jazz2love

Album:  Hollywood Christmas Artist:  Richard Williams Label:  Self-Released Website:  https://www.richardmusic.com/   https://www.facebook.com/RichardWillliamsMusic/ Composer and multi-instrumentalist Richard Williams rings in the holiday season with his latest release Hollywood Christmas , a 22-track recording comprised of classic Christmas singalong tunes using a palette of big band, swing jazz and orchestral ambiences.  In the vane of Gene Autry, Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, and The Carpenters, Williams revisits traditional holiday music and celebrates its perennial luster. Partly driven by his Mormon faith, Williams exercises his arranging chops by putting his own touch-ups on a handful of well-known and beloved Christmas-themed songs.  Williams sets the cheerful tone of the album with the opening number, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” The song features the sauve voicing of Alex Stiles, a young vocalist whose style and vocal quality i...

Album:  The Shape of Strings Artist:  Wayne Alpern Label:  Henri Elkan Music Website: www.waynealpern.com Wayne Alpern's compilation The Shape of Strings leaves listeners with the impression that they are in the center of Louis XIV's court, hearing a recital performed by a symphony of strings.  There is something so 18th century French classicism about the recording that will make audiences feel like they have gone back in time to an age when beauty was common place and within everyone's grasp.  There is a majestic, royal-like pomp and ceremony quality about the scores that transcends the listener into a fantasy-like realm.  Alpern leads the renowned String Orchestra of New York City on his release, assembling a compilation of compositions that elevates the spirit and pacifies the mind.   Perceivably, influences of jazz ballads are integrated with classical dramatic phrasing on scores like "Serenade 1" and "Serenade 3," projecting an intensity th...

Album:  The Last Train to Desolation Pass  Artist:  Nick Peck Website: http://nickpeck.com https://nickpeck.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-train-through-desolation-pass The Last Train to Desolation Pass from composer/multi-instrumentalist Nick Peck is his second offering in a series of instrumental recordings that presents a story through a juxtaposition of orchestral, folkloric, and jazz styles. Each track depicts a phase in the journey of a steam locomotive through a network of hills and valleys.  Peck may have intended for audiences to picture his motivation to compose the music but whether the listener can picture the pre-conceived images is inconsequential as the music itself is descriptive of an epic voyage.  One that transcends the images Peck intended to convey. "Prelude to Cascadia" starts off the recording with gently tweezed guitar strings performed by Peck, imbuing a flamenco palette.  The beauty emanating from the guitar strings portray a bucolic...

Album: A Walk In The Woods Artist: Terrence Wintersmith Label: Addictive 2 Music Website:  https://terrencewintersmith.com Exotic and sensual, Terrence Wintersmith's compositions on his latest CD A Walk in the Woods are expressive and beautifully crafted.  With all songs written and produced by Wintersmith, the recording wafts of harmonious interludes and relaxing swells.  There are eighteen musicians featured on this debut collection of original jazz compositions by Wintersmith. Included are guest performances by legendary jazz drummer Chester Thompson, Brazilian guitarist Marcel Camargo, and Dave Matthews Band saxophone player, Jeff Coffin.  Marcel Camargo's storytelling-like guitar strings trot along "I'm Always Dreaming,'" whispering sweetly in the listener's ear while perched on the gentle kneading of Eivind Opsvik's bass and Brian Griffin's subdued rhythmic beats.  The sensual curves of Jeff Coffin's saxophone infuse junctures of soar...