New Jazz Adds – 11/21/2017
New Jazz Adds – 11/21/2017
Michel Camilo – Live In London (Redondo Music): This is pianist Michel Camilo’s first live solo recording. Four of the seven pieces are originals and the covers include “The Frim Fram Sauce”, “Manteca” and a medley of “I Got Rhythm”, “Caravan” and “Sing, Sing, Sing”. He begins with “From Within” and the spirit and flow are fantastic. The performance is a tour de force from every perspective. Click here for an introduction by Camilo himself.
Eliana Cuevas – Golpes y Flores (ALMA): Eliana Cuevas is an accomplished vocalist and leader. She is dedicating this disc to the essentials of Venezuelan music. She is a native Venezuelan who has lived in Canada for some time, but still strives to spread appreciation of Venezuelan music. There is a huge set of musicians participating in this production, with plenty of percussion, bass and other stringed instruments like violin, viola, cello and a few reeds. To be sure, Cuevas’ singing is the the main focus and it is quite wonderful. Click here to check out an overview of this disc.
Marc Devine Trio – Inspiration (ITI): Pianist Marc Devine and his trio have a broad taste in music and a terrific connection to keeping jazz at the center of both pop and jazz compositions. The set includes jazz tunes like Hank Mobley’s “Soul Station” and Bud Powell’s “Hallucinations”, standards like Johnny Mercer’s “Dream” or pop tunes like “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” (Goffin-King) and “Love Me Tender” (Matson-Presley). Devine even adds one of his own compositions. The rhythm section includes Fukushi Tainaka (drums) and Hide Tanaka (bass) and the blend is truly wonderful. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Kelly Green – Life Rearranged (Self-produced): Composer/pianist/singer Kelly Green explains and describes her new release: “This album is a story of my life through original compositions and arrangements of standards that speak to my life on a personal level. I got together with some of my favorite musicians and friends in the world and we recorded this music “live” in the studio.” (liner notes) As far as I can tell, this is her second release, though she has obviously been playing for some time. She is supported by a number of musicians, including Jovan Alexandre (tenor sax), Josh Evans (trumpet), Matt Dwonszyk and Christian McBride (alternating on bass), Steve Nelson (vibes), Mike Troy (alto sax), and Noam Israeli, Kush Abadey and Tamir Shmerling (alternating on drums). Seven of the songs are originals by Green and the remaining tracks include songs penned by Frank Loesser, Peter Nero, Cole Porter and others. This release is obviously close to her heart and her vocals tend to carry some emotional weight as if she is on the verge of tears. The back story is not disclosed, but this is obviously a set close to her heart. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Keyon Harrold – The Mugician (Legacy): Trumpeter Keyon Harrold offers an experimental disc intended to share various musical styles and commentaries of life in the US from the African-American perspective. His site bio describes him as “…an eclectic trumpeter/music producer/ arranger/ songwriter who has been featured on nearly 100 albums ranging from jazz, R&B, pop, gospel, blues and hip hop. Keyon has toured and recorded with or produced for some of the world’s best artists and ensembles like Jay-Z, Beyonce, Common, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill to name a few. He also has had numerous musical placements in film and TV including the Miles Davis Biopic “Miles Ahead” directed by Don Cheadle where he is featured as the trumpet sound of Don Cheadle playing Miles Davis.” (webpage) Harrold wrote or co-wrote all of the compositions here, many of which also offer insights or commentary about race in the US. Musical styles range from folk styles to reggae to blues to rap to jazz. In addition to Harrold’s trumpet, accompanying musicians include Marcus Strickland (tenor sax), Nir Felder (guitar), Shedrick Mitchell (piano), Burniss “Boom” Travis (bass) and Mark Colenburg (drums), among others with special guest artists Gary Clark Jr.(guitar, vocal), Big K.R.I.T. and Bilal (lyrics, vocal), Pharoahe Monch (vocal) and Robert Glasper (piano). The disc is an interesting step and Harrold certainly deserves our attention to his style and art. Click here to listen to the song I found to be the most potent in this set.
