Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Claudia Morris - Here's to life

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:35
Size: 107,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:59) 1. Here's to life
(3:02) 2. Fly me to the moon
(2:58) 3. Let there be love
(3:36) 4. (You make me feel like) a natural woman
(3:24) 5. Stardust
(4:03) 6. It's too late
(4:27) 7. You've changed
(2:53) 8. For once in my life
(3:50) 9. To make you feel my love
(3:27) 10. Bewitched
(4:30) 11. What are you doing the rest of your life
(5:22) 12. The nearness of you

Claudia s fourth studio album is a collection of songs carefully selected over the last two years so that she may rise to the challenge of finding, not only great classics, but also songs which she could make her own. To complement Claudia s outstanding voice, the arrangements have come from the very talented Matthew Freeman, conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and pianist Liam Dunachie. She has also been fortunate to call on fantastic musicians to make the tracks what they are. As an acclaimed jazz vocalist and West End actress, Claudia has been thrilling audiences with her inimitable style showcasing a range of genres.

Today she is one the finest and most expressive jazz singers in the UK. Claudia trained both as a classical actress at Webber Douglas Academy and as a singer with voice coach Ian Adams. Four years ago she collaborated with pianist and musical director Malcolm Edmonstone, and director and writer Phil Wilmott to create a new show singing and telling the story of Doris Day s life, with guest actors playing the parts of the men in her life. The show, named Secret Love, included some exciting new arrangements of Doris classic hit songs. Claudia toured the UK with this show for many dates over a period of two years. In February 2017 Claudia performed the Doris Day Songbook at the world-renowned Cadogan Hall in London to great acclaim.

This differed to the original show in that there were no actors, but the Hollywood String Orchestra more than made up for it, turning the show into a spectacular concert. In her early career her theatre credits include appearing in the original cast of Buddy in the West End at the Victoria Palace Theatre. Claudia has also performed at The Royalty Theatre, Sadler s Wells, The Liverpool Playhouse and the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre. During a break in her singing and acting career to bring up her children, Claudia directed her creative energies into new arenas with success. Inspired by her daughter s severe food allergies, Claudia developed the first commercially successful allergy-free cake.

Her creation was launched in Sainsbury's stores nationwide, awarded best product by the British Vegetarian Society and given extensive media coverage on Breakfast TV and BBC Radio 4 s Woman s Hour. Claudia also trained and practiced as an accredited psychotherapist. In 2009 she released her debut album Love and Demons. The success of the album prompted her to move into jazz, training with vocalist and singing coach Iain Mackenzie. This led to the creation of her second album Twelve O Clock Tales, which was play-listed by Jazz FM in 2012. In the same year, Claudia released the single Light Up My Life in aid of the charity Allergy UK, which was play-listed at BBC and independent radio stations nationwide. This was followed by her third album, Secret Love, a stunning collection of classic songs made famous by Doris Day. Claudia has gone on to perform live at top London venues including the Leicester Square Theatre, Pizza Express Dean Street, The Pheasantry, The Spice of Life, and The Troubadour. She will be appearing at Live at Zédel in Soho, London.~ Product descriptionhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/HERES-LIFE-Claudia-Morris/dp/B0757HQ8Q2

Here's to life

Mary Louise Knutson - In the Bubble

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:20
Size: 153,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:26) 1. It Could Happen To You
(7:55) 2. Bluesette
(4:47) 3. Bernie's Tune
(7:18) 4. You Are My Sunshine-Luminous
(6:56) 5. Sea Of Qi
(5:01) 6. Can You Hear Me Now
(7:27) 7. That's All
(6:44) 8. You Don't Know What Love Is
(7:55) 9. Talk To Me
(5:47) 10. In The Bubble

Six standards and four originals complete this accessible yet sophisticated mainstream-to-modern collection. Highlights include an Oscar Peterson Trio-style "It Could Happen to You," a McCoy-ish original "Can You Hear Me Now?," an ECM-style original "Sea of Qi," and a gospel version of "You Are My Sunshine." Knutson is backed by longtime collaborators and Twin Cities rhythm icons bassist Gordon Johnson and drummer Phil Hey, with guest appearances by drummers Greg Schutte and Craig Hara. https://www.marylouiseknutson.com/in-the-bubble

"This is timeless, classic piano trio music, right up there with Bill Evans and Bill Charlap."~ Pamela Espeland, bebopified

In the Bubble

Pamela Williams - Sweet Saxations

Styles: Saxophone, Smooth Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:17
Size: 123,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:08) 1. Emerald Eyes
(4:30) 2. Fly Away With Me
(4:58) 3. Amber Skies
(4:56) 4. You Don't Know My Name
(5:26) 5. Temperature's Rising
(4:54) 6. Uptown
(6:08) 7. I'm Playing For Keeps
(4:10) 8. Sweet Saxations
(4:12) 9. Tequila Nights
(5:49) 10. A Kiss To Remember
(4:01) 11. The Seduction

