CD Review: John Ambrosini, "Songs For You"

 

I have a real treat for you today.  Singer, Pianist, Composer and Bandleader, John Ambrosini has recently released an inspiring new CD, "Songs For You".   I usually feature songs from the Great American Songbook on my blog but the popular songs that Ambrosini has included in the playlist for his new CD are going to enter the Great American Songbook as they meet the test of time.  John has a warm and wonderful earthy voice and style.  John plays piano as he sings and that produces a great melodic vibe that quickly puts the listener at easy.  This album is a tribute to some of the greatest songwriters of today who have inspired him.  The composers included on this CD are like the "Who's, Who" of greatest composers of the last 30 years.  Here is a list of these world class modern day Composers: Rickie Lee Jones, Colin Greenwood, Johny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Philip Selway, Thom Yorke, Greg Allman, Kim Payne, Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, James Taylor, Jackson Brown, Billy Joel, Stephen Sills, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. John Ambrosini is not just doing covers of these classic newer songs.  His style and Arrangements are uniquely his.  Ambrosini has added two of his own original compositions that fit perfectly with this classic composer playlist.  John has a busy career in NYC performing, Arranging, and Composing Music.  He is a brilliant musician and composer who will be at the top of his game for years to come.  Ambrosini wanted to pay homage to famous popular songs that inspired him, and you will be inspired after you listen to his CD, "Songs For You". 

The support cast of musicians who are featured on this CD are also terrific and make "Songs For You" one of the best new releases this year!

PLAYERS:

John Ambrosini- Piano,  Keyboard, Arrangements, Lead Vocals 

Steve Finkelstein- Percussion

Matt Miller- Drums

David Phelps-Acoustic & Electric Guitars

Zachary Swanson- Acoustic Bass

Christine Ambrosini, Amanda Bloom- Backing Vocals

PLAYLIST:

1. The Horses

2. Maybe I'm Crazy

3. High and Dry

 4. Midnight Rider

5. Rocket Man

6. Pretzel Man

7. Sweet Baby James

8. Lover

9. Doctor My Eyes 

10. New York State Of Mind

11. 4 + 20

12. The Long And Winding Road

                                                                        "Midnight Rider"

                                                                        "I'm Crazy"

CD Review: Andy Ezrin, "I Was Here"

 

The title of Andy Ezrin's new CD, "I Was Here" was picked because Andy Ezrin was a prodigy on Piano since childhood.  When other boys were saving up for Strats and collecting Hendrix recordings, Ezrin was already in love with the Piano.  His first professional gig was at the age of 12, and with the advantage of starting his learning career so young, he was able to listen and acquire musical knowledge with many different schools of music provided by major Jazz players like Andre Previn, Oscar Peterson, Keith Jarrett and the Fusion years players like George Benson and Herbie Hancock.  He learned his lessons well as you will hear on "I Was There" where Ezrin showcases not only his playing skills but also his brilliance in composing.  Ezrin composed the 13 songs on this CD.  The playing and the composing of Ezrin's music is outstanding.  Sometimes when listening to new music,  it requires hearing it more than once before you can understand the greatness of the composing.  Not with Ezrin's compositions; while they possess tenderness they also project happiness that allow the listener to assimilate the music at first hearing.  

"I Was There" is a powerhouse of Jazz music!  I would like to share some of the promotion notes written by Adam Gopnik that were given to me with this CD because they are so wonderful and so true.  "No Instrument in Jazz has been more fertile, adaptable and misleadingly evasive than the piano.  The most workaday of all instruments-the lectern or drawing board where musicians teach, singers learn, songs get composed, recomposed, arranged and rearranged.  It has also been the place of the most sublime flights into personal ecstasy, as with Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett.  The Piano also displays the most virtuosic technique as with Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson, or the place of the most profound pure thoughts in Jazz, as with Bud Powell, Lenny Tristano and John Lewis."  These wonderfully written words were prompted after listening to the music of Andy Ezrin.   

