jazz2love

  Christmas Wish from Jonathan Karrant Label:  Virtuoso  Music Release Date:  November 11, 2022 Website:  https://www.jonathankarrant.com Sung with a traditional swinging vibe, vocalist Jonathan Karrant's holiday album Christmas Wish   reacquaints audiences to the blissful atmosphere of classic jazz embers.  His adaptations are smooth and upbeat, eliciting a spiritual revival through "Silent Night O Holy Night" recalling of Elvis Presley's caressing vocals, and turning to a classic smooth jazz climate along "Last Christmas," a fan favorite by George Michael of Wham!   Karrant's duet with vocalist Diane Schuur on "Grown Up Christmas List" is a soothing balm for the ears, as the pair emote a warm affection towards humanity, switching to a slow funky groove along "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," a 1947 hit for Frank Loesser.  Karrant performs a mash up of "I Wander As I Wander/We Three Kings" with the first being a Chri...

  Playing Favorites from Chris Rottmayer Label: Pilars Jazz Release Date: October 17, 2025 Website: https://chrisrottmayer.com Playing Favorites is composer-pianist Chris Rottmayer's sixth album as a leader. His choice of material embraces American adult contemporary and jazz standards by such luminaries as Frank Loesser and Kenny Barron to name a few.  Backed by vocalist Kelsey Wallner along with Clark Sommers on bass and Matt Endres on drums, the recording is gilded in straight-ahead jazz trimmings accented by flecks of Latin shimmer as Wallner contributes a handful of her own original tunes to the assortment.  Wallner's soul-studded bluesy vocalese shapes "On The Street Where You Live" into an memorable arrangement as the sauntering pace of the bass and drums cling to her rhythmic strokes.  The shuffling pace of Rottmayer's keys imbue "Firm Roots" with a straight-ahead jazz revving, turning to a candlelight glow through "Sail Away".  Wallne...