In the 21st century, commercial adult contemporary/smooth jazz radio stations continue to emphasize that which is familiar actually, they emphasize the overly familiar, making certain that they steer clear of anything that is the least bit experimental. That's why Pamela Williams and countless others are so predictable and formulaic; they know that taking risks is a good way to alienate adult contemporary programmers. Nonetheless, some of Williams' albums are better than others and while Sweet Saxations isn't very memorable, it isn't terrible either. The Kenny G.-isms that were part of the picture on some of the saxophonist's Heads Up recordings of the '90s aren't much of a factor on this early 2005 release; outright elevator music is excluded, and Williams' duskier, more R&B-ish side prevails. One could say that Sweet Saxations finds Williams in a Grover Washington, Jr.-influenced state of mind minus Mr. Magic's sense of adventure and spirit of improvisation.

The distinctive Washington, for all his commercialism, was a highly imaginative improviser; Sweet Saxations is full of Washington-influenced grooves, but Williams (who sticks to the alto and soprano saxes and doesn't play any tenor this time) is careful to avoid improvisation. Williams does what Najee and the late George Howard two people she has often been compared to have often done: she goes on automatic pilot and reduces Washington's sound to a formula. The grooves are catchy enough, but Williams' solos never really go anywhere. One track that tells you a lot about this album is a version of Alicia Keys' 2003 hit "You Don't Know My Name"; instead of interpreting the neo-soul gem and making a personal statement, Williams simply offers a note-for-note cover. Sweet Saxations is far from the worst of the mid-'00 smooth jazz releases, but Williams is capable of much more.~ Alex Henderson https://www.allmusic.com/album/sweet-saxations-mw0000353961

Sweet Saxations

Azar Lawrence - New Sky

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:33
Size: 132,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:11) 1. All in Love
(5:20) 2. Peace and Harmony
(5:18) 3. New Sky
(3:32) 4. Ain't No Doubt About It
(6:38) 5. Just Because of You
(6:16) 6. From the Point of Love
(5:48) 7. Birds Are Singing
(4:45) 8. I Really Love You
(5:41) 9. Let It Go
(8:00) 10. Revelation

The veteran saxophonist Azar Lawrence, whose musical credits include Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Marvin Gaye, Woody Shaw and The Earth, Wind & Fire, delves into a variety of material as he channels optimistic vibes into our troubled pandemic times. A deep connoisseur of tradition, Lawrence leads a combo of versatile players who provide him with excellent jazz, R&B and Brazilian-tinged backgrounds.

“All in Love” opens the way with warm colors and a properly defined structure that condensates portions of funk, reggae, post-bop, and a mix of Afro and Middle Eastern feels. Following the sagacious tenor statement, there’s an eruptive rock-inclined guitar solo that brings an extra flavor to the mixture.

Steeped in Brazilian funk, “New Sky” conjures up the energizing spiritual vibes of Kamasi Washington, presenting clever modulations while being brilliantly sung by Lynne Fiddmont. The spirit rejoices with hope, not only here but also on the Coltrane-influenced modal pieces “Birds Are Singing” and “Revelations”. Both are passionately carried out with elliptical soprano flights, but while the former is a newly composed waltz, the latter - thriving with Destiny Muhammad’s refreshing harp plucks, Nduduzo Makhathini’s poised piano playing, and Tony Austin’s syncopated cymbal crashes - is taken from the bandleader’s 2009 album Speak the World.

A different kind of emotion lies at the core of pieces such as “Ain’t No Doubt About It”, a R&B effort with inflectional hip-hop vocals by Bre-Z and expeditious tenor phrasing; “Just Because of You”, a classic soul jazz breeze that will make the fans of George Benson and The Earth,Wind & Fire equally happy; “I Really Love You”, in which a gospel melodic thread is appended to the crossover jazz; and the 1975-penned “From The Point of Love”, whose samba flavor is unequivocal. There’s also “Peace and Harmony”, which, featuring a resonant electric bass solo by Sekou Bunch, mixes Latin, R&B and post-bop essences.

The exciting thing about this album is how effortlessly Lawrence adapts to different styles with the same grandiose positivism. New Sky showcases the leader’s eclectic writing and provides a smooth, pleasant listening that comes right on time to appease minds and spirits. https://jazztrail.net/blog/azar-lawrence-new-sky-album-review

Personnel: Azar Lawrence: tenor and soprano saxophone; Lynne Fiddmont: vocals; Calesha “Bre-Z” Murray: vocals; Oren Waters; vocals; John Beasley: keyboards; Nduduzo Makhathini: keyboards; James Saez: guitar; Greg Poree: guitar; Gregory “G-Moe” Moore: guitar; Destiny Muhammad: harp; Sekou Bunch: bass; Tony Austin: drums; Munyungo Jackson: percussion.

New Sky