PLAYERS:

Andy Ezrin- Piano, Rhodes, Compositions, Arrangement, Leader

Randy Brecker- Trumpet

Donny McCaslin- Tenor Sax

John Patitucci- Bass

Marcus Gilmore- Drums

Ari Hoenig- Drums

PLAYLIST:

1. Grapes

2. This Is What It Is

3. Greenwoman

4. Luna

5. Siren Song

6. Snowfall

7. Ain't That Some Shit

8. If I Don't See You

9. Wiggle Room

10. Never Enough

11. I'm Runnin' Outta Time

12. Lost Days

13.. Cascades- Andy Exrin Solo

    

                                                                            "I Was There"

"Never Enough"

 

CD Review: Delfeayo Marsalis and His Uptown Jazz Orchestra "Crescent City Jewels"

New Orleans is often referred to as the home of American Jazz, and still to this day, the city continues to be a strong supporter of American Jazz music and Jazz musicians.  The idea for this album was planted in Delfeayo many years ago arising out of a conversation between Trombonist, Composer and NEA Jazz Master Delfeayo Marsalis and Composer and Drummer Max Roach.  Marsalis recalls, "Max told me, 'When I look around, I see greatness everywhere.  I see greatness in the postman who shows up every day to deliver mail, and in the teacher who is serious about teaching these kids.'  That one conversation changed my perception of the world that we live in and how best to represent it in my music."  Crescent City Jewels is Marsalis' effort to capture the present and past heroes of the New Orleans Jazz scene.  I believe Marsalis achieved his missions.  Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra have put together a marvelous group of songs that capture the essence of New Orleans Jazz and the City itself.  The CD expresses the bandleader's appreciation for the good things in life.  According to Marsalis, "What the Jazz community needs right now are bands that can bring joy and optimism.  We not only need it for the audiences, but other bands need to hear it.  There are so many bands that play what they consider to be modern music which may not be the most uplifting experience for the audience.  I feel very fortunate that I have a band, especially coming out of New Orleans, that can bring that emotion and joy."  I totally agree with Marsalis so let's get the party started. Crescent City Jewels brings together some of the finest Jazz musicians performing today and gifted them material from a variety of sources.  Marsalis has joined Jazz standards, great new originals,  classic by legendary figures like Thelonious Monk and Joe Henderson, and a few musical jewels from the Crescent City songbook.   And to finish the deal, he featured the band's soulful longtime singer, Tonya Boyd-Cannon. 

I have selected two songs for you to hear.  The first is a Marsalis original titled "Sidewalk Sizzle" and this funky tune really does sizzle.  Great playing by all and outstanding arrangement.   The second song is the Monk classic, "Round Midnight" sung brilliantly by Tonya Boyd-Cannon.  Enjoy!  

PLAYERS:

Trombones

Delfeayo Marsalis- Trombone, Arrangements, Leader

Terrance "Hollywood" Taplin, Charles Williams, TJ Norris, Ethan Santos

Saxophones: Khari Allen Lee, Aaron Narcisse, Khris Royal, Scott Johnson, Shaena Ryan, Trevarri Huff-Boone, Alonzo Bowers, Branford Marsalis, Roderick Johnson 

Gregory "Speedo" Agid- Clarinet

Trumpets: Scott Frack, Andrew Baham, John Grey, Ashlin Parker, John Culbreth, Lynn Grissett

Piano: Kyle Roussel, Shea Pierre, Victor Campbell, Davell Crawford

FEATURING: Tonya Boyd-Cannon, Kermit Ruffins, Brandford Marsalis, Davell Crawford, Maurice "Meaux" Trosclair, Aaron Narcisse, Andrew Baham, Chris Severin, Herlin Riley

 "Sidewalk Sizzle"
  

                                                               

                                                                            "Round Midnight"

CD Review: Antonio Adolfo, "Love Cole Porter"

 

Renowned Pianist, Composer, Arranger Antonio Adolfo recently released his Brazilian-flavored interpretations of the music of Cole Porter.  Adolfo has released 25 albums as leader and every one of them has been inspiring!  In his new CD,  "Love Cole Porter" Antonio Adolfo has put together a big band that pays tribute to the genius of Cole Porter and adds a Brazilian flavor to Porter's beloved compositions.  Adolfo explains, "I started out by experimenting with different Cole Porter tunes on the piano, trying out different styles of Brazilian music. It took a while to bring them into my musical world and ideas".

