Staci Griesbach - My George Jones Songbook

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2021
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:10
Size: 148,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:53) 1. The Grand Tour
(5:04) 2. He Stopped Loving Her Today
(4:41) 3. A Good Year for the Roses
(4:56) 4. He Thinks I Still Care
(4:39) 5. Walk Through This World with Me
(4:57) 6. A Picture of Me Without You
(5:17) 7. Golden Ring
(5:36) 8. Bartender's Blues
(2:55) 9. Why Baby Why
(4:33) 10. Take Me
(3:12) 11. White Lightning
(5:29) 12. You're Still on My Mind
(3:45) 13. Tender Years (Tes Tendres Années)
(4:06) 14. The Race Is On

Some might question why write an All About Jazz review of an album featuring songs made popular by George Jones? Duke Ellington had the answer when he said, "There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind ... the only yardstick by which the result should be judged is simply that of how it sounds. If it sounds good it's successful; if it doesn't it has failed." Staci Griesbach and her colleagues have made good music according to the Duke's criterion.

Growing up on a working farm in Wisconsin, Griesbach heard plenty of country music George Jones, Patsy Cline, Shania Twain, etc. Now living in Santa Monica, she's made jazz vocal recordings featuring the three singers just listed. In 2016 she studied with Celia Vaz in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The range of feelings and genres in her latest recording, My George Jones Songbook, is a testament to her taste and talent in choosing music and musicians for her art.

At first blush the notion of George Jones music as the centerpiece for a jazz recording might provoke discomfort. He is considered the best male country vocalist of his time by many. A self-avowed alcoholic who told mostly melodramatic musical stories, George was damn good at bending the notes and his elbow.

Most importantly, though,, is that this recording is by a vocalist who has taken risks and succeeded. Griesbach's vocal range is exceptional. The first six cuts begin with three of George Jones' melancholy melodramas. She then switches to an upbeat mainstream scat, followed by a Bossa Nova with English and Portuguese lyrics segueing to a Cole Porter preface for Norro Wilson's and George Richey's tune. By the end of the six openers the listener knows the girl can sing.

The lucky #7 cut is reminiscent of Marcus Miller funk and SNL with Kevin Axt on bass, Joe Bagg on organ, Ryan Dragon on trombone, Willie Murillo on trumpet, Brian Clancy on tenor sax and Jake Reed on drums complementing the lyric's sarcasm.

Number 8 in her songbook is James Taylor's "Bartender Blues, a country song penned before country was cool. Taylor once said George Jones could bend notes like a pedal steel guitarist. On Griesbach's "Grand Tour" she bends her voice with the Rich Hinman pedal steel guitar enough to make a grown man or woman cry.

By now you get the idea. My George Jones Songbook is more than a compendium of George Jones' hits. The last six cuts are as varied as the others. "White Lightning" was written by J.P. Richardson, known to most rock'n'rollers as The Big Bopper back in the day. Fiddle player Stuart Duncan is showcased on "Why Baby Why," the closest to pure country music on the recording, understandable since the harmonic obstacles to changing it are, if not insurmountable, unrealistic.

Griesbach's "Take Me" is as close to third stream music as a George Jones song will ever get. She ends the piece with what might be considered a tip of the hat to Judi Silvano and Joe Lovano echoes of smooth jazz in her dialogue with Bob Sheppard on tenor. Griesbach becomes a Francophile by using Johnny Halladay's French lyric for a light and breezy "Tender Years." She finishes that tune via a scat sing-along with pianist Jeremy Siskind.

Mention should be made of the nature of the arrangements. Jeremy Siskind, Tamir Hendelman, Otmaro Ruiz, Willie Murillo, Rahsaan Barber, and Addison Frei show considerable talent in the broad range of styles applied here. An example of their creativity is the use of Artyom Manukyan on cello for "He Stopped Loving Her Today." As an alternative to the pedal steel guitar, the cello adds an artistic element to what country music haters might consider an overwrought tear-jerker.

