Sax Player and composer Rob Dixon has joined together with Pianist and Arranger Steve Allee to create their newly published CD, "Standards Deluxe" that features Vocalist Amanda King and Trumpet player Derrick Gardner. These two high power mid-west musicians have formed the Bob Dixon/Steve Allee Quintet that performs beautiful straight ahead Jazz which they infuse into some classic standards and some great new songs composed by Rob Dixon. The CD is a perfect mix of old and new songs played by wonderfully talented musicians.
Rob Dixon and Steve Allee both have great resumes and have perfomed with the elite of Jazz master musicians over the years. They have learned their composing, arranging and performing lessons well and with the release of this fine Jazz recording, we all can share the listening results of their efforts.
I have attached two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure. The first is the standard "Sway" featuring Vocalist Amanda King and arranged by Bob Dixon. The second tune is a Rob Dixon original compostion, "Flat Tire Blues". This CD will be a delight for Jazz fans!
"Stay" "Flat Tire Blues"
PLAYERS:
Rob Dixon-Tenor and Soprano Sax, Composing, Arranging
If you don't know much about Mark Winkler and you love great Jazz singing, you really need to get to know him. Mark has been performing in the Los Angeles Jazz scene for years and he has released over 20 albums. "The Rules Don't Apply" is his 21st album and it will not disappoint you. In addition to singing, Mark is an accomplished Lyricist whose songs have been recorded or performed by a "Who's Who" of well-known singers including Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Steve Tyrell, Claire Martin, Jackie Ryan, Randy Crawford, Cheryl Bentyne, Kenny Rankin, Jane Monheit, Ben Vereen and Liza Minnelli among others.
For his newest CD, "The Rules Don't Apply", Winkler wrote lyrics for eight of the original songs and then added five of his favorite tunes written by Paul Simon, Lennon and McCartney, Eddie Arkin, Randy Newman and Donald Fagen. He also brought 16 top Musicians who play on his CD in various combinations. Mark Winkler is a song stylist who loves to bring his own personal feelings to new and old songs that give lyrics a new life for his listeners. It is so wonderful that a talented vocalist like Mark Winkler can still fill a room every time he has a live performance. Winkler's appeal to live audiences is his authenticity. He has stayed the course with his music and he has a strong fan base that proves that he has taken the right direction in his long career. Mark feels that many older Jazz artists are not getting the attention they deserve and wanted to represent that on this album. Mark offers "I'm a 74-year old Jewish gay man, and I really feel my creative powers have not diminished in the slightest. When I listen to the radio or see Spotify playlists, the younger artists are rightly getting the attention they deserve, but I don't think that attention should be at the expense of older artists who are still doing great work". Wise words indeed Mark Winkler and I agree totally with them. It's one of the main reasons I started publishing this blog 12 years ago. I wanted to create a balanced spotlight on brilliant musicians both young and old. There should always be room for both in the current music environment.
Mark Winkler is one of only a few "Hip" musicians currently writing and performing today. Yes, he could fit very comfortably into a picture of a smoky Jazz club in the 1950s, and yet, he still fits perfectly into today's contemporary Jazz scene.
I have attached two "YouTube" videos of two songs on this new CD. The first is the Lennon and McCartney gem "Got To Get You Into My Life" , one of Mark's favorite tunes. The second is a New Orleans-inspired song by Randy Newman. As a fellow singer/songwriter, Winker feels a connection to Randy Newman and this arrangement features Errol Thoden on Tuba.
"Got To Get You Into My Life"
"Mama Told Me Not To Come"
PLAYERS:
Mark Winkler- Vocals, Arranging, lyrics
Piano: John Beasley, Rich Eames, Greg Gordon Smith, Jamieson Trotter
Bass: Gabe Davis, Dan Lutz
Drums/Percussion: Clayton Cameron, Dan Schnelle, Kevin Winrad
Guitar: George Doering, Grant Geissman
Reeds: Katisse Buckingham, Danny Janklow, Bob Sheppard, Scott Mayo
Brass: Errol Rhoden, Brian Swartz, Scott Whitfield
Superb Volcalist Trish Hatley has recently released a new CD featuring her Jazz Vocal Trio, Trish, Hans & Phil. Her new CD is titled "Trish, Hans & Phil, Greatest Hits Volume #2" and it is a musical work of art. Trish Hatley is a well-known and loved singer on the West Coast music scene from Vancouver to Seattle to Palm Springs. Trish has a sparkling personality and when combined with her beautiful voice and superb phrasing and understanding of lyric make her one of the most sought-after vocalist performing today.
