Showing posts with label Barbara Ann Van. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barbara Ann Van. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Barbara Ann Van - Special Delivery

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:18
Size: 115,8 MB
Scans:

(5:01)  1. All Blues
(4:15)  2. It Had To Be You
(3:55)  3. Accentuate The Positive
(3:50)  4. Squeeze Me
(4:29)  5. This Nearly Was Mine
(3:40)  6. Funny But I Still Love You
(3:49)  7. If I Had You
(3:52)  8. On A String
(4:39)  9. Maybe You'll Be There
(2:49) 10. Just One Of Those Things
(4:58) 11. Cry Me A River
(4:56) 12. God Bless The Child

This Body of work consists of songs I fell in love with at various points in my life.From 'Cry Me A River" which I first heard on my Dads HIFI by Julie London to " Just One of Those Things" by Rosemary Clooney.  My biggest musical influences in my life have been singers like Judy Garland, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles.I grew up hearing these great singers and knew that I also wanted to sing their music. The Music of the 1940's and 1950's is some of the best music we still have to enjoy today. "Special Delivery" was my first album and it was done in a small local studio in Fort Lauderdale. 

The musicians were all friends of mine and we had a great time recording these out of the norm tunes. Paul Bonman ,piano and keyboards was in my band "The Johnson Boys " in the early 90's and we have always had a special connection. Don Miller on acoustic Bass helped me with arrangements as well as keeping the group tight and focused.Bobby Stern is a very energetic saxaphone player used to playing more  Rhythm and Blues than Jazz but delivered a strong back up for me.Brian Smith on drums kept us all in time all the time.Brian works with many groups in South Florida. 

Linc Lackey and Valerio Conti also joined me for a few tunes adding a different flavor to bass and piano backup for me.Linc was also in my band "The Johnson Boys" and has always been key in song selection for me at times. I hope you enjoy the first album as well as my second album "Her Way" This album was heavily influenced by a dear friend of mine who passed away a couple years ago.He was a very extrordinary pianist, composer, arranger by the name of Jim Belt. He accompanies me on the first two tracks as well as selecting 6 of the 12 songs I recorded. Jim took me under his wing in 1996 in Fort Lauderdale where we first met and mentored and encouraged me to record .He was a special person who now plays in the big jazz band in the sky.Keep the music in your heart always my fans I love you Barbara.   
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/barbaraannvan2

Monday, September 30, 2013

Barbara Ann Van - Her Way

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:28
Size: 145,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:01)  1. I'm Always Drunk In San Francisco
(4:11)  2. My Way
(4:50)  3. You Don't Know Me
(3:19)  4. Hard Hearted Hannah
(4:37)  5. Chains Of Love
(2:54)  6. Nice And Easy
(5:19)  7. This Bitter Earth
(3:26)  8. How High The Moon
(3:04)  9. The Song Is You
(5:22) 10. The Best Is Yet To Come/Imagination
(4:37) 11. Too Close For Comfort
(4:24) 12. Sometimes I'm Happy
(4:02) 13. Makin' Whoopee
(4:36) 14. From This Moment On
(4:41) 15. Good Morning Blues

This album represents months of tears, laughter, Joy, flaring tempers and creativity, we would all do it again in a New York Second. The music is a compilation of Jazz Blues and Ballads some of them done with unique and different arrangements. Mike Orta, piano, keyboards and arrangements delivered a solid tight backup for me. The musicians nicknamed “ Barbara’s Boys “ for this project all have successful careers on their own with various groups here in South Florida. I was fortunate enough to be able to pull them away to go into the studio with me to record music that was near and dear to my heart as well as theirs. Indulge me with a few words about these guys. Mike is Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Performance at Florida International University as well as the FIU Latin Jazz ensemble.He is much in demand here for local gigs and concerts as well.Mike also travels on the road with major names in the industry like Arturo Sandoval. Turk Mauro, saxaphone is a world renown artist who lived in France for 7 years, hails from New York and has several albums of his own on the charts.

Don Miller, acoustic bass is a featured columnist for Bassics Magazine and studied under the late Jaco Pastorious as well as others.He is the bassist of choice for George Benson, Ramsey Lewis and many others. Nicky Orta electric bass, yes he is Mike's brother, has toured the country with numerous big names in the music industry and currently works with Sammy Figueroa Latin Explosion Band,a Grammy Nominee in concert and on his albums. Danny Burger on drums what can I say about my beat man? Hails from New York also. Has worked with many of the greats too numerous to mention, but has made a name for himself in South Florida for over 15 years now also in demand for gigs here. Danny keeps me in time at all times and has the greatest smile you’ve ever seen on a drummer.Every female vocalist down here calls Danny her drummer but he truly is my "beat man" and has been for some time now.He is the drummer of choice on many South Florida Artists recent CD releases. Don Cail on flute from New England has been in several of my bands in the past and Is currently teaching piano and saxophone at a local magnet school in Fort Lauderdale.  

About Barbara……She began singing at the age of 6 on a local childrens radio program, grew up hearing Big Band music and the Great American SongBook all her life. Dabbled in singing rock and country music, but knew she always wanted to sing the great standards of the 1940’s and 50’s. She primarily listens to Frank Sinatra and Rosemary Clooney,Carmen McCrae and Diana Krall.This is her second album and the one that means the most to her, She hopes you enjoy what you hear . For all you Sinatra fans out there, Barbara feels he was the best of the best and honors his memory with her rendition of a few of his classics.Keep the music in your hearts always.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/barbaraannvan