CD Review: San Juan Collective

Musicians:
Norberto Ortiz, Gabriel Rodriguez, Raúl Maldonado

Review:
Even though the members of San Juan Collective are young musicians, they play with the maturity and music knowledge of veteran Jazz players. One can tell their jazz vocabulary comes from years of listening and studying all the legends of jazz and other music styles.

They also have the experience of playing and recording with Puerto Rican master trumpet player, Charlie Sepulveda on both of his grammy nominated albums.

All that music knowledge and experience are fused perfectly to create the sound of San Juan Collective, a jazz trio with three of the best jazz musicians from Puerto Rico. Norberto Ortiz with his inventive improvisations on the tenor sax, reminiscent of other great sax players from Puerto Rico like Miguel Zenón and David Sanchez, Gabriel Rodriguez flawless melodic solos on bass and Raúl Maldonado energetic rhythms on drums.

The music of San Juan Collective is challenging, full of surprises and always interesting with tempo changes and creative, both melodically and harmonically.

In their music you’ll find diverse influences. The lullaby like intro of Child’s Play, before changing into a classic Bebop tempo. The Funk/fusion style of A mis maestros with virtuosic bass runs and a powerful drum solo. The ballads Melisa, Beauty Bar and Esperanza, the last one reminiscent of jazz classics like In a Sentimental Mood. The Bossa bass chords on Cycles. And of course the contagious Bomba and Plena rhythms of Sueño Despierto and Calle 6, showing the great fusion possibilities of native Puerto Rico rhythms with Jazz.

Tracks: The Beautiful, Child’s Play, A mis Maestros, Esperanza, Sueño Despierto, Cycles, Calle 6, Beauty Bar, El Tata, Melisa, El Hobito

Artist's Website: http://sanjuancollective.com/

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre

CD review: Loren Daniels & Reggie Pittman - Point A to Point A

Point A to Point A is a Classic Jazz style collaboration between trumpet player Reggie Pittman and pianist Loren Daniels. The album start with On the B.T. a bebop piece dedicated to composer Bobby Timmons.

Clarion Call is an odd but interesting composition with the always powerful trumpet playing of Reggie Pittman and a superb swinging groove by the rhythm section, Loren Daniels, bassist Bill Moringand Tim Horner on drums.

The beautiful melodies of the ballad Fall, brings images of the change of season. The next track is a funky, cool version of the Charlie Parker classic, Ornithology, that changes back and forth between funk and bebop. Shaw is Woody, is a fast bebop piece in homage to the great trumpet player Woody Shaw.

Loren explained on the promo notes that the structure of Point A to Point, ABACA, is a Rondo and the reason for the title. On Waterwind percussive sounds gives way to the trumpet melodies of Reggie Pittman over a slow latin rhythm. The album ends with It's all Thelonious a fun tribute to genious Theloniuos Monk, this one includes Loren Daniels on vocals.

On th B.T., Clarion Call, Fall, Ornithology, Shaw is Woody, Reflection, Point A to Point A, Waterwind, Prose and Consequence, It's all Thelonious

Reggie Pittman (trumpet, flugelhorn), Loren Daniels (piano, vocals), Bill Moring (bass), Tim Horner (drums, percussion)

CD Review: Fernandez & Wright - Unsung

Musicians:
Vanessa Fernandez (vocals), Steve Wright (guitar), Sam Keevers (piano), Ben Robertson (bass), Dave Beck (drums), Alex Pertout (percussion), Chong Lim (Hammond)

Review:
Unsung is a music collaboration between vocalist Vanessa Fernandez and guitarist Steve Wright. Wright sound have influences of smooth jazz guitar players like George Benson. Vanessa’s voice sounds at time like singer Sade especially on songs like Thinkin it lately, an interesting composition with African percussive rhythms of Steve Wright on guitar and If Only with Bossa influences.

In the first track I’ve been there too there is definitely an influence of the rock group The Police and his legendary singer Sting. The music reminds me, melodically of the song It’s probably me, but with funkier rhythms. That funk influence is also present in the song New Knack, starting in a Bossa style and changing into funky rhythms halfway through the song.

But is on the blues songs that Vanessa’s voice and feeling really shines. Ain’t love cruel, Leave it to me with the organ sounds adding a spiritual feel and Why is it always, a classic rock/blues reminiscent of Bonnie Rait.