Joining Trish on this CD is Pianist, Vocalist, Arranger and Musical Director Hans Brehmer. Hans is based inn Seattle where he actively performs on Piano and Vocals. In addition, Hans is an accomplished composer whose Songs and Lyrics relate current-day experiences. His arranging skills are wildly recognized in the music scene today.
Phil Demaree is the third part of this trio. Phil has been playing bass and singing for over 40 years appearing with notable artists like Ray Charles, The Mills Brothers, Dianne Schuur, Joe Williams and John Gary.
Trish, Hans & Phil have honored the Great American Songbook and the artists who have lived in this sonngbook for their entire careers and continue to perform at the highest levels. Their musical sounds are always crisp and new and their arrangements breathe new life into the classic standards they sing.
I have attached a live performance "YouTube" of Trish, Hans & Phil singing Duke Ellington's classic, "Just Squeeze Me" with a terrific arrangement by Hans Brehmer. Enjoy!
Multi-talemted Drummer, Composer, Educator and Jazz Producer Jae Sinnett has released a terrific new straight-away Jazz album, "Commitment".Sinnett is a highly trained and admired Drummer but he brings so much more to the Jazz musical table. Jae has written over 250 compositions and has also scored music for five documentaries In addition, he is a dedicated Jazz educator teaching history, theory and percussion at many universities. In his spare time during the last 37 years, Sinnett has been the Jazz Producer and host for NPR affiliate WHRV-FM 89.5.
The Sinnett "Zero TO 60 Quartet" contains five outstanding highly experienced Jazz musicians who all get to shine on this CD. Trumpet great Randy Brecker is a special guest and adds greatly to the total Quartet sound on this CD. Allen Farnham is on Piano and he also composed two songs on this CD. Steve Wilson playing Alto and Soprano Sax shines on the Sinnett compostion, "Takin It There" and has excellent solos on the rest of the playlist. Terry Burrell provides a solid foundation for the group on Acoustic and Electric Bass. Leading the group with outstanding Drum work is Jae Sinnett who has managed to merge all these players into one terrific band.
This CD is a perfect example of the best Jazz has to offer to listeners both young and old. It upholds the traditional Jazz format but adds new windows to what Jazz can offer today. It's a surpurb Jazz CD!
I have attached two cuts from the Album, Jobim's "Chega De Saudade" (No More Blues) and an original Sinnett compostion "Takin It There".
"No More Blues" (Chega De Saudade)
"Takin It There"
PLAYERS:
Jae Sinnett- Drums, Leader, Arrangements and Compositions
New Jersey Born and world-renowned Guitarist and Vocalist John Pizzarelli recently released his lastest album, "Stage & Screen". Pizzarelli has dedicated this album to the great songwriters and performers who helped to establish the "Great American Songbook". His focus is on the Broadway stage and the silver screen: "In thinking about some of the songs that I really love to play, it struck me how many of them come from either a Broadway show or from a movie". John shares this "An idea like "Stage & Screen" frees me to explore a wide range of songwriters and eras, and it continues to offer a wealth of new possibilities."
I have followed John's career almost from its beginning when I was stunned by his abilities on the Guitar. In addition he has worked hard on his Vocals and has greatly improved them to the same high performance level as his Guitar playing. I think John has now achieved professional excellence on both Vocals and Guitar playing. In many ways, he has develop his own style and approach to music and lyric. He is comfortable in his current position and the results for all his many listening fans, including me, is an honest, free flowing approach to important music that makes it very accessable.
I always thought that Bing Crosby was the people's singer because he makes it seem like he was singing with very little effort. Listening to Bing, you could easily think "I could sing like that and I am sure that many people growing up during Bing's era thought they were singing like him everyday in the shower. John Pizzarelli, like Crosby, brings his own style to every song he sings and plays and makes it seem easy, understandable and accessable. We think "If I could learn to sing or play like John and I can't I would approach every great song just like he does.
John brings his own inner voice and feeling to every song he performs. In today electrified music world, John Pizzarelli brings warmth and honesty to his Vocals and Guitar skills at a level few performers today even know exist. He is the kind of guy you want to hang out with all night, playing, talking and laughing!
