CD Review: "Ted Rosenthal Trio, "Classics Reimagined: Impromp2"

 

All jazz lovers owe it to themselves to know the remarkable pianist and composer Ted Rosenthal. For decades, Rosenthal and his gifted jazz trio have been producing some of the most compelling jazz recordings of our time. With Classics Reimagined: Impromp2, Rosenthal delivers his 18th release as a leader, a follow-up to his acclaimed 2010 album Impromptu that deepened his exploration of jazz through classical themes. 

What Rosenthal achieves on Classics Reimagined: Impromp2 is nothing short of magical. He shines a spotlight on beloved classical melodies, completely reimagining them through his jazz sensibilities. Every track on this release is a musical gift to the jazz world — expressive, inventive, and deeply felt. I have often said that the line between classical and jazz is very thin, and after listening to Rosenthal’s vivid musical imagination, he provides ample proof of this idea.

As Rosenthal himself explains:

“I have often heard classical themes as being ripe for jazz treatments. Setting these melodies with embellished jazz harmonies comes naturally to me. Finding a satisfying form for improvisation and rhythmic groove that makes the whole treatment work without sounding forced or contrived is key.” 

And Rosenthal lives up to this ideal on every track. What could be rigid or academic becomes sumptuous, spontaneous, and exciting.

 The Players

• Ted Rosenthal — piano (leader, arranger, improviser)

• Noriko Ueda — bass (anchoring harmony and rhythmic drive)

• Quincy Davis — drums (responsive, swinging, intuitive)

Adding further color to this project are two jazz luminaries:

• Sara Caswell — violin (featured on several tracks with profound lyricism)

• Ken Peplowski — clarinet (whose warm, expressive tone deepens the reinterpretations) 

The chemistry among these players is palpable throughout the album. Ueda and Davis provide a foundation so secure that Rosenthal’s flights of fancy feel effortless, while Caswell and Peplowski bring emotional depth and tonal contrast that elevate several pieces to new heights.

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Playlist 

     1. Waltz in C-Sharp Minor 

     2. Slavonic Dance 

      3. Mazurka In A Minor

      4. The Old Castle (feat. Ken Peplowski)

      5. Vocalise (feat. Sara Caswell)

      6. Allegretto from Symphony No. 3

      7. “Pathetique” Sonata, 2nd Movement

      8. “Pathetique” Sonata, 3rd Movement

      9. Salut d’Amour (feat. Sara Caswell)

     10. Je Te Veux (feat. Sara Caswell)

     11. Waltz in A-Flat Major (feat. Ken Peplowski)

For anyone who loves jazz piano,  or just craves bold musical conversation, Classics Reimagined: Impromp2 is an essential listen — and a rewarding experience from start to finish.

I have attached two songs from this CD, the first is a Chopin composition, "Waltz In C-Sharp Minor" and the second is  a Dvorak composition "Slavonic Dance".  I know you will enjoy these tracks and encourage you to pick up this CD and make it part of your Jazz collection. 

                                                                "Waltz In C-Sharp Minor"

                                                                                F. Chopin

                                                                      "Slavonic Dance"
                                                                            A. Dvorak                                  

                        

CD Review: Paul Marinaro, "Mood Ellington"

    Acclaimed vocalist Paul Marinaro has released his fifth album, Mood Ellington, and the results are nothing short of triumphant. This ambitious project, into which Marinaro has poured a massive amount of work and passion, proves that every ounce of effort was well worth it. Mood Ellington is a 25-track double-disc exploration of songs written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, and it stands as both a tribute and a reinvention of two of jazz’s most towering composers.

For this project, Marinaro enlisted 13 accomplished arrangers, each bringing a unique voice to their charts and contributing to a narrative arc that flows beautifully across the set. The project is completed by Marinaro’s beautiful, deep baritone voice and his impeccable stylized phrasing, which feels both timeless and deeply personal.

Marinaro thoughtfully divides the album into three thematic sets:

• Set One celebrates love and beauty with the first nine songs.

• Set Two moves into more introspective and somber territory.

• Set Three — on Disc Two — offers eight songs that feel more realistic, sardonic, mature, and exotic, rounding out an emotional and musical journey.