"He Stopped Loving Her Today" songwriter Bobby Braddock complimented Griesbach on this recording by saying she may have created a new musical genre he called "countryjazz...jazzneck...whatever." No insult intended to Mister Braddock, but as usual, the Duke said it best, speaking about the different kinds of music. "My George Jones Songbook" is good music.
By William H. Snyder https://www.allaboutjazz.com/my-george-jones-songbook-staci-griesbach-staci-griesbach

Personnel: Staci Griesbach: voice / vocals; Tamir Hendelman: piano; Jeremy Siskind: piano; Otmaro Ruiz: piano; Rahsaan Barber: saxophone; Addison Frei: piano; Jake Reed: drums; Kevin Axt: bass; Aaron Serfaty: percussion; Nando Raio: bass, acoustic; Bob Sheppard: saxophone, tenor; Willie Murillo: trumpet; Brian Clancy: saxophone, tenor; Bruce Forman: guitar; Ryan Dragon: trombone; Joe Bagg: piano; Rich Hinman: guitar, steel; Stuart Duncan: violin; Artyom Manukian: cello; John Hatton: bass, acoustic.

My George Jones Songbook

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Ray Brown Trio - Some of My Best Friends Are...Guitarists

Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Guitar Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:04
Size: 152,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:28) 1. Squeeze Me
(3:36) 2. I Want To Be Happy
(5:30) 3. Heartstrings
(3:13) 4. Blues for Ray
(5:12) 5. Fly Me To The Moon
(5:01) 6. The Song Is You
(7:47) 7. Little Darlin'
(6:01) 8. Blues For Junior
(4:27) 9. Tangerine
(6:04) 10. My Funny Valentine
(4:42) 11. Blues For Wes
(6:56) 12. Soulful Spirit

The fifth in Ray Brown's series of recordings pairing his working trio with several different musicians from the same family of instruments (although one volume was exclusively singers) features a half-dozen guitarists, ranging from fellow Oscar Peterson alumni Herb Ellis (who worked with Brown in the pianist's most famous trio) and Ulf Wakenius to veteran Kenny Burrell, as well as seasoned players like John Pizzarelli and Bruce Forman and the rising star Russell Malone. Each song sounds as if the group could be a working quartet, due to the great interaction between the trio and each guest. Pizzarelli shines in a bluesy, strutting take of Duke Ellington's "Just Squeeze Me" (erroneously labeled as Fats Waller's "Squeeze Me") which has a nice series of exchanges between the guitarist and the leader.

Ellis brings back memories of the Oscar Peterson Trio with a heated performance of "I Want to Be Happy" during which pianist Geoff Keezer is up to the task of carrying on where Ellis left off. Wakenius is the guest on a particularly moody take of "My Funny Valentine." Burrell, Forman, and Malone also fare nicely on each of their pair of tracks, so it's very easy to recommend this very enjoyable disc.~Ken Drydenhttps://www.allmusic.com/album/some-of-my-best-friends-are-guitarists-mw0000224992

Personnel: Ray Brown - Bass; Geoff Keezer - Piano; Karriem Riggins - Drums; Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis, Bruce Forman, Russell Malone, John Pizzarelli, Ulf Wakenius - Guitar.

Some of My Best Friends Are...Guitarists

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Bruce Forman Quartet - Pardon Me!

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:18
Size: 110,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:35) 1. Count Down
(5:09) 2. Skylight
(6:07) 3. Pardon Me
(5:45) 4. I Thought About You
(4:15) 5. Blues For Wes
(6:07) 6. Picture Window
(5:58) 7. Autumn Leaves
(4:17) 8. Once Again
(7:00) 9. I Hear a Rhapsody

This strong effort finds guitarist Bruce Forman exploring music that is sometimes adventurous (particularly John Coltrane's "Countdown" and Dave Liebman's "Once Again"), along with some more basic tunes (the ballad "I Thought About You" and his "Blues for Wes"). An added plus to the date is that the quartet (which also includes bassist Jeff Carney and drummer Eddie Marshall) co-stars the superb pianist Bill Childs.~Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/pardon-me%21-mw0000199135

Personnel: Guitar – Bruce Forman; Bass – Jeff Carney ; Drums – Eddie Marshall ; Piano – Billy Childs

Pardon Me!