I have reviewed several Antonio Adolfo CDs on my blog and I have to say that everything I have ever heard from him has been super good.  His Rhythms, his Arrangements, his Compositions, his choice of musicians has always been the best you can get.  Every Cole Porter song on this CD has been reimagined into a sparkling, exciting new adventure.  Antonio Adolfo is recognized internationally as a Brazilian Jazz master and for good reason; he is a brilliant musician! 

Picking a couple of cuts from "Love Cole Porter" was near impossible.  The big band sound and exciting Arrangements combined with our favorite Cole Porter makes every song on this CD a classic must-have for any Jazz collection.  After much listening I selected "Just One Of Those Things" and "Love For Sale" because I thought the Arrangements were so unique and Brazilian.  

PLAYERS:

Antonio Adolfo- Piano and Arrangements

Lula Galvao- Guitar

Jorge Helder- Double Bass

Rafael Barata- Drums, Percussion

Dada Costa- Percussion

Jesse Sadoc- Trumpet & Soprano Sax & Flute

Rafael Rocha- Trombone

Playlist:

1. Easy To Love

2. Every Time We Say Goodbye

3. I Concentrate On You

4. I Love You

5. I've Got You Under My Skin

6. Just One Of Those Things

7. Love For Sale

8. Night and Day

9. So In Love

10. You Do Something To Me.

                                                                 "Just One Of Those Things"

                                                                        "Love For Sale"

CD Review: Enrico Granafei, "It's Hard To Say Goodbye"

 

Harmonica virtuoso, Classical Guitarist, Vocalist, Songwriter, Arranger and Composer Enrico Granafei has recently released his fourth CD "It's Hard To Say Goodbye".  The CD is a collection of Latin-infused Jazz tunes featuring Granafei playing beautiful Chromatic Harmonica, Guitar and  doing some Vocals.  It's not everyday you come across world class Harmonica players and Granafei's new CD is a reminder of how beautiful Harmonica sounds can be.  I first met and heard Enrico Granafei play while visiting his New Jersey Jazz Club, Trumpets.  Granafei supported live Jazz at his club for over 20 years.  The club was a labor of love with Granafei helping to do everything from greeting customers,  booking great Jazz talent and running the kitchen.   Running a Jazz club in NJ is not a way to get rich but it was a way for Granafei to support the legions of Jazz musicians looking for a venue to perform.  In addition, Granafei was able to sit in frequently with his many musician friends who performed at his club.   

Granafei studied Classical Guitar in Italy at the Conservatory of I'Aquila.  It was there that he discovered Toots Thielemans' album "Infinity".  A short time after hearing this album, Granafei started teaching himself Jazz Harmonica and soon became good enough to perform in top Jazz clubs throughout Italy.  He landed a year-long gig playing in the orchestra of a very popular Italian television show.  He says,  "No one else in Italy played Jazz Harmonica back then, and every week I had 45 seconds of glory on National television as I got to play a short solo on every show.  Granafei moved to New York City in the early 1990's and began performing at The Blue Note, Birdland, and The Bottom Line where he got to play with many American Jazz giants.  He wanted to further his studies of Jazz Harmonica, however,  when he applied to the Manhattan School of Music;  he soon found out that there were no teachers of Jazz Harmonica at the school.   Because Granafei knew and had performed with several members of the admittance panel, he was accepted to the program.  Still in need of a teacher, Granafei called Toots Thielemans who was living in New York at the time.  Thielemans was reluctant to take on a student because of his busy touring schedule but Granafei persuaded him and then worked around Thielemans' schedule and received a master's degree in Jazz performance in 1992.  Granafei has surrounded himself with high level of musicians to support him on this CD.  They add great value to the overall enjoyment of this CD.

