Album Review: Falling Feels Like Flying from John Korbel

-

Album:  Falling Feels Like Flying
Artist:  John Korbel
Label: Self-Released
Website:  https://johnkorbel.com

Endowed with a voice that raptures with a soulful resonance and sizzles with a bluesy consonance, vocalist John Korbel shows a sense of rhythm reminiscent of Teddy Pendergrass.  Korbel's latest release Falling Feels Like Flying is a collection of original material written by him and arranged by Mark Falchook.

A recurring theme throughout the recording displays a leaning towards igniting a romantic mood in the melodies.  Korbel's cool swagger along "Sweet Burning" is spellbinding, fired up by the softly lit tremors of the saxophone.  The music creates a moonlit setting that is amplified in "First Christmas Loving You," as Korbel's vocal inflections produce a cushiony coating.

Korbel's brand of blue-eyed soul, reflective of Michael McDonald, is intensified through "Wheels Up" joined by a jazzy piano vamp performed by Mark Falchook.  "New York All To Ourselves" kindles a fireside ambience as the saxophone lifts the listener into a blissful ether and the trickling notes of Falchook's keys infuse a silky cascade across the melodic progression.

Korbel's vocals transport the listener into a romantic mood catacomb by an idyllic rocking and cushiony coating.  The compositions blend blues, soul, and smooth jazz into a refined mixture.

Musicians:
John Korbel - lead vocals and guitar
Mark Falchook - keyboards
Steve Luciano - guitars
Ezra Henry - drums
Marco Bojorquez - bass
Alain Bradette - tenor and soprano saxophones
Sam Zambito - trumpet
Derrick Harris - trombone
Chris West - saxophone and woodwinds
Kyle Schroeder - saxophone and flutes
Carmen Harrell & Sam Reckart - background vocals



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Album Review: Becoming Marlene Dietrich from Myriam Phiro

-
Image
Album:  Becoming Marlene Dietrich Artist:  Myriam Phiro Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.myriamphiro.com Smooth jazz vocalist Myriam Phiro introduces a new generation of music listeners to jazz standards that made Marlene Dietrich famous in her time from the 1920's to 1940's with Phiro's new release Becoming Marlene Dietrich .  Although Phiro immerses herself in melodies that had been Dietrich's trademark tunes, Phiro tailors the songs to her likeness.  Her illustrious mezzo-soprano register is higher on the vocal spectrum than Dietrich's contralto pitch, which stamps the tracks with her own unique nuances and inflections.  Her treatment of the verses is finessed with a distinctly soft, feminine touch and a delightfully, hypnotic resonance, setting her style apart from Dietrich's. Her vocals cradle the lyrics of "Quand L’Amour Meurt," written by Georges Crémieux and Octave Millandy, with a warmth that penetrates the listener's soul as Hyuna Park...
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