Monday, September 27, 2021

Patti Wicks - Love Locked Out

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:42
Size: 139,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:26)  1. Love Locked Out
(4:27)  2. After You
(4:45)  3. I Have the Feeling I've Been Here Before
(4:36)  4. An Empty Glass
(4:54)  5. Body And Soul
(3:41)  6. Where Were You in April?
(4:53)  7. If You Could See Me Now
(4:09)  8. I Never Told You
(5:09)  9. It Never Entered My Mind
(2:42) 10. I Told You So
(3:51) 11. Would You Believe?
(4:14) 12. Blue Gardenia
(4:56) 13. When Summer Turns To Snow
(2:52) 14. On Second Thought

The term “torch singer” isn’t heard much nowadays but it’s an apt description of Patti Wicks, who sings from the heart, not the ego and plays great piano too. She’s at her best on this album of sad-eyed ballads that, in her words, “expresses the driving force of all humanity, the need and desire to love and be loved.” The moods of love vary from euphoria to heartbreak, and it is the latter emotion on which most of these songs are based. Wicks’ husky voice and unassuming style are perfectly tailored to express that painful sentiment, and she gently summons the listener to feel the sadness and the pain in every lyric.  Unlike most other contemporary singers (those who have read my reviews know how I feel about them as a whole), Wicks doesn’t bend or alter a lyric to suit her purpose, nor does she forswear passion for pyrotechnics. She simply sings, allowing the words to flow freely from a wellspring of knowledge and experience that is known as living. Her range is somewhat limited, leading one to wonder if she’ll be able to reach that next note, but she always does. In that respect, Wicks reminds me of Fred Astaire, Louis Armstrong or Jimmy Durante, three others whose voices seemed unfit for singing until one heard them sing. As each of them proved, and Wicks affirms, when it comes to getting the most out of one’s pipes, there’s a lot to be said for sincerity and soulfulness. Besides singing and playing marvelously, Wicks has a knack for uncovering and burnishing long-neglected nuggets, and there are a number of them here including Cole Porter’s “After You,” Ray Noble/Max Kesler’s “Love Locked Out,” Luiz Bonfa/Dick Manning’s “An Empty Glass,” two gems by Duncan Lamont, “Where Were You in April?” and “I Told You So,” and two more by Cy Coleman (“On Second Thought” and “Would You Believe?“) More familiar but no less charming are Rodgers and Hart’s “It Never Entered My Mind,” Tadd Dameron’s “If You Could See Me Now” and Bob Russell/Lester Lee’s “Blue Gardenia.” Wicks is accompanied on most selections by bassist Keter Betts and drummer Joe LaBarbera, who do what is necessary while keeping a decidedly low profile, as befits the album’s wistful makeup. In reviewing one of her earlier albums ( Room at the Top ), I portrayed Wicks as “an uncommonly gifted Jazz pianist who deserves far wider recognition and applause than she’ll probably ever earn.” Aside from amending the description to read “pianist-slash-singer,” that opinion remains unchanged. ~ Jack Bowers https://www.allaboutjazz.com/love-locked-out-patti-wicks-maxjazz-review-by-jack-bowers.php
 
Personnel: Patti Wicks, vocals, piano; Keter Betts, bass; Joe LaBarbera, drums.

Love Locked Out

Milt Jackson, J.J. Johnson, Ray Brown - Jackson, Johnson, Brown & Company

Styles: Vibraphone, Trombone, Bop
Year: 1983
File: MP3@VBR ~253K/s
Time: 38:36
Size: 75,8 MB
Art: Front

(8:27) 1. Jaybone
(5:04) 2. Lament
(5:49) 3. Our Delight
(5:34) 4. Bags' Groove
(4:48) 5. Watch What Happens
(5:10) 6. My One And Only Love
(3:41) 7. The Jumpin' Blues

The interplay between vibraphonist Milt Jackson and trombonist J.J. Johnson is the main reason to acquire this set. With fine backup from pianist Tom Ranier, guitarist John Collins, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Roy McCurdy, Jackson and Johnson are in top form on a variety of bop standards, including Johnson's "Lament," "Our Delight," "Bags Groove" and "My One and Only Love." Enthusiastic, consistently swinging music from some of the best.~Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/jackson-johnson-brown-company-mw0000188200

Personnel: Trombone – J.J. Johnson; Vibraphone – Milt Jackson; Bass, Producer – Ray Brown; Drums – Roy McCurdy; Guitar – John Collins; Piano – Tom Ranier

Jackson, Johnson, Brown & Company

Pat Metheny - Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV)

Styles: Guitar Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:45
Size: 144,5 MB
Art: Front

(13:47) 1. It Starts When We Disappear
( 5:26) 2. Better Days Ahead
( 7:12) 3. Timeline
( 5:34) 4. Bright Size Life
( 6:16) 5. Lodger
( 5:07) 6. Sirabhorn
( 7:43) 7. Turnaround
(11:37) 8. Zenith Blue

Pat Metheny burst onto the jazz scene in the 1970s as a guitar wunderkind, playing in vibraphonist Gary Burton’s band before establishing a career as a leader that’s been successful and influential by every conceivable metric. Now, with his new band Side-Eye, the 67-year-old guitarist is working with a rotating group of younger musicians. In the press materials for Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV), he explains that when he was a young player himself he’d benefited from older musicians like Burton hiring him and giving him a chance to develop through what he described as “the prism of their experiences.” He’s now interested in playing with those of a different generation “where there seems to be some kind of kinship happening.”

A live album recorded in New York City before the pandemic hit, Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV) spotlights two gifted rising stars: pianist/keyboardist James Francies and drummer Marcus Gilmore. More than half the album contains new material, and the rest features novel takes on some of Metheny’s older compositions. The trio enthusiastically dives into and explores a range of musical styles, bookending the collection with two new pieces: the electronica-tinged “It Starts When We Disappear” and the kaleidoscopic “Zenith Blue.” Originally featured on saxophonist Michael Brecker’s 1999 album Time Is of The Essence, “Timeline” gets turned into a soul-jazz outing here, and Metheny delivers some ferocious rock guitar on “Lodger.”

Metheny and his bandmates bring energy and fresh perspectives to the music on this album, whether it’s previously unheard or a decades-old favorite. The Side-Eye concept is a great setting for the leader, and a dream gig for any young musician who gets to play in the group and benefit from Metheny’s experience the way he benefited from his elders all those years ago.~ Lucy Tauss https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/pat-metheny-side-eye-nyc-v1-iv-modern/

Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV)