To Baby Do

5. This is Always

6. I'm So Repentant

7. November Day

8. Hurry Up and Wait

9. Here Is Everything

10. Our Love Rolls On

11. I Wanna Get Married

12. It's Hard To Say Goodbye

I have attached two "YouTube" videos to listen to.  The first is a Bob Dorough and Fran Landesman song titled "Nothing Like You".  It features a tasty Trumpet solo by Australian Nadje Noorhuis.  The second attachment is a classic standard "This Is Always".  I was not familar with this song but as soon as I heard it, I put it on my favorites list.   It was written by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon and the medley and lyric are stunning.   I was also very impressed by "It's Hard To Say Goodbye" that was written by the great LA Jazz  composer and singer Vocalist, Betty Bryant.  

    

                                                                     "Nothing Like You"

                                                                       "This is Always"

Music Man Blog Hits A New Milestone

 

The first article on The Music Man Blog was published in November 2009.  It doesn't seem possible that I have been posting reviews and articles for 15 years.  The purpose of my blog has always been to support musicians, shine a light on new artists and new CDs and to keep the "Great American Songbook" alive.  We know that great progress has been made achieving these goals because of the feedback that we have received from hundreds of musicians who have been spotlighted on the blog.  The majority of today's musicians are clearly both underappreciated and underpaid and yet the music they create provides us with hours of joy and satisfaction every day of our lives. In spite of being underappreciated and underpaid, they continue to perform and create new music for all of us to enjoy.  They are true artists. We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifices and have an obligation to support them in any way we can.  We all need to attend live performances wherever we can find them and not forget to leave a tip for the musicians after we enjoy their performances.  They are paid so little for their live gigs that tips are very important to their well-being.   We need to continue to buy their CDs even though the music industry has decided that CDs are no longer relevant.  And lastly, we need to thank musicians whenever we get a chance.  

I am delighted to report that last month the Music Man Blog celebrated more than one million page views on our site.  For a narrowly focused blog, this is a massive amount of page views.  And the number of people checking into the Music Man Blog continues to grow. In the most recent months, the average monthly page views have been over 30,000.  Over the past 15 years we have published 626 blogs covering the efforts of thousands of musicians and their bands.  The Music Man Blog has steadily grown its audience in over 20 countries.  I have listed the top 10 highest page views from countries with Jazz lovers who are reading our postings:

    1.United States

    2. Germany

    3. China

    4. Singapore 

    5. Ukraine

    6. Hong Kong

    7.  Iran

    8. Russia

    9. Sweden

    10. Canada

My reward for the personal time and efforts I have expended on this blog is knowing that I am helping to support musicians, live performances and helping to keep the "Great American Songbook" relevant for younger people who may experience this wonderful music.  I have also had the opportunity to meet and get to know hundreds of musicians.  Honestly they are some of the finest people I have ever met.  

CD Review: Melinda Rose & Frenchy Romero, "I'm On My Way"

 

Vocalist Melinda Rose and Pianist Frenchy Romero grew up within blocks of each other in Miami and while they never attended the same school together, both were attracted to straight-ahead Jazz.  In 2022 Rose was invited to audition to be the first vocalist for a U.S. Army big band called, the Army Blues.  She won the position and moved to Washington, D.C. to join the band  About two months later Rose saw an announcement for a Pianist in another Army band at the same base.  She shared the news with Romero, who won the job.  These events allowed the talented duo to continue to collaborate as a Jazz duo.  "I'm On My Way"  is the first product of their musical efforts and it's a stunning new Jazz CD.  There is something very special when these two musicians work together.  First, Melinda Rose has a gorgeous, pure, velvet yet strong voice that is so refreshing to listen to especially compared to what seems to be popular today.  Her voice evokes vocal images of  Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald and Anita O'Day but with her own personal styling.  Pianist Frenchy Romero delivers a master class on how to accompany a great vocalist.  She is creative and supportive but never interrupts Melinda's vocals.  What a pleasure to listen to these two young and talented musicians.  There is great sensitivity between these friends that produces some of the best Jazz I have heard in a long time.  The playlist this duo put together is diverse and magical..  The CD has 6 standards, some old and some new and 4 orginials composed by Melinda Rose.  This CD  is a dream album for any Jazz vocalist fan.   Thank you Melinda and Frenchy and please get busy on your next CD! 

I have attached two "YouTube" videos of songs from "I'm On My Way".  It took me a lot of time to select 2 songs out of the 10 on this CD because I liked every song.  The first selection is a beautiful rendition of Stevie Wonder's  "If It's Magic" and this version is magic to me!  The second song is the Nancy Wilson classic "You Can Have Him" written by Irvin Berlin that is simply a beautiful performance!  

PLAYERS:

Melinda Rose- Vocals, Arrangements, Compositions

Frenchy Romero- Piano and Arrangements

Vince Dupont- Bass

Matt Wilson- Drums

Summer Camargo- Trumpet

PLAYLIST:

1. Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

2. Once Upon a Summertime

3. If It's Magic

4. It Could Happen To You

5. Don't Come Back

6. I'll Do It All Again

7. In My Own Little Corner

8. I'm On My Way

9. You Can Have Him

10. It's Not You, It's Me  

                                                                    "If It's Magic"

                                                                    "You Can Have Him"