I’ve been there too, Fairy dust, Thinkin it lately, If only, Ain’t ove cruel, Seasons, New Knack, Leave with me, Why is it always, New years Day

Vanessa Fernandez (vocals), Steve Wright (guitar), Sam Keevers (piano), Ben Robertson (bass), Dave Beck (drums), Alex Pertout (percussion), Chong Lim (Hammond)

Tracks: I’ve been there too, Fairy dust, Thinkin it lately, If only, Ain’t love cruel, Seasons, New Knack, Leave with me, Why is it always, New years Day

Artist's Website: http://www.fernandezandwright.com.au

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre

CD Review: Leslie Lewis - Keeper of the Flame

CD Review: Leslie Lewis - Keeper of the Flame

Featured Artist: Leslie Lewis

CD Title: Keeper of the Fame

Year: 2010

Record Label: Surf Cove Jazz

Style: Jazz Vocals

Musicians: Leslie Lewis (vocals), Gerard Hagen (piano), Domenis Genova (bass), Jerry Kalaf (drums, percussions)

Review:
Leslie Lewis is all a good jazz singer should be. Her beautiful tone and classy phrasing on tracks like Day by day, You don't know what love is and Speak Low evokes the sound of the classic jazz singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

On the title track Keeper of the Flame Leslie soulful voice plays beautifully with the melodies and tempo changes with Jerry Kalaf adding a powerful drums solo. And her silky, smooth vocals on the jazzy version of Ivan Lins The Island hits you full of emotion.

The brazilian influence can be heard all through this album, especially on the tracks Day by day, the jazzy arrangements of Antonio Carlos Jobim A Felicidade, Chega de Saudade and the sublime version of Fotografia. On these tracks at times one may hear echoes of the Ella Fitzgerald sings Jobim album, both in tone and phrasing.

As a puertorrican I always enjoy listening to Juan Tizol Caravan, one of the most recorded jazz classics. Leslie vocals are just perfect on one of the best version I have heard recently, with interesting rhythmic and harmonic choices.

Leslie Lewis vocals are complimented perfectly by her husband, Gerard Hagen Trio, and special guest Gary Foster on sax.

Tracks: Keeper of the Flame, The Island, Spring is here, Day by day, A Felicidade, You don't know what love is, Fotografia, Chega de Saudade (No more blues), Speak Low, Caravan

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre

CD Review: Dual Rhythm Big Band

CD Review: Dual Rhythm Big BandFeatured Artist: Dual Rhythm

CD Title: Big Band

Year: 2010

Record Label: Independent

Style: Various Jazz Styles

Musicians: Ernest Bland (percussion), Paul Rosenberg (piano), John Lee (guitar), Dan Hall (bass), Lawrence Dean (drums), Perry Contichio (sax)

Review:
Dual Rhythm goal is to sound like a quartet in a duo setting. Well, mission accomplished. This guys definitly sound bigger, more like a Big Band, even though they are just two, Ernest "Ebongo" Bland on percussions and Paul Rosenberg on piano. That big sound hits you since the first track, Shoreline.

Dual Rhythm cited influences by Gillespie, Jerry Gonzalez and Tito Puente, there is no doubt all this and more may be heard on the fusion of latin, jaz and R&B sounds. Gillespie influence is present for sure in the track Sligo Bop.

Ernest provides the vocals on the Beatles medley, the bluesy sounds of I don't know what love is, and the soul style of Mariposa and These arms of mine.

The organ like sound and guitar solo combined with the percussions gives the track Absence of Excess a 70's rock feeling, similar to Santana. Summer End starts like a ballad and then change into infectious latin/cuban rhythms.

Paul and Ernest chose two jazz classics to close an album of mostly originals, Ellington African Flower and a Medley of Shorter Night Dreamer and Mongo Santamaria Afro Blue. The album includes some guest artists, John Lee on guitar, Dan Hall on bass, Lawrence Dean on drums and Perry Contichio on sax.

