Thursday, March 19, 2020

Carrie Wicks - Reverie

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:09
Size: 125,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:36)  1. A Love for Just Part
(4:44)  2. Paginas En Blanco
(3:51)  3. Wide Open
(5:07)  4. Shadow Play
(5:08)  5. Some Other Spring
(5:34)  6. Spider Rain
(4:00)  7. Elephant in the Room
(3:44)  8. Remember
(5:48)  9. Safe in This World
(4:07) 10. Late June
(3:51) 11. A Secret Place
(4:33) 12. Meet Me at No Special Place

Seattle-based vocalist Carrie Wicks is back with her fourth effort on the Origin label, and while there are many similarities stylistically with her previous efforts, Reverie more draws from the original compositions of Wicks and her partners Ken Nottingham and Nick Allison.  One of the commonalities between the recordings is Wicks' insight into putting together a top shelf unit on her behalf. Even more so, including pianist Bill Anschell in the mix is a particularly astute move, considering Anschell's stellar reputation with vocalists earned from his time as pianist/musical director for Nneena Freelon. The band rounds out with trailblazing bassist Jeff Johnson, uber talented drummer D’Vonne Lewis, and perhaps the perfect foil for Wick's dark narrative vocal style, saxophonist Brent Jensen.  "Wide Open" encapsulates the vibe of the album, with Wicks swaying through a melodic drift in her signature dark, poetic, conversational delivery. As with all of the lyrical content, the storyline is personal, observational, and an essential part of the listening experience. "Spider Rain" begins with Lewis' mood setting opening, unfolding into Wicks' introspective presence.

As is true throughout the album, the harmonic framework provided by the aforementioned cast is exquisite. The reflective vibe of the record continues with "Paginas en Blanco," musing on stories never told in both English and Spanish. Jensen and Anschell offer brief solos, both rich in melodic lyricism. "Safe in the World" typifies the compositional approach for the ten originals included staying well within Wicks' strengths as a vocalist while stressing an open ended melody allowing free verse expressionism, with less emphasis on dynamic range. There is a real cafe style vibe, that feels like late night in a hipster setting. Reverie requires the listener to connect with the poetry of the narrative, or the experience is lost. The exquisite playing of the band, both in support and in soloing, is what allows the listener to connect the dots verse to verse. The qualities that are original and unique in Wick's vocal style are as well what tends to draw the listener away into a circular continuum. While the writing is smart, and intimately soul reflective, the vibe of the record seldom strays from that allure. The album lacks a fuller spectrum of musical and emotional colors that would create a broader audience experience. While this gathering of superb west coast musicians provides a formidable foundation for this collection of poetically nuanced tunes, they are seldom given the opportunity to stretch out and fully display their collective talents as they often do in Wicks' live performances. Wicks' music exposes her literary roots, and abilities as a storyteller. Reverie was created in that spirit.~Paul Rauch https://www.allaboutjazz.com/reverie-carrie-wicks-oa2-records

Personnel: Carrie Wicks: vocals; Bill Anschell: piano; Jeff Johnson: bass; D'Vonne Lewis: drums; Brent Jensen: soprano & alto saxophones.

Reverie

Joel Paterson - Let It Be Guitar! Joel Paterson Plays the Beatles

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:29
Size: 101,4 MB
Art: Front

(2:11)  1. All My Loving
(1:53)  2. From Me to You
(2:35)  3. And I Love Her
(2:39)  4. This Boy
(2:23)  5. If I Fell
(2:56)  6. Michelle
(2:54)  7. Girl
(2:49)  8. Things We Said Today
(3:12)  9. Honey Pie
(2:47) 10. I Don't Want to Spoil the Party
(2:43) 11. No Reply
(3:45) 12. Can't Buy Me Love
(4:17) 13. Drive My Car
(2:53) 14. Because
(3:02) 15. Something
(0:23) 16. Her Majesty

As a follow up to his well-revered holiday album Hi-Fi Christmas Guitar, Joel Paterson will release a collection of vintage instrumental, guitar-centric covers of songs from the Beatles' catalog, entitled Let It Be Guitar! Joel Paterson Plays The Beatles. The album - out on September 20th - features the guitarist's signature blend of vintage jazz, exotica, blues, rockabilly, western swing and country, and uses classic Beatles songs as a sonic template for the mid-century musical journey. The album's pre-order link is live on both Joel Paterson's and Bloodshot Records' sites. In addition to the announcement, a sneak-peak stream of the song "Michelle" was launched today via the label's site. Let It Be Guitar! Showcases fresh new arrangements of these familiar tunes, employing a wide variety of musical styles and guitar sounds, paying tribute to Paterson's biggest influences including Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Jorgen Ingmann, James Burton, Buddy Emmons, Ernest Ranglin and many more. Of the inspiration for the album, Paterson says, "This is the guitar record I've always wanted to make. 

I love the Beatles and their artistry and attention to detail in the recording studio-and I love all-things-guitar. So, I had a great time diving into these amazing songs, coming up with my own arrangements, and at the same time paying tribute to some of my favorite guitarists and vintage recording techniques of yesteryear." The album's liner notes were written by singer/songwriter and fellow vintage appreciator J.D. McPherson and give further explanation of the project, "Each of Joel's interpretations of these songs are concise, genre-bending, stylish tone poems, mixing both Joel's and the Beatles' own century-spanning inspirations into one zesty musical stew. Contained within certain tracks, you may even find nods to OTHER instrumentalists who have delved into the Beatles' body of work... It's almost the meta-sonic equivalent of a Liverpudlian Rube Goldberg drawing." Recorded in Chicago at Reliable Recorders and at Paterson's home studio, Let It Be Guitar! #features Joel on guitar, pedal steel, and lap steel; Beau Sample (Devil in a Woodpile, The Modern Sounds, The Fat Babies) on bass; Alex Hall (The Flat Five, The Western Elstons, The Fat Babies) on drums; and Chris Foreman on Hammond B3 organ. One of the busiest musicians on the roots music scene today, Paterson can be heard playing with The Modern Sounds, The Joel Paterson Organ Trio featuring Chris Foreman, Devil in a Woodpile, The Western Elstons, and many other Chicago-based projects. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Joel-Paterson-Plays-Beatles/dp/B07WHMQ9CX

Let It Be Guitar! Joel Paterson Plays the Beatles