The 13 world-class arrangers contributing to Mood Ellington include: John Kornegay, Alan Broadbent, John Clayton, Carey Deadman, Chuck Israels, Mike Downes, Ryan Cohan, Jim Gailloreto, Bill Cunliffe, Chuck Owen, Tom Garling, Tom Matta, and Mike Allemana — a veritable who’s who of contemporary jazz orchestrators.

Paul Marinaro’s vocal personality, style, and rich baritone are ideally suited to the material of   When you add the high-level musicians performing behind him and these marvelous arrangements, the result is easily one of the finest Ellington interpretations recorded in recent years. Mood Ellington captures the genius and spirit of Ellington and Strayhorn and puts new life into each of their compositions. My hat goes off to Paul Marinaro — for his beautiful vocals, his artistic vision, and for seeing this monumental project through to publication.

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PLAYLIST: — Mood Ellington

DISC ONE — Set One (Love & Beauty)

1. I’m Beginning to See the Light — 3:52

2. A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing — 5:34

3. I’m Just a Lucky So and So — 4:16

4. Love You Madly — 3:26

5. Sophisticated Lady — 4:58

6. I Like the Sunrise — 5:15

7. Just Squeeze Me — 4:53

8. It Shouldn’t Happen to a Dream — 4:11

9. In a Mellow Tone — 3:42

Set Two (Reflection & Mood)
10. Mood Indigo — 5:43
11. Azure — 3:54
12. Don’t You Know I Care (or Don’t You Care to Know) — 4:52
13. I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good) — 5:02
14. (In My) Solitude — 6:21
15. All Too Soon — 4:39
16. Lush Life — 3:52
17. (I Want) Something to Live For — 5:11

DISC TWO — Set Three (Realism & Exotic Tones)

1. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore — 5:05

2. Take Love Easy — 3:56

3. Day Dream — 5:05

4. I Ain’t Got Nothin’ but the Blues — 5:46

5. Caravan — 4:53

6. I Didn’t Know About You — 4:14

7. In a Sentimental Mood — 4:39

8. Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me — 5:42 

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PLAYERS;

Core Ensemble

• Paul Marinaro — vocals

• Tom Vaitsas — piano

• Mike Allemana — guitar

• John Tate — bass

• Neil Hemphill — drums

• Rich Moore — alto saxophone, clarinet, flute

• John Wojciechowski — tenor & soprano sax, flute

• Ted Hogarth — baritone sax, bass clarinet

• Eric Jacobson — trumpet, flugelhorn

• Raphael Crawford — trombone

String Section (Violin)

• Lisa Fako (Concert Master), Eleanor Bartsch, Stephen Boe, Chuck Bontrager, Christina Buciu, Kathleen Carter, Karl Davies, Wendy Evans, Elizabeth Huffman, Carmen Kassinger, Kathryn Siegel, Jeff Yang

Arrangers

• Mike Allemana

• Alan Broadbent

• John Clayton

• Ryan Cohan

• Bill Cunliffe

• Carey Deadman

• Mike Downes

• Jim Gailloreto

• Tom Garling

• Chuck Israels

• John Kornegay

• Tom Matta

• Chuck Owen

Production Credits

• Produced by Paul Marinaro & Jim Gailloreto

• Executive Producer: Lois Cory

• Recorded & Mixed by Mat Lejeune at Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL

• Mastered by Dave McNair 

   I have attached two tracks from "Mood Ellington" for your listening pleasure.  The first is an Ellington

tune I was not familiar with but liked a lot, "All To Soon" that was arranged by Trombonist Tom Garling. The second song is one we all know, "Just Squeeze Me" arranged by Pianist Ryan Cohan.

"All To Soon"

 

"Just Squeeze Me"

CD Review: Lili Malljic, "The Nearness of You- In Loving Memory of Jim Rotondi"

 Austrian-based jazz vocalist Lili Maljic has just released her debut album, The Nearness of You – In Loving Memory of Jim Rotondi, and it is a heartfelt, masterful tribute — as well as a bold artistic statement in its own right. Her smoky, vintage jazz voice wraps around each lyric and instantly invites the listener into a world of warmth and emotional intimacy. Her phrasing is exquisite and her talent as an arranger equals her vocal gift, proving she understands not just melody, but narrative and nuance.

On this album, Lili re-imagines beloved standards from the "Great American Songbook" with deep emotional insight. The result is both familiar and freshly personal — a respectful nod to tradition, rendered with her own unmistakable voice.