Enrico Granafei's passion and dedication to music and performance has been part of his heart and soul for his whole life and should be an inspiration to all young musicians who ever doubted themselves.  Nothing less than total dedication to your art is the key to unlocking success in the music world or any other world for that matter.

I have attached two cuts from "It's Hard To Say Goodbye".  The first tune is "Medo De Amar"  with Granafei singing in Portuguese and playing wistful and  romantic Harmonica.  The second tune is a nod to the spirit of Granafei's master teacher Toots Thielemans.  He performed the Thielemans classic hit, "Bluesette". 

                                                                        "Medo De Amar"
   

                                                                         "Bluesette"

PLAYERS:

Enrico Granafei:-Chromatic Harmonica, Guitar and Vocals

Claudio Roditi- Flugelhorn

Mike Longo- Piano

Amina Figarova-Piano, Keyboards and Fender Rhodes

Neil Alexander- Keyboards

Takashi Otsuka- Bass

Greg Jones- Bass

Christian Fabian- Bass

Gordon Lane- Drums

Sylvia Cuenca- Drums

Richie Morales- Drums

Diego Lopez- Tambourine

Annette Aguilar- Percussion

PLAYLIST:

1. Claudinlio

2. Night Train

3. Pia

4. Medo De Amar

5. L'ultima cialda

6. Calabrossa

7. What Goes Around Comes Around

8. Amico

9. Bluesette

10. To My Lady

11. It's Hard To Say Goodbye 

CD Review: Dred Scott, "Cali Mambo"

Dred Scott's musical journey has been a whirlwind of exploration from collaborating with iconic artists like Liza Minelli and Nina Hagen to holding down a decade-long residency at New York's Rockwood  Music Hall.  He has always had a restless musical spirit.  In recent years he traded the frenetic energy of the clubs for the polished elegance of acclaimed restaurants, but his passion for the pulsating rhythms of Latin Jazz never faded.  The release of "Cali Mambo" represents a return for Dred Scott back to the vibrant world of Jazz clubs.

Dred Scott has selected a group of super high level Musicians to join him that have deep credentials in the New York music and Latin music scene.  Vibraphonist Tom Beckham is simply perfect.  Matt Pavolka brings 25 years of New York musical experience on Bass.  And Moses Patrou provides years of international experience in sounds from the Caribbean and South America.  Leading this muti-talented group is Pianist Dred Scott who provides the glue that turns four unique and talented musicians into one vibrant and fresh voice.   The playlist that Dred selected for his CD,  "Cali Mambo" will bring you back to your early Jazz roots and remind you why Latin Jazz was always one of your favorite schools of Jazz.  I can't say enough about Dred Scott's performance on this CD.  His solos are clean and fresh and filled with creativity and his Arrangements will delight any Latin Jazz fan. 

I selected two "YouTube" tunes from "Cali Mambo" that will give you a solid clue as to why I loved this CD so much.  The first tune is also the title tune "Cali Mambo".  This song is a George Shearing gem that he wrote in 1952.  It's bursting with Latin energy.  According to Dred Scott, "this great songs was built on just two chords but listeners will find the song hard to forget.  The second song I selected was the Schwartz and Dietz classic "You And The Night And The Music".  This Scott uptempo Arrangement is amazing and brings new life and imagination to this evergreen!

I just could not finish without letting you hear one of my all-time favorite songs performed perfectly.  The song is "Poinciana" and it has been performed by so many outstanding musicians from George Shearing to the Four Freshman.

PLAYERS:

Dred Scott- Piano, Arrangements

Tom Beckham- Vibraphone

Matt Pavolka- Bass

Moses Patrou- Percussion

PLAYLIST:

1. Cali Mambo

2. Star Eyes

3. Poinciana

4. LaEnganadora

5. Danza Cubana#2

6. Guachi Guaro

7. You And The Night And The Music

8. Lulu

9. Footprints

10. Manteca

 

                                                                    "Cali Mambo"

                                                           "You and The Night And The Music"

                                                                           "Poinciana"

                                            

 

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"