jazz2love

Partnership Celebrates Lennon’s 80th Birthday On October 9, With Live Virtual Events and Giveaways NEW YORK, NY (September 2 1, 2020) In honor of John Lennon’s 80th birthday, the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (JLSC) have announced a partnership with Gibson Gives--the iconic American instrument brand’s charitable arm--to support musicianship, music education and songwriting for people of all ages. Among the initiatives, 24 Lennon contest winners will receive an Epiphone LTD Edition Les Paul Quilt Top Pro and an Epiphone Zenith Masterbilt Acoustic Round Hole. Songwriters, artists, and bands are encouraged to enter the 24th annual JLSC with over $300,000k in cash awards and giveaways. All entrants will also qualify for weekly contests, offering additional gear giveaways, including a Gibson guitar.   October 9, 2020 would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday. His contributions to music, culture, activism, art, and fashion resonate to this day...

Album:  Human Revolution Artist:  Zen Zadravec Label: Marmite Records (FACTOR) Website:  http://www.zenzadravec.com Zen Zadravec’s latest CD Human Revolution is an endeavor supported by the Canadian Grant Organization called Factor or the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings.  On it, Zadravec explores a bounty of flowing chord progressions, rhythmic diversity, and melodies that put audiences in a positive mood.  His goal is to create music based on the concept of Humanism, spawned by the philosophies of Nichiren Buddhism.  If maintaining a positive outlook is a principle of Humanism then Zadravec achieved his intended purpose. The opening track "The Nature of All Things" overflows with jaunty swinging phrasing clad in a frenzy of soaring horns and a bouncy rhythm section.  Traits of R&B/soul can be heard in "Mentor Disciple" as the saxophone juts and swivels in a free spirited manner.  Changing to a frolicking tempo, "Live" is a...

Album:  If Love Were All Artist:  Wayne Powers Label:  Kabockie Records Website:  www.waynepowers.com Blues crooner Wayne Powers sings the praises of love found and pines over love lost on his latest offering If Love Were All from Kabookie Records.  Each track is a dreamy swinging tune with his caressing vocals sweeping across the melodic musings of Keith Davis on piano, Ziad Rable on tenor saxophone, and Al Sergel on drums.  His tenor register is aurally pleasing to listeners as he traipses through a selection of jazz standard favorites. The warmth he projects in his interpretation of "Body and Soul" lulls the listener into a dream state as Davis's keys blanket the melody in a downy bedding.  The pathos in Powers's vocal nuances inject genuine emotion into Billy Strayhorn's timeless ballad "Lush Life," whisking the listener away as Rable's saxophone bastes the melody in slow simmering swells. The sensitivity Powers displays in his treatment of the ...

Album:  What We Had Artist:  Rebecca Angel Label:  Timeless Groove Records Website:  www.rebeccaangel.net Merging Latin swing, modern jazz, and cabaret blues, vocalist/composer Rebecca Angel's balmy broth is laden with creamy sensations making her debut release What We Had entirely mesmerizing.  The music gently shimmies and rustles as her gentle voicing massages the melodic swells.  She engulfs the listener in pleasing aesthetics from the calming undulations of the title track to the bossa nova-drenched wisps of "Agora Sim," both penned by Angel. "Feel Alive" blossoms with a contemporary adult pop coating trimmed in Latin swing accents changing to a smooth grooving rhythm along "Stand By Me," written by Jerry Leiber and Mie Stoller.  Angel hitches the latter melody to a modern doo-wop inspired chassis that fits her vocals snugly.  The Latin-jazz facets of "Jet Samba" feature a sizzling cha-cha in the rhythmic action, saddled by Angel's ...

Album:  We're All in the Dance Artist:  Rachel Caswell Label:  Turtle Ridge Records Website:  www.rachelcaswell.com Brimming with cafe society-style, vocalist Rachel Caswell puts audiences in a relaxing state of mind on her latest CD We're All in the Dance .  Her scatting is evenly clement and her bluesy vocalese has a pacifying Patti Austin-esque flare.  A collection of jazz and pop standards, Caswell's recording is extremely likeable as she contemporizes the concept of cafe society.  Produced by her guitarist Dave Stryker, Caswell's offering is melodically arranged and shaped with harmonious chord patterns from beginning to end. She forms a cascade of scatting sounds drizzling intermittently along "Devil May Care," a tune written by Bob Dorough and Terrell P. Kirk, Jr.  The dreamy ambience of "Two for the Road," a Henry Mancini gem, features Caswell's vocal elasticity, reaching and refracting, catching the feel of the music.  Her sister Sar...