Jim Rotondi’s presence looms large over the entire record. As trumpeter, arranger, and mentor — and sadly, now in memoriam — he helped shape the mood, texture, and harmonic soul of this project. The album becomes more than a collection of songs; it feels like a musical conversation, a farewell, a celebration, and a beginning all at once.

I have attached two songs from this album, the first is the title tune, "The Nearness Of You".  This Carmichael classic is usual performed as a ballad but Jim Rotondi has provided a spirted 7/8 time arrangement that Lili performs perfectly.  The second is "The Shadow Of Your Smile" set to a Bossa Nova beat that make this tune new again!

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Playlist:

    1.The Shadow of Your Smile

1. Easy To Love 

2. Never Let Me Go 

3. The Touch of Your Lips 

4. The Nearness of You 

5. This Can't Be Love 

6. You Go To My Head

7. The Song Is You 

8. I Didn't Know About You 

9. That Old Black Magic 

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Players:

• Lili Maljic — vocals (and arrangements on some tracks) 

• Jim Rotondi — trumpet and arrangements (notably on several tracks) 

• Oliver Kent — piano 

• Miloš Čolović — bass 

• Mario Gonzi — drums 

            

        

                                                            "The Nearness Of You"

                                                             "The Shadow Of Your Smile"

CD Review: Piper & The Hard TImes, "Good Company"

Piper & The Hard Times — Good Company

The super blues band Piper & The Hard Times has just released their second album, Good Company, and it delivers everything their fans — and the blues world — have been waiting for. I reviewed their first album Revelation, which went on to win the 2025 IBC Best Independent Produced Album and the Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist Album at the 46th annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis — accolades that were no surprise to me. Piper & The Hard Times is one of the strongest and most compelling blues-rooted groups I’ve heard in years. 

Their new album, Good Company, is every bit as strong as their debut and firmly cements the band’s place among the genre’s most exciting contemporary blues acts. It’s soulful, raw, and inventive — and I wouldn’t be shocked to see this creative ensemble collecting even more awards in the future.

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Playlist:

    1. Good Company-3.59

    2. Now I’m Lovin’ You – 4:12

    3. Tear It Down – 5:14

    4. Cowboy Gucci – 3:52

    5. In The Meantime – 5:06

    6. Turn the Tables – 2:20

    7. Runaround Man – 4:12

    8. Cheatin’s Gotta End – 3:41

    9. Keep It to Yourself – 4:08

    10. Not Your Fault – 4:23

    11. My Place – 3:43

    12. Those Days – 7:56 

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Players:

• Al “Piper” Green — Vocals, Songwriting

• Steve Eagon — Guitar, Songwriting, Bandleader

• Dave Colella — Drums, Percussion, Songwriting

• Amy Frederick — Keyboards (Piano, Organ, Rhodes)

• Parker Hawkins — Bass

Additional Musicians 

       .  Eddie Meyer — Tenor Saxophone

• Charlie DiPuma — Additional Saxophone

• John Wallum — Organ (guest on select cuts)

• Lisa Oliver-Gray — Background Vocals

• Etta Britt — Background Vocals

What Makes Good Company Special

One thing you never get with Piper & The Hard Times is imitation. Their music is original and authentic — not derivative or formulaic. You can feel their joy in playing together, and that spirit comes through in every groove and solo. This record isn’t just a collection of songs — it’s a musical conversation between players who have trusted each other’s ears and instincts for years.

Recorded over just three days in March 2025 at the legendary Oceanway Studio A in Nashville, the performances are tight and energetic yet full of heart. The production by Tres Sasser and engineering by Joe Costa captures the band’s raw power without polishing away the grit that makes their sound so compelling. 

Tragically, just as the band’s momentum was peaking — their touring calendar packed and excitement building — frontman Al “Piper” Green was diagnosed with cancer on June 4, 2025. The band has understandably scaled back live dates to allow Piper time to heal, and the blues community has rallied around him with an outpouring of support. We all wish Al a speedy and full recovery and look forward to the day they hit the road again full force. 

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I have attached two tracks from "Good Company".  The first is the title tune on the album, "Good Company".  The second track is "Cowboy Gucci".  If you are a Blues fan, you will love the music of "Piper & the Hard Times"!