Oscar Hernandez & Alma Libre – The Art Of Latin Jazz (Origin): Composer/pianist Oscar Hernandez presents ten original compositions celebrating Latin jazz in its purest sense, without the pop elements that many musicians add to build a larger audience. Hernandez and Alma Libre are most dedicated to spread the popularity of the more traditional style. In addition to Hernandez, Alma Libre includes Justo Almario (sax/flute), Jimmy Branly (drums), Christian Moraga (congas, percussion) and Jorge “Sawa” Perez (bass) with special guest Gilbert Castellanos (trumpet) and Jeremy Bosch who adds vocals on one song. The music here flows and celebrates the medium tempos and well as the upbeat, but leave the more flamboyant playing for others. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of several songs from this disc.
Stacey Kent – The Orchestral Sessions: I Know I Dream (OKeh): Vocalist Stacey Kent has been involved with music practically her entire adult life. She has fans in many countries as she has added French and Brazilian songs to her mastery of the Great American Songbook. Several of her own compositions have unusual and intriguing lyrics. She is accompanied by Jim Tomlinson (sax, flute, percussion), Graham Harvey (piano, Fender Rhodes), John Paricelli (guitar), Jeremy Brown (bass), Joshua Morrison (drums) and Curtis Schwartz (electric bass) plus numerous orchestral and big band instruments to back it all up. It’s an interesting and diverse offering. Click here to listen to a sample song from this disc.
Billy Lester Trio – Italy 2016 (Self-produced): Pianist Billy Lester grew up musically hooked on the Great American songbook and the pre-cool jazz scene. Lennie Tristano was his favorite player. He has studied music for many years and now finds time to perform. “Lots of people are surprised when I tell them where my tunes come from,” Lester says. “I’ve either reharmonized or inverted the chords, reworked them so that they aren’t, I hope, just the original tunes, but sound like expressions of Billy Lester. I sit at the piano, play the standards, and new thematic material comes to me. I work on that, and afterwards the harmonies really feel like mine.” His rhythm section features Marcello Testa (bass) and Nicola Stranieri (drums). This music definitely swings and jumps on this disc and the sound is quite fresh. I regret I am unable to locate a sample from this disc.
Jeff Rupert w/ Veronica Swift – Let’s Sail Away (Rupe Media): Tenor saxophonist Jeff Rupert is teamed up with former Charlottesville resident, daughter of Hod O’Brien and Stephanie Nakasian, and vocalist extraordinare Veronica Swift in a musical set that ranks with the best I have ever heard. The communication between the two reminds me Ella Fitzgerald dueling with Roy Eldridge or (insert your horn player choice here). The program covers terrific ground from the Great American Songbook, like “Pennies From Heaven” and Rhapsody In Blue”, more recent gems like Johnny Mandel’s “Pernod” and Vince Guaraldi’s “Ginza Samba” to originals by Jeff Rupert who also co-composes with Swift on “Beauty Becomes Her” and with William Shakespeare on “My Mistress’ Eyes”. Other musicians are Richard Drexler (piano), Marty Morell (drums) and Charlie Silva (bass). Horns are added on “Rhapsody In Blues” by Dan Miller (trumpet), Christian Herrera (trombone) and Saul Dautch (bari sax). With its terrific variety and fabulous performances, this release is exquisite from beginning to end. Click here to listen to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
The Verve Jazz Ensemble – Swing-A-Nova (Self-produced): The Verve Jazz Ensemble includes Josh Feldstein (drums), Steve Einerson (piano) and Elias Bailey (bass). They play standards such as “From This Moment On” (Cole Porter) and “I Cover The Waterfront” (Johnny Green) about half of the time and jazz standards like “Tin Tin Deo” (Gil Fuller & Chano Pozo), “Speak No Evil” (Wayne Shorter), “Tones For Joan’s Bones” (Chick Cora) and Nica’s Dream (Horace Silver). Trumpet player Tatum Greenblatt (trumpet) joins in on the latter three titles. The music is very pleasant and swings nicely throughout the disc. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Wonderland Park – Just Get In (Self-produced): Wonderland Park: Allen Hinds (guitar), Peter Hastings (bass), and Chris Wabich (drums); “We are an instrumental trio playing rootsy avant funky modern jam whatever.” (http://www.wonderlandpark.band/) Catch a groove and go with it and, of course, explore. The group is tight and creative. Great sounds as well. Accessible, too. Jazz rock. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