John is touring again with his wonderful trio of Isaiah J Thompson on Piano and Michael Kern on Double Bass. The chemistry between these three musicians is quite apparent to any listener. These three highly trained professionals perform as one voice! Don't miss a chance to catch John and his trio when they perform near you, I promise you will leave the theatre whistling and smiling! Bravo, John Pizzarelli for this great CD and for keeping great music alive!
I don't know why but many professional musicians like to tell jokes about Trombone players. Personally, I love the sound of a Trombone and especially when there are more than one playing. So I was delighted when I received the new release from The Las Vegas Boneheads, "Sixty and Still Cooking". I have been visiting Las Vegas yearly for over 40 years and know a lot about the town and its history. But why I never came across The Las Vegas Boneheads is a mystery. No matter, this talented group of Trombone players is a musical delight. This group was formed in 1962 by Abe Note to give some of Las Vegas' top Trombonists an opportunity to play Jazz after their regular gigs. These late night sessions were legendary over the years and they became a popular hangout for some of the best Trombone players in Jazz history.
Some of the great musicians who have been part of this group included Trombonists Charlie Loper, Archie LeCoque, Carl Fontana, Bill Harris and Jummy Trimble. Pianists Frank Collett and Tommy Todd, Bassists Carson Smith and Bob Badgley and Drummers Karl Kiffe and Santo Sabino were also frequent participants in this group. The group disbanded in the mid-1980's, but in 2011 Carl Miller who had been with the band since 1978 thought it was time to get the band back together.
The band is back with new arrangements and a younger generation of enthusiastic and skilled Trombonists. The arrangement and musical sounds on "Sixty and Still Cooking" are nothing short of terrific and will thrill not only Trombone-loving listeners but any Jazz music lover.
I have attached two cuts from "Sixty and Still Cooking" the first tune is "Al Cohn Tune" and it's a real barn burner. I really wanted to attach "Home Again" because the sounds are so lush as is the beautiful solo work by special guest, Andy Martin. But I just couldn't turn away from the Mercer/Carmichael classic, "Skylark". It has special solos from Trombonist Curt Miller and Pianist Uli Geissendoefer. The chords and Trombones are warm and lush.
I hope "The Las Vegas Boneheads" decide to tour in the near futurre and I will be the first one in line for tickets.
I am sure a lot of the readers of this blog are familar with Fred Hersch and esperanza spalding (stylized in all lower case at artist's request). Both artists are acclaimed as two of the most inventive Jazz performers in music today. Fred Hersch is the senior of this creative duo, but Fred never shows his musical age because he loves to keep reinventing himself. He has released CDs as a single, duo, trio and with large bands and orchestras. In my opinion, his work reinventing standards through his own emotional feelings puts him in a rare group of Jazz performers. And yet, Fred can and does play all other genre of Jazz at the very top level of performance and style. I would consider Fred Hersch as the Jazz renaissance man, never confined to any particular area of music.
Joining Fred on this CD "Alive At The Village Vanguard" is esperanza spalding. While five-time Grammy Award-winner esperanza spalding is much younger than Fred Hersch in age, she is so talented that she performs at a similar creative and musical level as Fred. On their new CD recorded live at the historic and internationally known Village Vanguard, both performers delight their Jazz audience with beautiful and creative performances that will become Jazz classics in future years. These two spactacular musicians playing together is a wonderful treat for all Jazz lovers both young and old proving that Jazz at its finest level has no age barrier. If it is good, it's good for everyone. The chemistry between these two Jazz giants is very apparent to anyone listening to their CD. And recording it live a the Villiage Vanguard is a super treat. Fred offers, "This recording sounds like you're in the best seat in the Vanguard for a very live experience. You can really feel the vitality of the room, of the audience, and of our interplay. We decided on the word "Alive" for the album title as you can really feel the intimacy and energy of the performance."
esperanza spalding has this to say about partnering with Fred on this CD, "Playing with Fred feels like we're in a sandbox. He takes his devotion to the music as serious as life and death, but once we start playing, it's just fun." In turn, Fred offers this about esperanza, "I don't think anybody's heard esperanza sing like this. She's a fearless vocalist, and is one of the biggest talents I know. She's got a huge reach in her intellectual knowledge and is a big thinker in both her projects and in her outlook."
I selected two songs from this album for you to sample. The first is a well-known Hersch composition with lyrics by Norma Winstone titled "A Wish". The second song is their particular take on the Gershwin classic, "But Not For Me". Both songs will highlight the creativity of both of these world class musicians.