                                                                        "Good Company"

                                                                         "Cowboy Gucci"

CD Review: Sacha Boutros, "Sacha: Paris After Dark"

Jazz Vocalist, Composer, Arranger and Producer Sacha Boutros has recently released her fifth album, "Sacha: Paris After Dark".  This release follows her first successful CD,   Sacha: NY After Dark". According to Sacha, "For me, this album is a love letter to Paris, to music, to my childhood and family, and to the powerful bond between cultures.  The "After Dark" aesthetic captures the sound and spirit of a city at night. The music you hear in cafes, clubs, taxi, and on the streets."  

This was my first experience listening to Sacha and I was totally impressed by her beautiful voice and perfect Jazz phrasing.  Americans love French singing and music as much as the French love American music especially songs from the "Great American Songbook".  I have always enjoyed French singing even when, in my opinion, the vocalist might not have been the best.  But with Sacha Boutros you get it all,  a beautiful voice, a great selection of songs, an understanding of lyric and spot on Jazz phrasing!  Multi-talented Sacha Boutros speaks seven languages and sings in 14.  

Sacha is now working on two follow-up cd's in this series that I am looking forward to:  "Sacha, Las Vegas After Dark" and "Sacha, Mexico After Dark" .  I highly recommend adding this CD to your core Jazz collection. 

I have attached two songs from "Sacha, Paris After Dark".  The first is the American classic, "La Belle Vie"  (The Good Life)  and the second is the romantic "Je Reviens Te Chercher" that tells the story about a lover coming back years after a break up. 

Full Playlist — Sacha: Paris After Dark

1. Je Reviens te Chercher

2. Si tu Vois Ma Mère

3. Ne Me Quitte Pas / I’m a Fool to Want You

4. April in Paris

5. Et si tu n’existais pas

6. La Javanaise

7. Smile

8. Love in Portofino

9. In the Still of the Night

10. La Belle Vie (The Good Life)

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Contributing Musicians

• Sacha Boutros — vocals, piano

• Franck Amsallem — piano, vocals; arrangements

• Hugo Lippi — guitar

• Thomas Bramerie — bass

• Stéphane Belmondo — trumpet

• Tony Rabeson — drums

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Production Credits

• Produced by Sacha Boutros

• Arrangements by Sacha Boutros & Franck Amsallem

• Recorded & mixed at Studio Sextan – La Fonderie (France)

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                                                                      "Le Belle Vie"

                                                                    "Je Reviens Te Chercher" 

CD Review: Jennifer Madsen, "Reimagine"

Vocalist Jennifer Madsen has given us a beautiful gift with her new CD Reimagine, an album in which she lovingly reinterprets some of the most beloved standards through her own musical lens. It takes rare courage and artistry to revisit songs that are so familiar, and still make them feel fresh, meaningful, and deeply personal. With Reimagine, she succeeds not by showing off, but by listening, shaping, and inhabiting each lyric with intelligence and heart.

What immediately strikes me is how Madsen combines technical command with emotional honesty. She knows the words, the phrasing, the tradition—but she also imagines: she lets us hear what she feels when she sings them. That dual gift—respect for the song’s history, and the freedom to re-express it—is the hallmark of an artist confident in her own voice. Even when you’ve heard a song a dozen times, Madsen makes you hear it again.

Offstage, she is also deeply committed: as an educator at Snow College in Utah, she mentors budding vocalists in jazz, commercial voice, and songwriting. She holds a monthly residency at The Edison House Club in Salt Lake City, creating real musical community and helping newer singers find their footing. She is exactly the kind of artist this field needs—grounded, generous, and fearless

These performances alone make this album worth listening to again and again—but the full experience of Reimagine is richer still. The sequencing flows like an evening set, with peaks, valleys, and quiet moments that leave space to reflect.

If you are anywhere near her region, I strongly encourage aspiring vocalists to seek out her workshops or classes. Jennifer Madsen is not just a jazz singer—she’s a mentor, a collaborator, and a torchbearer for the next generation of singers.

In short: Reimagine is not a mere collection of standards. It is a thoughtful, emotionally alive conversation—with the songs, the musicians, and the listener. Jennifer Madsen proves here that standards are not static relics—they can be fresh, open, and full of new life. This is a recording to cherish.