 Album:  Night  Is Alive's First Christmas Artist:  Night Is Alive All-Stars Label:  Night Is Alive Website:  https://nightisalive.com/albums/first-christmas/ From quick scatting yodels to smooth glissandos, vocalist Christie Dashiell leads the Night Is Alive All-Stars comprised of saxophonist Keith Loftis, pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Lonnie Plaxico, and drummer Willie Jones III on Night Is Alive's First Christmas CD.  The All-Stars are exceptional in their delivery of an assortment of favorite Christmas tunes.   Beautifully tailored to Dashiell's warm register measurements, her instincts to know where to place the lyrics and how to carry the verses give the recording a perennial quality. Loftis etches sensual curves with his saxophone across "Merry Christmas Baby," as Dashiell's vocals blanket the breadth of  Germanson's bluesy arpeggios on the piano.   Loftis plays the main motif on his sax along "God Rest Ye Merry Gentl...

Album:  Lovers and Love Songs Artist:  Willie Jones III's All-Stars Label:  Night Is Alive Website: https://nightisalive.com/albums/lovers-and-love-songs/ Jazz drummer Willie Jones III takes audiences on a journey of romantic tunes through the decades on his latest CD Lovers and Love Songs from the Night Is Alive label.  His band, the Willie Jones III's All-Stars, abbreviated to WJ3 All-Stars, display a dexterity and gentleman-like rapport reminiscent of the great big band era.  Their contribution to the format signifies a modern chapter in the memoirs of straight-ahead jazz. Ralph Moore's saxophone plays many of the main motifs through the tracks, taking the lead along "I've Never Been In Love Before," showing a narrative voice that meanders into elegant twists as Steve Davis's trombone twines gently around the phrases and Terell Stafford's  trumpet puffs luxuriously, forming dulcet ringlets.  The flow of the instruments is enjoyable.  The Latin...

Album:  Contrabajo, Works for Bass and String Artist:  Pablo Aslan Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.pabloaslan.com Serene, lulling, and operatic, the playing of acoustic bassist Pablo Aslan can bring a tear to one's eyes and simultaneously lift one's spirit and incite joy in one's heart.  His latest recording Contrabajo, Works for Bass and String Quartet is a superbly arranged collection of mindful soliloquies, symphonies, and discourse.  Track after track, the listener feels like the music is playing out an opera with the dramatic phrasing of the strings and reflexive voicing of Aslan's bass notes.  The symphonic lift in the instrumentation is penetrating and holds the audience in rapt attention. The swivels and squiggles of Paquito D’ Rivera's clarinet scampering across "Tanguajira" has the intensity of a tango fused with the fluidity of a choreographed ballet.  The strings played by the Cuarteto Petrus quartet turns mournful and crestfallen...

Album:  Mad Romance And Love Artist:  Maurice Frank Label:  Jumo Music Website:  www.mauricefrank.com Blues crooner Maurice Frank performs a stimulating rendition of swinging jazz numbers on his latest release Mad Romance And Love .  His contemporary interpretation of such nostalgic tunes as Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer's memorable "How Little We Know" and  Billy Strayhorn and John Latouche's lounging melody " Day Dream" are captured in his soothing vocalese.  The lyrics are cradled in his register as though they were precious gems, needed to be handled with care.  His affection for these songs is palpable. His performance of Robert Wright and George Forrest's showtune "Baubles, Bangles, and Beads" rekindles a famous favorite from the Great American Songbook, possessing the sultry swagger of Michael Feinstein and the dreamy resonance of Paul Anka.  His refreshing interpretation of "In My Life," penned by the Beatles, revitalizes...

Album:  Fool's Journey Artist:  Matt DeMerritt Label:  Self-Released Website:  http://www.mattdemerritt.com/ An assortment of original tracks and cover tunes, saxophonist Matt DeMerritt steps out as a solo artist on his latest release Fool's Journey .  Supported by a montage of musicians, DeMerritt delves deeper into the contemporary jazz palette, whipping up works that shimmy, swing, and serenade at various times throughout the recording.  From the uplifting shindig-style treads of "Elixir" to the lounging swivels of "Venice Lullaby," DeMerritt makes music that fits into the listener's home life. The sedate sonorous of DeMerritt's saxophone navigates daydreamy inclines along the slow and twisted course set by bassist Kaveh Rastegar and drummer Gene Coye through "Loner's Waltz," illustrating immense control and a penmanship for graceful phrasing.  The capricious swivels of DeMerritt's saxophone toots shaping "Limbo" cultiv...

Album:  The Portal Artist:  Thor Polson Label:  Self-Released Website:  thorpolson.com Pianist Thor Polson takes listeners through an imaginative portal into utopian sounding worlds on his latest offering The Portal .  His rapport with the musicians on his recording displays a refined choreography, resonating a soothing stroke throughout. Even the ruffled twirls of Dana Mathewson's soprano saxophone on "Sparrow" are soothing, assuaging listener's senses with a lulling caress.   The balladry stride in Polson's keys strolling elegantly along “Norwegian Blue” has a meditative glint. The composition is a tribute to the majestic and often misty landscape of southern Norway.  The suave and casual amble of Polson's keys amplify a Dave Brubeck-esque quality in “Beyond Pettus Bridge: A Dream Deferred” while the furling toots of Jeff Keys's trumpet and Keith Nance's tenor saxophone add thickness and movement to the track.   The swirling motions of Steve Wat...