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Bruce Forman with Joe Henderson - Forman on the Job

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:27
Size: 131,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:51) 1. How Long Has This Been Going On
(5:43) 2. Un Poco Loco
(4:26) 3. Autumn Nocturn
(6:33) 4. Real Life
(4:55) 5. Prisione
(3:32) 6. Last Minute Calypso
(6:12) 7. Lullaby
(5:46) 8. A Night In Tunisia
(5:33) 9. Angels Just Are
(4:29) 10. People Will Say We're In Love
(4:23) 11. I Concentrate On You

Guitarist Bruce Forman's second CD for the small San Francisco-based Kamei label features him with bassist John Clayton, drummer Vince Lateano, and sometimes percussionist John Santos, plus guests. Pianist Mark Levine is on eight of the 11 tracks, tenor great Joe Henderson helps out on four, and steel drummer Andy Narell drops by for two. Although there are three Forman originals and one by Clayton ("Angels Just Are"), the emphasis is on bop-era tunes, including Bud Powell's "Un Poco Loco," "A Night in Tunisia," and a swinging "I Concentrate on You." The beautiful "Autumn Nocturne" is a high point.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/forman-on-the-job-mw0000085142

Personnel: Bruce Forman, guitar; John Clayton, Jr, bass; Vince Lateano, drums; Mark Levine, piano

Forman on the Job

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The Roger Kellaway Trio - Heroes

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:46
Size: 146.0 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[6:23] 1. Killer Joe
[8:33] 2. Cotton Tail
[5:48] 3. I Was Doing All Right
[5:02] 4. Nuages
[8:40] 5. Night Train
[3:38] 6. I'm Smiling Again
[6:11] 7. Midnight Sun
[5:42] 8. Moten Swing
[5:19] 9. 52nd Street Theme
[8:25] 10. Hymn To Freedom

Roger Kellaway: piano; Bruce Forman: guitar; Dan Lutz: bass.

The last we heard from pianist/composer Roger Kellaway was last year, when he dazzled the world with his remembrances as Bobby Darin's musical director (undoubtedly timed to coincide with the release of the Darin biopic Beyond The Sea. Now, we have a dramatic and long-needed tribute to the "drum-less" piano trio (guitar/bass/piano) that dates back to sessions from Art Tatum, Django Reinhardt, the King Cole Trio, and most especially the Oscar Peterson Trio, pre-Ed Thigpen when first Barney Kessel and then Herb Ellis occupied the guitar chair alongside bassist Ray Brown.

Kellaway explains the importance of the "drum-less" trio by noting that "...the difference between a trio with guitar and one with drums is immeasurable. With drums, the pianist is responsible (with the bassist, of course) for the harmony, but guitar is a chorded instrument, and harmonic clashes have to be avoided. The piano-guitar-bass trio is like a chamber-music group. There's more intimacy in the interaction...."

It seems pretty obvious that, although Roger Kellaway has cited several jazz musicians as models, his primary influence was the Oscar Peterson trio, although the are specific references to the King Cole trio ("I Was Doing All Right") and Django Reinhardt ("Nuages"). Save for a Kellaway original, "I'm Smiling Again," the other tunes were recorded by the Peterson group. Kellaway is utilizing the same trio that he worked with on the Bobby Darin project (bassist Dan Lutz and guitarist Bruce Forman). Forman remains one of my favorite underappreciated plectrists, having recorded most of his dozen albums in the 1980s. Kellaway further notes that this is a working trio, and thus he is out spreading the word of the "drum-less" trio as we speak. ~Michael P. Gladstone

Heroes

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Bruce Forman - In Transit

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1982
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 41:12
Size: 76,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:55)  1. In Transit
(7:53)  2. Down The Line
(5:02)  3. Presione
(3:03)  4. Waltzing Matilida
(6:16)  5. Mood Indigo
(4:20)  6. Peace
(4:24)  7. Hold The Bones
(2:16)  8. The Trench

Bruce Forman, who has long been based in Northern California, teams up with organist Ed Kelly and drummer Eddie Marshall (both from San Francisco) on this fine trio set. On "Mood Indigo," Horace Silver's "Peace," "Waltzing Matilda" (which feels a bit like John Coltrane's version of "My Favorite Things"), and five mostly swinging Forman originals, the group sounds both exploratory and tied to the tradition. Although this album is not as memorable as his best dates, every Bruce Forman recording is well worth checking out for fans of the bop guitar.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-transit-mw0000898888

In Transit

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Bruce Forman & Cow Bop - Cowlifornia Swing