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PLAYLIST:

1. Body and Soul

2. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

3. Willow Weep for Me

4. Honeysuckle Rose

5. Beyond the Sea

6. I (Who Have Nothing)

7. Gone

8. In the Wee Small Hours

9. You Don’t Know What Love Is

10. Mean to Me

11. Someone to Watch Over Me

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PLAYERS:

• Jennifer Madsen — vocals

• Brent Edstrom — pianist and arranger 

• Clipper Anderson — bass 

• Mark Ivester — drums 

Guest / additional contributions (on select tracks) include:

• Sean Jones — flugelhorn (on Body and Soul) 

• Howard Levy — harmonica (on Beyond the Sea) 

I have attached two songs from "Reimagine".  These performances alone make this album worth listening to again and again—but the full experience of Reimagine is richer still. The sequencing flows like an evening set, with peaks, valleys, and quiet moments that leave space to reflect.

• “Someone to Watch Over Me” (George & Ira Gershwin), with superb piano and arranging from Brent Edstrom. Madsen treats each phrase like a little story, letting it breathe, unspooling the lyric with clarity and intention.

• “Willow Weep for Me”, also featuring Edstrom’s sensitive touch. Here she lingers in the emotional spaces, letting her interpretation unfold with nuance and depth.

                                                            "Someone To Watch Over Me"

                                                             "Willow Weep For Me"

CD Review: Deborah Shulman "We Had A Moment"

 

Deborah Shulman – “We Had A Moment"

Vocalist Deborah Shulman has just released her sixth album, We Had A Moment, and it’s a beauty. The eclectic playlist of standards she’s chosen for this CD is deeply personal — each song has a story and meaning connected to her life. The selections reflect irony, grief, grace, and love, and together they form a portrait of a vocalist who truly lives what she sings. The result is a wonderful gift to her listeners.

Deborah Shulman is one of those rare vocalists who can take a standard you’ve heard hundreds of times and make it sound completely new again. That’s not something that can be faked — it comes only from life experience, empathy, and a deep understanding of the lyric. Every track here shows that she feels and believes every word she sings.

There are ten songs on We Had a Moment, and each one is a gem.

PLAYLIST:

1. Anyone Can Whistle — Stephen Sondheim

2. No Moon at All — David Mann & Red Evans

3. Without a Song — Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose & Edward Eliscu

4. New York State of Mind / On Broadway — Billy Joel / Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

5. With So Little to Be Sure Of — Stephen Sondheim

6. Goodbye Love / Not Like This — Richard Rudolph & Jeremy Lubbock

7. The Laughter and the Tears — Randy Edelman

8. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea — Harold Arlen & Ted Koehler

9. Miss Otis Regrets — Cole Porter

10. You Must Believe in Spring — Michel Legrand, Alan & Marilyn Bergman

Seven of these tracks were recorded with her longtime pianist and arranger Jeff Colella, and three with pianist and arranger Terry Trotter. Both are master musicians, and it’s fascinating to hear their distinct approaches. Colella’s arrangements feel intimate, harmonically rich, and conversational — he creates space for Deborah’s voice to explore emotional depth. Trotter brings his own elegant phrasing and understated sophistication. Hearing both pianists on one record is a master class in how two great minds can interpret the same vocalist differently but beautifully.

In addition to these two remarkable pianists, Deborah brought together a dream team of musicians — every one of them a hall-of-fame player:

PLAYERS:

• Vocals: Deborah Shulman

• Piano & Arrangements: Jeff Colella

• Piano & Arrangements: Terry Trotter

• Guitar: Larry Koonse

• Bass: Kenny Wild and Chris Colangelo

• Drums: Joe LaBarbera and Kendall Kay

Each of these musicians brings heart, skill, and decades of experience to the project. The result is a sound that is warm, deeply musical, and refreshingly honest.

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

• Produced by: Deborah Shulman and Jeff Colella

• Recorded at: Tritone Studios, Glendale, California

• Engineered and Mixed by: Talley Sherwood

• Mastered by: Paul Tavenner

• Label: Summit Records (Released 2024)

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We Had A Moment is a brilliant CD that will bring joy to listeners for many years to come. These songs are more than performances — they’re stories, reflections, and moments of truth.

Deborah Shulman, I personally thank you for your artistry and for breathing new life into these great songs once again. Your voice, your insight, and your heart make this album unforgettable.

I have attached two songs from "We Had A Moment" for your listening pleasure.  The first song composed by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler is "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea".  The second is one of my all-time favorites, "Miss Otis Regrets" written by Cole Porter". 

                                                       "The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea"

                                                                    "Miss Otis Regrets"