Album:  Pathways Artists:  Dave Anderson and Mike Wingo Label:  Self-Released Website:  https://daveandersonmusic.com/home Pathways, the sophomore release from the team of pianist Dave Anderson and percussionist Mike Wingo  is laden with contemporary jazz passages.  Anderson's flights on the keys travel into ethereal planes as the flexing rhythmic patterns of Wingo's percussion provide a warmth berth for the euphoric jaunts.  They produce a spellbinding harmony through a steady flow of improvisations and structured motifs.    Their track "The Leprechaun's Jam" is a melodic fusion of bongo-style beats and chamber music-inspired phrasing.  The pairing of these two voices is deeply magnetic and charmingly compatible.  The dialogue formed between Anderson and Wingo through "Lament" has a natural fluidity, part sobbing and part elevating.  The prismatic facets of Anderson's keys illuminating "Perspective" have a calming flicker tha...

 Album:  You, Me & Cole Artists:  Noa Levy and Shimpei Ogawa Label:  Self-Released Website: noalevylive.com                basshipogw.wixsite.com/shimpeiogawa An emotive chantueuse, singer Noa Levy is paired with upright bass player Shimpei Ogawa on their latest CD You, Me & Cole , The recording consists of the duo's interpretations of some of Cole Porter's most memorable tunes, fusing traits of caberet blues, torchlight jazz, and Broadway style burlesque.  The arrangements reflect the duo's melodic sensibilities for playful nuances and whimsical improvisations.   Levy's sensuous vocal phrasing through "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" purrs like a siren leading the Broadway show Gypsy.  The pair's mixture of sultry tango and beefy klezmer form a complementing harmony that resonates a American jazz feel with an European flare.  The pulsating beat of Ogawa's bass driving  the s...

Album: The Story Behind the Story Artist:  David Boswell Label:  My Quiet Moon Website:  https://www.davidboswell.com/ The warm aesthetics of David Boswell's guitar playing is magnetic.  His latest CD The Story Behind the Story emanates soothing sensations from beginning to end, keeping the listener in his clutches. Joined by Mitchel Forman, Scott Kinsey  and Otmaro Ruiz  on piano, MB Gordy and Gary Novak on drums, Jimmy Haslip and Bart Samolis on bass, and Andy Snitzer on saxophone, the recording cleanses the mind of clutter and bathes the senses in blissful jaunts.   Track after track feels like a flight through lush soundscapes and leisurely rambles.  Boswell's meanderings on the guitar through the title track pervade an ambient vibe that engulfs the listener is sheer pleasure.  The meditative swells blanketing "Prayer for the Planet" offer solace to the listener, spiking the guitar licks with a hint of flamenco while the guitar patterns ...

Album: Antonio Adolfo Artist: BruMa: Celebrating Milton Nascimento Website:  https://antonioadolfomusic.com If audiences enjoyed the music of singer-songwriter-guitarist Milton Nascimento, they will surely relish Antonio Adolfo's tribute to the Brazilian artist.  A prolific pianist, bandleader, and composer in his own right, Adolfo draws out the delicate beauty in Nascimento's melodies on his latest CD BruMa: Celebrating Milton Nascimento , featuring a talented litany of musicians.  Adolfo's personalized messaging in his keys permeates affection for Nascimento's music, giving the tracks an authenticity that touches the listener. The cascading toots of Jesse Sadoc's trumpet on "October/Outubro" are perched above the tender strokes of Adolfo's keys, bringing out a serenity that is exquisite sounding on the ears.  The reflective mood switches gears to the party atmosphere of "Salt Song/CANÇÃO Do Sal," scaffolded in soaring horns and pulsating be...

Album:  Wide Awake Artist:  Adam Glaser Trio Label: Self-Released Website:  www.adamglaser.com An assortment of standards like Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's timeless tune "My Romance" and Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox's classic pop song "I Got A Name" move alongside originals inspired by masters like Igor Stravinsky and Robert Schumann on Adam Glaser Trio's latest release Wide Awake . Led by pianist Adam Glaser, the trio is rounded out by Pete Coco on bass and Chris Smith on drums. The trio string together a collection of varying tempos from waltzes to sambas. Latin flavors are sprinkles throughout the recording, sprucing up the orchestral components and offering a gentle sprint in the rhythmic patterns.  "If You Don't Mind" is a prime sample of the trio's use of Glaser's Latin-tinged keys, which enliven the rhythmic beat to a warm samba.  The waltzing strokes of Glaser's keys along "November" bring out the glisten...