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:32
Size: 131.7 MB
Styles: Swing
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[4:24] 1. It's All Your Fault
[5:33] 2. Roly Poly
[3:59] 3. Wahoo
[5:13] 4. Mambo Italiano
[2:58] 5. Cattle Call
[4:54] 6. A Gal In Calico
[5:15] 7. I've Found A New Baby
[4:56] 8. Indian Love Call
[6:10] 9. What Is This Thing Called Love
[3:55] 10. Them There Eyes
[4:09] 11. Someday
[6:02] 12. These Boots Are Made For Walking

The Cowbopsters are back with their fourth album called Cowlifornia Swing, and there are plenty of both western and jazz influences apparent. Much like their last album ("Too Hick for the Room") we hear guitarist Bruce Forman, vocalist Pinto Pammy (Forman's wife), bassist Alex King and drummer Jake Reed. The quintet has also added David Wise on saxophone and cornet. On several cuts, guests fill out the new album with tints of piano, fiddle, trombone, cello, mandolin and accordion. All are hot tunesters with solid credentials. Bruce Forman teaches jazz guitar at USC's Thornton School of Music, and others in the band are (or were) students there. Like their last successful album, Thornton alumnus Doug Gerry produced, and faculty member Andrew Garver mastered.

"Spade" Cooley coined the term "Western Swing" in the early 1940s, and it's interesting that "Spade" was a Los Angeles resident like the members of Cow Bop. He had fortune and fame, but was imprisoned in 1961 for murder. Despite the thousands of bands playing all over the West during the heyday of Western Swing, the genre is most closely associated with Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Cow Bop pays tribute to them with a boss arrangement of "Roly Poly" that wisely includes Phil Salazar's fiddle, the only cut with that classic western swing instrument, albeit played electric on this song.

Cow Bop's approach to bovine boogie also taps jazz standards ("I've Found a New Baby"), pop fare ("These Boots are Made for Walking," "Mambo Italiano"), country ("Cattle Call"), western ("Wahoo"), and some less oft-heard big band tunes ("A Gal in Calico"). The jazz chops predominate in these uplifting tunes and make for an enjoyable listen. We also hear Pinto Pammy's countrified sounds, like yodeling in "Cattle Call" and call-and-response (with David Jackson) in the novelty number "Wahoo." She's also comfortably smooth with a swinging version of "Indian Love Call," quite unlike the rendition done by Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald. Six-minute offerings like "What is this Thing called Love?" and "These Boots are Made for Walking" allow multiple instrumentalists to showcase with improvisation between verses. The arrangements are solid, but I wonder if they write any originals.

While some of Cow Bop's influences are clearly organic and corn-fed, Cow Bop's jazzy twang also provides a copious amount of toe-tapping fun. There may not be many big roadhouses and dancehalls left today, but you can catch this band at fairs, festivals, cafes, rodeos, burger joints and places like the Viva Cantina in Burbank. I haven't ever been there, but I imagine it as a place where young folks, old-timers, friends and neighbors all know each other and gather for listening or dancing the night away. Hailing from busy and heavily populated Southern California, Cow Bop's music conveys a rural ethos, but also demonstrates an urban, contemporary understanding. Cowlifornia Swing is music for dancing so roll up the rug, throw some cornmeal on the floor, invite the neighbors over and throw a party to their music. ~Joe Ross

Cowlifornia Swing

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Bruce Forman - Full Circle

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1984
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:52
Size: 102,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:53)  1. Marshall Arts
(6:18)  2. Helen's Song
(5:23)  3. On The Sunny Side of The Street
(6:15)  4. Skylark
(6:16)  5. Circular
(4:04)  6. Giant Steps
(7:02)  7. Desert Rain
(5:36)  8. Summertime

Features tight guitar from Forman, and some great work on vibes from Bobby Hutcherson! Titles include "Giant Steps", "Circular", "Helen's Song", and "Marshall Arts".  © 1996-2018, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/517378

Personnel:  Guitar – Bruce Forman;  Bass – Jeff Carney;  Drums – Eddie Marshall; Piano – George Cables;  Vibraphone, Guest [Special Guest] – Bobby Hutcherson

Full Circle

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Pat Kelley - Overtones For 2 Guitars

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:46
Size: 139.1 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[7:05] 1. Stompin' At The Savoy (Feat. Bruce Forman)
[5:20] 2. Full House (Feat. Anthony Wilson)
[5:03] 3. Impulsive Blues (Feat. John Stowell)
[7:33] 4. Body And Soul (Feat. John Pisano)
[5:51] 5. If I Were A Bell (Feat. John Storie)
[7:22] 6. Corcovado (Feat. Frank Potenza)
[7:28] 7. Nobody Else But Me (Feat. Peter Bernstein)
[5:35] 8. How Deep Is The Ocean (Feat. Howard Alden)
[6:02] 9. Emily (Feat. Larry Koonse)
[3:21] 10. Minor Inconvenience

In his wide-ranging career, Pat Kelley has appeared on more than 2,000 sessions as a studio guitarist, he has often performed with his friend George Benson, and he has been on many smooth and pop sets. However one should never underrate his talents as a jazz soloist.