Tracks: Shoreline, Sun Medley (Beatles Medley), Absence of Excess, I don't know what love is, Mariposa, Summer's end, Alice dances the Bossa Nova, Desire, Sligo Bop, These arms of mine, African Flower, Night Dreamer/Afro Blue

Artist's Website: http://www.myspace.com/dualrhythm

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre

CD Review: Kenia Celebrates Dorival Caymmi

CD Review: Kenia Celebrates Dorival Caymmi

Featured Artist: Kenia Ashby

CD Title: Kenia Celebrates Dorival Caymmi

Year: 2010

Record Label: Kenia

Style: World Music

Musicians: Kenia Ashby (vocals), Fernando Merlino (piano), Leo Traversa (bass), Airto Moreira (percussion), Jay Ashby (percussion, trombone, vocals), Lucas Ashby (percussion), Ian Ashby (percussion, vocals), Thomas Wendt (drums), Eric Sussoef (guitar), Marty Ashby (guitar), Tatjana Chamis, Fabiana Chamis (vocals)

Review: Dorival Caymmi, one of the best brazilian songwriters, is to samba what Tom Jobim is to Bossa Nova. Some of the best sambas ever written are from Dorival Caymmi, and I can not think of a better singer to do an homage to Caymmi than Kenia Ashby. Kenia melodious voice and elegant phrasing is a perfect match to Caymmi fun lyrics and infectious rhythms.

You will find classics on this CD like Voce ja foi a Bahia?, Doralice, Eu vou pra Maracangalha and the beautiful interpretation of Sabado em Copacabana. Kenia Ashby is a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, currently living in Pittsburgh. For sure most of these songs were part of Kenia childhood in Brasil. And you can hear an almost nostalgic feeling on Kenia voice singing about Copacabana.

All the songs arrangements have a jazzy touch, without losing the samba feeling. Kenia voice is powerful and with the flavor required for the more upbeat sambas like Eu nao tenho onde morar, Samba da minha terra and Vatapa. Subtle and sweet in the slow ballads like Nunca mais and Marina, recorded with just voice and piano. Playful on O dengo que a nega tem, Acontece que sou Baiano and Requebre que eu dou um doce, the last one with nice scats harmonies by Kenia and Jay Ashby trombone.

The rhythm section of Fernando Merlino on piano, Leo Traversa on bass, and Jay Ashby, Lucas Ashby and Ian Ashby on percussion is superb. But there is another surprise on this album, the great Airto Moreira also plays percussion in most of the tracks.

This album is definitely a must have for fans of brazilian music. Like Kenia says on her CD notes, Dorival repertoire is so vast that it might warrant a second album. I will be waiting for that sequel.

Tracks: Eu nao tenho onde morar, Roda Piao, And roses and roses, Samba da minha terra, Vatapa, Requebre que eu dou um doce, Voce ja foi a Bahia, Sabado em Copacabana, O dengo que nega tem, Acontece que eu sou baiano, Nunca mais, Doralice, Eu vou pra Maracangalha, A vizinha do lado, Marina

Record Label Website: http://www.officialkenia.com

Artist's Website: http://www.officialkenia.com

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre

CD Review: Jackson Garrett - Speechless

CD Review: Jackson Garrett - Speechless

Featured Artist: Jackson Garrett

CD Title: Speechless

Year: 2010

Record Label: Independent

Style: Various Jazz Styles

Musicians: Steve Madaio (trumpet), Kenny Meier (trombone), Pat Rizzo (sax), Steve Neilen (drums), John Pagels (guitar), Marty Steele (piano), Jeff Stover (bass)

Review: Jackson Garrett Speechless is a unique album in the sense that the artist featured in the title is not the one playing the music. Jackson Garrett wrote all twelve compositions on Speechless but the music is performed by a group of talented musicians. Steve Madaio (trumpet), Kenny Meier (trombone), Pat Rizzo (sax), Steve Neilen (drums), John Pagels (guitar), Marty Steele (piano), Jeff Stover (bass).

The music on this album is diverse. There is the contemporary feel of Just one more time, with horn harmonies reminiscent of the rock group Chicago and nice piano runs by Marty Steele. You may also find the latin feel of the tracks Around and around or Slowdown with rhythms that invites you to dance.

Tracks like Cool and easy has a more classic jazz feel to it, and even the melody reminds me of standards like Round Midnight. We gotta go also feels like classic jazz, this time the arrangements are reminiscent of the Big Band sound era.

The bass and piano intro lead us to the bossa feel of Kisses all around and Downtown with you sounds like vintage blues with Steve Madaio superb bluesy feeling on trumpet. Speechless is a collection of enjoyable, well written compositions in a diversity of styles.

Tracks: Just one more time, Slow down boy, Back in time, Cool and easy, Kisses all around, Downtown with you, Give a little bit to me, Champagne tower, Big baby, I don’t wanna see you, Around and around, We gotta go

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre