Saturday, March 28, 2020

Maggie Herron - Renditions

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:48
Size: 118,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:34)  1. Centerpiece
(4:05)  2. Ain't Misbehavin'
(4:53)  3. All of Me
(2:42)  4. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps
(3:58)  5. I'm Beginning to See the Light
(4:19)  6. I Will
(4:16)  7. Just One of Those Things
(2:58)  8. Come Away with Me
(3:56)  9. I'll Be Seeing You
(4:24) 10. Don't Wait Too Long
(5:35) 11. I Thought About You
(4:03) 12. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You

Jazz vocalist and pianist Maggie Herron takes a bit of a departure on her latest platter titled Renditions. Her previous four albums featured original compositions but with her latest she has chosen to go the standard route, reinterpreting some classics of the genre with a few surprises along the way. She is the core of her Pacific Rim band which also includes Darek Oles on bass and Ray Brinker on drums. Featured guests include Larry Koonse (guitar), Rocky Holmes (alto sax), Dean Taba (bass), Bob Sheppard (flute) and Noel Okimoto (drums).

The album opens with “Centerpiece” featuring the core trio at its expressive best. Herron’s piano and vocals are a nice match, both endearing with her husky jazz voice, excellent scatting and melodic piano tones. The song locks into an understated groove before piano, bass and drum solos are revealed. With the classic “Ain’t Misbehavin” it’s just Herron and Oles reinterpreting the familiar melody and soaking it in some fabulous piano and bass interaction. One of the prettiest tracks has to be “All Of Me” featuring Koonse’s crystalline leads and infectious rhythmic strums and Holmes’ tuneful alto sax. Just an all-around great track. 

Another heartwarming rendition is of The Beatles’ “I Will” which sounds great in the trio format. Herron’s vocals and piano are particularly convincing and the bass solo fits in like a glove. This is another one of those jazz albums that exudes warmth and thoughtfulness with great care taken, treating these classics with the respect they deserve. A four star release to these ears. https://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=22053

Renditions

Tape Five - The Roaring 2020s

Styles: Swing
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:53
Size: 111,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:12)  1. Party Like Its 1929
(3:33)  2. Ballroom Troopers
(3:40)  3. The Cats Pyjamas
(3:17)  4. Boheme Supreme
(3:14)  5. Saint Pauls Infirmary
(3:30)  6. Happy
(3:18)  7. Lady Moustache
(3:33)  8. I Shot the Sheriff
(3:27)  9. Duesenberg
(3:38) 10. Once Upon a Summernight
(3:17) 11. Why Don't You Just Call
(3:30) 12. Saturday Night Down on the Corner
(3:12) 13. Watch out We're Coming Boys
(3:27) 14. The Diary of Don Geroonibop

The Roaring 2020s“  is TAPE FIVE ́s seventh album. Sepia colored retro-modern screens- hots in music: a vintage car cruise with the instrumental „Duesenberg“, a driving dixie clarinet in „The Cats Pyjamas“. Who ́s that „Boheme Supreme“? A retro uptempo version of R&B hit „Happy“, the beat is waltzing through the hall with „Ballroom Troopers“… The gypsy swing ballad „Once upon a summernight“, and the old black corded phone: „Why don ́t you just call?“ A hommage to Brooklyns good old days „Saturday Night down on the corner“, or a rendezvous with the myste- rious beardy dame in „Lady Moustache“. This is the soundtrack of the roaring 2020s it all starts up with the song:  Party like it ́s 1929! https://electroswingthing.com/tape-five-the-roaring-2020s/

The Roaring 2020s