On Overtones 4 Two Guitars, Kelley performs one duet apiece with guitarists Bruce Forman, Anthony Wilson, John Stowell, John Pisano, John Storie, Frank Potenza, Peter Bernstein, Howard Alden and Larry Koonse. The music is comprised of straight ahead renditions of standards (plus an original blues) including such numbers as “Stompin’ At The Savoy,” “Body And Soul,” “Nobody Else But Me” and “How Deep Is The Ocean.” Even with all of the different guitarists involved, there is a strong unity and consistency to the set with each performance swinging, featuring some friendly competition and lots of good vibes and interplay.

Overtones For 2 Guitars mc
Overtones For 2 Guitars zippy

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Bruce Forman - Coast To Coast

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:26
Size: 90,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:11)  1. Lover Man
(3:28)  2. Slow Boat To China
(6:23)  3. Her Name
(3:53)  4. Chasin' The Blues
(6:00)  5. Common Touch
(5:09)  6. D.S. Al Detroit
(7:19)  7. Senor Seven

Held in high esteem throughout the international jazz scene, Bruce's experiences range from stints with Richie Cole to playing with Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Ray Brown and legions of other jazz greats. Known for his swinging bebop style phrasing and inventive harmonization's his ability earned him a participation on the music of the Clint Eastwood film 'Million Dollar Baby'. 

Stand out tracks are Slow Boat to China recorded in the Choice New York Studio and Senor Seven, made in San Francisco. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Coast-Bruce-Forman/dp/B006I01JQU

Personnel:  Bruce Forman  (guitar);  Dick Hindman (piano);  Peter Barshay &  Rich Gerard  (bass);  Scott Morris (drums);  Frank Martin (keyboard);  Kent Cohea (flute) .

Coast To Coast

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Bruce Forman Quartet - There Are Times

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:39
Size: 101,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:28)  1. There Are Times
(5:29)  2. Milan K
(4:25)  3. All The Things You Are
(4:50)  4. The Nearness Of You
(5:05)  5. Stella By Starlight
(4:13)  6. Con Alma
(4:33)  7. Strike Up The Band
(4:26)  8. Prelude To A Kiss
(5:05)  9. Little Rootie Tootie

Because he has spent most of his life living in northern California, guitarist Bruce Forman tends to be underrated, if not completely overlooked, but he has always been an exciting bop-oriented player. This outing with pianist George Cables, bassist Jeff Carney, drummer Eddie Marshall and guest vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson has an excellent assortment of songs (including "All the Things You Are," "Strike Up the Band" and Thelonious Monk's "Little Rootie Tootie"), inventive solos, and an upbeat feel throughout. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/there-are-times-mw0000198048

Personnel: Bruce Forman (guitar); George Cables (piano); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); Eddie Marshall (drums); Jeff Carney (bass).

There Are Times

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Bruce Forman - River Journey

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1981
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:23
Size: 110,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:16)  1. River Journey
(7:58)  2. A Simple Waltz
(6:16)  3. Two Bits
(4:04)  4. St. Thomas
(3:31)  5. Chances
(4:58)  6. I Just Got Back In Town
(7:17)  7. Nature Boy

An upbeat album from the early '80s by guitarist Bruce Forman, playing with a group that includes torrid alto saxophonist Richie Cole. His fluid, bluesy solos on fast, mid-tempo, and slow numbers injects some spark into the date, and also makes Forman extend himself. 

~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/album/river-journey-mw0000865857

Personnel:  Guitar, Leader – Bruce Forman;  Alto Saxophone – Richie Cole;  Bass – Bob Magnusson, Rich Girard;  Drums – Scott Morris;  Keyboards – Frank Martin; Piano – Russell Ferrante

River Journey

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