Album Review: Life in the Modern World from Lauren White

-

Album:  Life in the Modern World
Artist:  Lauren White
Label:  Cafe Pacific
Website:  www.laurenwhitejazz.com

The pretty vocals of Lauren White give a fresh take on modern standards like 1985's "In a New York Minute" and classics like 1944's "How Little We Know," written by the great songwriting team of Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer.  Her latest release Life in the Modern World recaptures several finds that she discovered while scavenging through the music archives of the 20th century and adding a handful of post millennial numbers like "Till I Get It Right," penned by Stuart Elster and Mark Winkler.  

From intimate cabarets to casino lounges, White's music is sleek and tuneful with hints of jazz greats gone-by.  The airy atmosphere of "American Tune" is powdered in sparkling synth effects as the shimmering guitar chords of Grant Geissman show a flare for picturesque soundscapes, producing fluctuating shadows around White's vocals making for aurally pleasing aesthetics.  The bopping jazz horns flouncing gracefully along "In a New York Minute" accentuate White's pretty vocal nuances while the bluesy tone of Johnson's keys ambling leisurely through "Slow Down" cushion White's vocals in gentle waves.  The calypso beats of "Midnight Sun" propel White's vocals into a catchy shimmy that segues into a smooth caress through "Coffee."

Whether it's spicing up a tune with a Latin groove, a swinging horn arrangement, or a dance-funk rhythm, White puts her own imprint on these covers.  A collaborative effort with her pianist-arranger Quinn Johnson and producer-vocalist-lyricist Mark Winkler, the release is modern adult pop sweetness relatable to mature audiences.

Musicians:
Lauren White - vocals
Quinn Johnson - piano
Kevin Axt - bass
David Finck - bass
Marvin “SMITTY” Smith - drums
Chris Wabich - drums and percussion
Kevin Winard - drums and percussion
Grant Geissman - guitar
Alex Budman - horns
Francisco Torres - trombone
Tatum Greenblatt - trumpet
Michael Stever - flugelhorn and trumpet
David Mann - flute
Mark Winkler - vocals

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Album Review: This Could Be The Start from Linda Purl

-
Image
Album: This Could Be The Start Artist:  Linda Purl Label: Reaching Records Website:  https://www.lindapurl.com Vocalist Linda Purl and her music director Tedd Firth come together for their fourth album, This Could Be the Start .  The collection contains Purl's reimagination of a handful of jazz standards, tailored to her vocal specifications.  Supported by an intimate cadre of musicians that include bassist David Finck, drummer Ray Marchica and reed player Nelson Rangell, Purl finesses a selection of Great American Songbook jewels with a contemporary sheen. The playful merengue rhythm driving "Blue Moon," a swinging romp written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, is trussed in Ray Marchica's percolating percussion and a profusion of jutting keys performed by Ted Firth.  The track steps out of the customary schematics of swing jazz bolstered by blues vocals and articulates a Latin-imbued tremor.  The bossa nova curves shaping one of Cole Porter's signature pieces,
Read more

Album Review: The Ways In from James Zollar

-
Image
Album:  The Ways In Artist:  James Zollar Label:  Label: JZAZ Records Websites:  https://www.rsberkeley.com/james-zollar https://www.discogs.com/artist/954763-James-Zollar https://wyntonmarsalis.org/personnel/detail/james-zollar A straight-ahead jazz oeuvre, The Ways In from bandleader and trumpet player James Zollar resumes a quest where pioneers of the trumpet's sympathetic vibrations like Clifford Brown and Bill Coleman left off.  Zollar shows audiences the delightful, melodious tone of the trumpet, moving in harmony with an array of brass, woodwinds, and rhythm instruments. The robust wails of Zollar's trumpet strutting languidly along "Do Nothing 'till You Hear From Me" emotes an enduring personable trait, unwavering persistence in the face of being dejected.  The recording switches to a joyful atmosphere in "Swing Spring" with jangly beats from percussionist Chembo Corniel, interfacing with the buoyant ripples generated by Michael Rorby's trom
Read more

Album Review: Globetrotter from Luca di Luzio

-
Image
Album:  Globetrotter Artist:  Luca di Luzio Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.lucadiluzio.it   Guitarist Luca di Luzio's upcoming CD, Globetrotter  is an assortment of contemporary jazz tunes bridging funk, blues, soul, and Latin music.  Comprised of a few jazz standards and a handful of original works written by Luca di Luzio, a prolific guitar player who studied different styles of music, the recording expresses his personal vision of jazz guitar based on melody and groove.  Joining Di Luzio in his vision are bass guitarist Jimmy Haslip, drummer Dave Wecki, keyboardist George Whitty, and saxophonists Max Ionata and Alessandro Fariselli. From dance-funk numbers like "Jazzlife" and "Elisir" to the soft billows and reflective moods projected in "Smile" and " Buena Suerte," Di Luzio's artistry stems from his vision to make music that is aesthetically pleasing.  "Sunshower," a tune written by Kenny Barron, is a pr
Read more