Sharel Cassity - Fearless

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:57
Size: 101,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:54) 1. Whimsy
(5:26) 2. Fearless
(4:19) 3. North Street
(5:09) 4. Road to Dukhan
(5:39) 5. Surrender
(4:51) 6. Ballad for Roy
(4:35) 7. The Very Thought of You
(3:41) 8. Not a Samba
(5:18) 9. Last Minute

Offering her fifth album as leader, saxophonist Sharel Cassity unveils an aptly titled collection of originals and a couple of standards in an album of special significance and meaning in her life, as she confronted a personal health issue that threatened to silence her musical voice forever. This project is not only about producing a delicious bebop sound one will not soon forget but, it is also a testament to her faith and courage in confronting an illness she refused to fear, and finally defeated. Except for Ray Noble's classic standard "The Very Thought of You," and pianist Richard Johnson's finale tune "Last Minute," Cassity presents seven new originals she penned for this recording while battling Post Lyme Disease. Besides piano man Johnson, also accompanying the saxophonist on this musical journey are Alexander Claffy on bass and Mark Whitfield Jr. rounding out the quartet on the drums.

Holding nothing back, Cassity and crew open up with the rapid-tempo up beat burner "Whimsy" which, adequately describes the fanciful and playful performance of the leader and band on an explosive starter. The title track is no less fearsome just a tad more serious as the saxophonist wields her instrument with force. The bebop sound is in full swing on "North Street," as the mood shifts to a Middle Eastern style reflective of the time the leader lived in Qatar which inspired "Road to Dukhan. The music takes a softer turn on "Surrender" which highlights bassist Claffy and the pianist on marvelous solo moments.

The gentle side of the set continues on the "Ballad for Roy," followed by Cassity's unique version of "The Very Thought of You," and though composed as a ballad, there's plenty of fire from the leader and band on this one. The brief but moving "Not a Samba" contains slight elements of the Afro-Cuban flavor with the leader on soprano and drummer Whitfield Jr. driving the percussive flair of the piece. Taking to the tenor on the finale ("Last Minute") the saxophonist and cast deliver another blistering performance bookending the session with a lot of heat. Loaded with exceptional solo moments from everyone in the quartet, Fearless is an exciting, swinging and vibrant documentation of bebop at its best. Sharel Cassity provides a heart-felt performance drawing from her inner strength and will in conquering a personal obstacle with a musical sword and an intrepid assurance.~ Edward Blanco https://www.allaboutjazz.com/fearless-sharel-cassity-relsha-music

Personnel: Sharel Cassity: saxophone; Richard Johnson: piano; Alexander Claffy: saxophone, tenor; Mark Whitfield Jr.: drums.

Fearless

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Ray Bryant - In the Back Room

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:41
Size: 137,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:06) 1. Lullaby
(4:22) 2. Keepin' out of Mischief Now
(7:16) 3. Black and Blue
(1:45) 4. The Impossible Rag
(6:55) 5. Jitterbug Waltz
(4:38) 6. In the Back Room
(3:04) 7. Little Girl
(6:01) 8. Ain't Misbehavin
(5:09) 9. If I Could Be with You
(4:41) 10. Honeysuckle Rose
(6:00) 11. Easy to Love
(6:38) 12. St. Louis Blues

Solos done live in performance are nothing new for Ray Bryant, but stylistically, this recording does have the masterful, blues-based pianist digging into some new material of his own, along with the music of Fats Waller. Recorded live on two separate dates at Rutgers University, Bryant hints at his blues background on these tracks, but concentrates more on carefully and lovingly constructing Waller's famous melodies. Four of his originals are tacked on as he wends his way through a mostly laid-back set of music that shows he's mellowed with age and wisdom through decades of playing jazz to its professional hilt. He's actually a bit polite on songs like "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" and patient for "Ain't Misbehavin'," but jumps into some witty and classic stride piano, especially on the two-fisted chords of "St. Louis Blues." Originals like the rhapsodic "Lullaby," the active, boogie-styled title track, or the rip-snorting, under-two-minute jam "The Impossible Rag" show Bryant still has chops to burn at an advanced age. Yet the program overall has a relaxed, laid-back feel, best exemplified during the lighthearted Waller number "Black & Blue," or the yearning, slow "If I Could Be with You." Fans of Ray Bryant will be very pleased with this effort, as recent recordings have come few and far between, but this one reinforces his legendary stature as one of the giants of American-based piano jazz music.~ Michael G.Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-the-back-room-mw0001709253

In the Back Room

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Brian Simpson - All That Matters

