Maggie Herron - Between the Music and the Moon

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:00
Size: 120,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:22) 1. Wolf
(4:47) 2. I Can't Get to Sleep
(5:09) 3. Between the Music and the Moon
(3:53) 4. Seduction
(3:28) 5. Ritmo Latino
(3:26) 6. Notre amour
(4:26) 7. In a Heartbeat
(4:54) 8. I'll Never Leave Your Side
(3:43) 9. Another Dose of You
(5:10) 10. Let Him Stay
(4:46) 11. After All the Time
(3:51) 12. I Lie Just a Little

While her previous album included a healthy dose of standards, for her new CD Between The Music & The Moon, singer-songwriter Maggie Herron wanted to focus on original material. The results are 12 songs that range between Latin dance to bluesy romps and sultry ballads. Herron's songwriting skills are evident from the start and her deep, rich voice takes the listener on a musical journey.

On the opening number "Wolf," a slinky horn intro gives way to a smoky vocal from Herron with clever lyrics from her daughter Dawn (Who contributed to several tracks). Think "Fever" stylistically, though with more musical accompaniment. "I Can't Get To Sleep" is an ode to insomnia. Sung over an incessant, almost marching band drum pattern from Abe Lagrimas. Lagrimas pulls double duty on the song, delivering a Spanish-inspired solo on ukulele while Herron gives a tasteful piano solo of her own.

The Latin theme continues on "Seduction" and "Ritmo Latino." The former lives up to its name with a sultry vocal from Herron while the latter finds her shifting effortlessly between English and Spanish over a danceable rhythm and strong horns. Grant Geissman channels his inner Carlos Santana from a strong guitar solo on "Seduction."

For the title track, Herron gives a breathy vocal with angelic harmonies courtesy of Denise Donatelli. This pretty ballad showcases a subdued, yet effective flugelhorn solo from Ron Stout. The musicianship, both here and throughout, is top notch, with the players never getting in the way of the songs.

The breezy ballad "Notre Amour" finds Herron singing in French, giving a passionate vocal with pretty trumpet from Ron Stout. The album closes with "I Lie Just A Little." This bluesy track finds Herron accompanied by Dean Taba on bass, who delivers a killer bass line to back Herron's soulful vocals. Between The Music & The Moon showcases Herron's considerable talents as a singer-songwriter. While the songs may all be new to listeners, the potent music and singing definitely makes this album worth a listen. http://blindedbysound.com/reviews/cd-review-maggie-herron-between-the-music-and-the-moon/

Between the Music and the Moon

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Eddie Daniels & Roger Kellaway - A Duet Of One

Styles: Clarinet And Piano Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:10
Size: 167,8 MB
Art: Front

( 8:51)  1. I'm getting Sentimental Over You
( 7:39)  2. Slow Dance
( 7:32)  3. Adagio Swing
(11:16)  4. I want to Be Happy
( 7:32)  5. New Orleans
( 6:12)  6. This is the Time
( 6:10)  7. After You've Gone
( 8:11)  8. Blue Waltz
( 4:29)  9. Love of My Life
( 5:16) 10. We'll Always Be Together

In 2005, longtime collaborators Eddie Daniels and Roger Kellaway reunited at Los Angeles' Jazz Bakery to try their skills without the comfort of bass or drums. Luckily, they were up to the challenge more than ever. The result, A Duet of One, presents two musicians who blend melody and spontaneity so well that they could improvise a symphony together. From the first moments of "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You," Daniels and Kellaway establish a foundation that only grows tighter, as the clarinet asks and the piano answers through the head. Both play with a delicate touch. Paquito D'Rivera writes, in his excellent liner notes, that the two had never played the tune before, making the result still more impressive. Piano and clarinet swap unaccompanied solo statements with the ease of dialogue, slowing tempos and changing dynamics, before returning to the classic melody. Kellaway is a real treat to hear, an underrated player with a sound that mixes touches of Art Tatum and Tin Pan Alley with distinctly modern swing. He consistently finds the right spot for every key, up and down the board. Meanwhile, Daniels' flawless technique belies the subtlety of his tone. His sound is always clean, whether at deep lows or glass cracking highs. At any given moment, he can quote delicate classical repertoire, or reach down for some soul, as he does on "Adagio Swing" with bluesy catcalls and fingers flying.