Styles: Piano Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:31
Size: 98,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:07) 1. So Many Ways
(4:13) 2. What I'm Waiting For
(4:32) 3. Mystical
(5:10) 4. Sunlit Sea
(4:30) 5. A Soft Touch
(3:34) 6. Bonita
(4:14) 7. When I Found You
(3:40) 8. Whisper To Me
(3:50) 9. Daybreak
(4:37) 10. All That Matters

All That Matters is Brian Simpson's 10th full length recording. He pulls from all of his experiences in Jazz, R&B, Funk and Soul, to create an album that is vintage Brian Simpson. Guests in the creative process here include guitarist and labelmate Steve Oliver, keyboardists Nicholas Cole and Oliver Wendell, and saxophonists Najee and Steve Alanis. With the release of All That Matters, Brian Simpson concludes, “I have the greatest job in the world. I simply love the fact that there are people out there in the world getting good feelings from my music. I never take for granted how fortunate I am.” Let's see what's up!

The album begins with So Many Ways. The track has a wispy type of feel, as the strings hit you immediately, and the main piano part grabs your attention. everything is going here with the bass and the funky drums. Simpson turns up the piano play toward the end, to really finish on a high note. What I'm Waiting For is next. Keeping up with Simpson's piano is Steve Alanis on sax. We constantly say that horns enhance the song, and this is no different. The two instruments play well together and the uptempo groove will put a smile on your face.

In Mystical, Najee joins with his flute. This is an R&B based track with some clever drum fills that give the track a modern feel. This song may be the definition of cool for 2021. Simpson breaks it down with Sunlit Sea. Sensuality is front and center, as you can sense the emotion coming out of the piano notes. The trumpet play takes the song up a notch. In A Soft Touch, there is some funky guitar play to go along with piano. Steve Oliver co-wrote and lends his musical talent to the track. The bassline is the standout here, and the track rides the fine line between fun and sophisticated.

Bonita is up next. At first listen, you can sense that he is telling a story of a loved one, and that they have been separated for quite some time. Once again that guitar sound enhances that Latin flair, and quite frankly, we need the song to be about two minutes longer. All That Matters is Brian Simpson's 10th full length recording. He pulls from all of his experiences in Jazz, R&B, Funk and Soul, to create an album that is vintage Brian Simpson. Guests in the creative process here include guitarist and labelmate Steve Oliver, keyboardists Nicholas Cole and Oliver Wendell, and saxophonists Najee and Steve Alanis.

With the release of All That Matters, Brian Simpson concludes, “I have the greatest job in the world. I simply love the fact that there are people out there in the world getting good feelings from my music. I never take for granted how fortunate I am.” The album begins with So Many Ways. The track has a wispy type of feel, as the strings hit you immediately, and the main piano part grabs your attention. everything is going here with the bass and the funky drums. Simpson turns up the piano play toward the end, to really finish on a high note. What I'm Waiting For is next. Keeping up with Simpson's piano is Steve Alanis on sax. We constantly say that horns enhance the song, and this is no different. The two instruments play well together and the uptempo groove will put a smile on your face.

In Mystical, Najee joins with his flute. This is an R&B based track with some clever drum fills that give the track a modern feel. This song may be the definition of cool for 2021. Simpson breaks it down with Sunlit Sea. Sensuality is front and center, as you can sense the emotion coming out of the piano notes. The trumpet play takes the song up a notch. In A Soft Touch, there is some funky guitar play to go along with piano. Steve Oliver co-wrote and lends his musical talent to the track. The bassline is the standout here, and the track rides the fine line between fun and sophisticated. Bonita is up next. At first listen, you can sense that he is telling a story of a loved one, and that they have been separated for quite some time. Once again that guitar sound enhances that Latin flair, and quite frankly, we need the song to be about two minutes longer.

If you want a song to add to your "Lazy Sunday" playlist then When I Found You is the one. This is something you would play while just relaxing with your favorite beverage. Whisper To Me is another R&B based track. This one almost needs a vocalist. If you listen close enough, you almost hear some vocal scats in the background. The title of the track just fits. Listen for the breakdown toward the end. That change is like the icing on the cake. Daybreak gives us that classic Brian Simpson sound, with the mid-tempo groove and his signature keyboard hits. you have some sax fills and drum play that is off the charts. The set concludes with the title track, All That Matters. We get a little EDM groove with this track, and it really reminds us of the late Robert Miles. Contemporary Jazz piano over a dance beat will always be in style, and Simpson knocks this one out of the park! 2021 is giving us some great music, and All That Matters is right there. Ten instrumental tracks with some of the best musicians in the game..there's nothing better than that. Take a listen and enjoy the music. https://thejazzworld.com/review-all-that-matters-by-brian-simpson/

All That Matters

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