But for all the individual abilities on display, the songs live on the give-and-take between players. An 11-minute "Why Was I Born?" transforms the original tune into lyrical repartee. The conversation is carried by a chromatic triplet motif that passes from clarinet to piano, and vice versa, like a warming bottle. They pull it through the octaves, mix in clever twists, and make redefining a standard seem easy. "New Orleans" finds Daniels' clarinet laying sweet improv with soft dynamics, suggesting a big city mournfulness brought down South. The stalking steps of "This is the Time," repeated in round, leap into a tremendous Kellaway solo, full of subtle, angular choices. Both players swap flourishes and trills before launching into a rollicking "After You've Gone" that features wild clarinet blowing. The sound is decent for a live album. Some of Kellaway's wonderfully subtle touches are nearly lost, particularly on a subpar sound system. Daniels sounds perfect though, down to the whispery clicks of his keys, and the crowd is warm without being overbearing.

The mellow "Blue Waltz" is a masterpiece of breathy intonations and romantic piano flourishes. The set closes with "We'll Always Be Together," an upbeat, Latin-tinged number. Daniels puts on a show of elegant technique as Kellaway eases him along to a rousing end. But before the melody is fully restated, Daniels breaks away to once again recreate the tune, as if a few extra lines need adding before he hops offstage. It's a fitting end to a deeply enjoyable album. ~ Warren Allen  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/a-duet-of-one-eddie-daniels-ipo-recordings-review-by-warren-allen.php

Personnel: Eddie Daniels: clarinet; Roger Kellaway: piano.

A Duet Of One

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Lori Williams - A New Book

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:38
Size: 124,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:03) 1. A New Book
(4:54) 2. New Day
(5:09) 3. Demais
(5:29) 4. Freely (Test the Waters)
(4:27) 5. I Can't Tell You Why
(5:20) 6. Let's Stay Together
(7:17) 7. Ukuphila (The Healing Song) - Joburg Mix
(4:05) 8. New Day - Radio Edit
(4:03) 9. I Can't Tell You Why - Radio Edit
(4:36) 10. Demais - Radio Edit
(4:09) 11. Freely (Test the Waters) - Radio Edit

Setlist unabashedly plays favorites, and Lori Williams is by any measure near the top of the favorites list. This D.C. vocalist’s instrument contains the kind of nuances that one could get lost in. She has the kind of attenuation and subtlety that we associate with jazz singing instantly a kind of jazz-vocal ‘discipline,’ for lack of a better term. But Williams slips in hints and sometimes dead give aways that she has packed away the kind of soul power that would make her a tremendous R&B or gospel singer. Perhaps it’s a sort of vocalist’s twist on Ernest Hemingway’s “iceberg theory”: What you hear on the surface is only about 10 percent of what’s really there. As it happens, what is there is crystalline clarity, perhaps the most precise articulation of any singer in town, and a range that will, when she runs it, produce shivers. "She's got a soft-edged, creamy voice that's a natural vehicle for introspection, but also one that you could happily curl up and get lost in. It's stunning, supple subtle, sumptuous, soulful music - let's call that the five Ss of Lori Williams, shall we?"~Michael J. West - The Washington City Paper https://www.lorijazz.com/

"A NEW BOOK is a wonderful collection of thoughtfully crafted messages of love and new beginnings. Lori Williams' beautiful voice glides soulfully and effortlessly across a smooth and inviting rhythmic landscape with messages of abundance, joy, and affirmation. This project is food for the soul and a soundtrack for your daily groove!" ~ Dianne Reeves

A New Book

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