Chris Bennett - Girl Talk

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:19
Size: 87,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:14)  1. Girl Talk
(4:15)  2. Caravan
(5:01)  3. I Will Wait for You
(5:04)  4. I Wish You Love
(3:41)  5. I Thought About You
(3:51)  6. The Man With a Horn
(3:19)  7. Nice and Easy
(3:05)  8. That Old Black Magic
(2:04)  9. Can't We Be Friends
(3:41) 10. Desafinado

A stunning collection of jazz standards by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Chris Bennett singing and playing piano and accompanied by all female jazz musicians. Produced by Tom Saviano.

Chris Bennett is, today, a name synonymous with the international success and commercial appeal of the southern California contemporary jazz music scene. With the Summer 2008 release Girl Talk, her 10th studio CD release, she has secured a revered place as one of an intimate handful of successors to Peggy Lee, June Christy, Anita O\'Day and the classic American female jazz vocalists...Cont... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bennettchris4 

Girl Talk

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Chris Bennett & Bill Marx - Something Wonderful

Size: 100,5 MB
Time: 36:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. How Do You Keep The Music Playing (3:29)
02. I'm Glad There Is You (4:49)
03. My One And Only Love (4:27)
04. Something Wonderful (2:46)
05. I Have Dreamed (3:38)
06. The Summer Knows (4:16)
07. September Song (4:34)
08. Goodbye (4:27)
09. We'll Be Together Again (4:12)

At the recent recording session for Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Chris Bennett’s 12th studio release, there was a feeling between the small group gathered ‘round the baby grand piano where Bennett and veteran pianist, Bill Marx, were seated, that we were witnessing an impromptu jam session between two jazz masters at play rather than a couple of musicians at work. It was dusk in the desert, and the dimming December light set the mood of a New York supper club at closing time, after all the customers had gone and the last cocktail glass cleared. The venue was actually Bennett’s new digs: the historic Loretta Young estate in the “Deepwell” part of Palm Springs where singers from a bygone era like Julie London and Ginny Simms dwelled among Hollywood luminaries as fabled as William Holden and Elizabeth Taylor, once upon a yesterday. Bennett purchased the one-time home that the two-time Academy Award-winning actress shared with her husband, Oscar-winning costume designer Jean Louis, in 2015. Christening it “Villa Loretta”, Bennett has since transformed the large, elegant formal living room into an intimate event space that has hosted the likes of Diane Schuur, Jack Jones, Barry Manilow, and was also featured in a segment for the “Jimmie Kimmel Show”. Tonight, it’s just Chris and Bill with a dozen ballads, a handful of their closest friends and an extra bottle of wine as the sun sets behind the San Jacinto Mountains.

We didn’t know then that “Something Wonderful” would be the title cut of the 9 tunes selected from these sessions captured on that enchanted night, but it has since become Bennett’s first studio release in seven years and a departure from her standard CD releases which can vary from an 18-piece big band replete with strings to a four-piece jazz combo with backup singers and children’s choir. This time it’s just piano and voice, but the acoustic simplicity of the duo is what makes this project her most powerful work to date and also her most intimate. “Something Wonderful” is a quiet collaboration with jazz giant, Bill Marx, heir to Hollywood royalty as the eldest son of Harpo Marx and nephew of Groucho Marx, of the legendary comedy family, the “Marx Brothers”. A musical prodigy, it was the young Bill who actually arranged his father’s most famous repertoire at the harp. “I’m a composer who happens to play the piano; not a pianist who happens to compose,” he teases. He’s actually a musical genius, but tonight he’s accompanying Bennett the way he used to play for Ann Richards, Esther Phillips, and Joanie Sommers in the 1960’s. Tonight it might as well be Nineteen-Sixty-Something. After all, Chris Bennett is time-traveling through the Great American Songbook with Marx as her guide.

Something Wonderful

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Chris Bennett - Less Is More

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:40
Size: 113.7 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[3:23] 1. Drifting
[3:07] 2. Where Do You Start
[3:32] 3. Isnt It Romantic
[4:07] 4. My Foolish Heart
[3:49] 5. Make Me New For You
[3:38] 6. People Will Say Were In Love
[5:46] 7. Dindi
[5:05] 8. Theme From Midnight Express
[4:10] 9. Feels Like A Heartbreak
[3:46] 10. You Never Saw Me Dance
[3:29] 11. Less Is More
[5:40] 12. Some Other Time

Chris Bennett is a versatile singer whose spine-tingling voice generates soft power. She gets her message across with quiet subtlety and always seems to fully understand the words she is interpreting. Although not really an improviser, Bennett is quite effective throughout this ballad album. Singing some older tunes (including "Isn't It Romantic," "My Foolish Heart" and "Some Other Time") and six of her melodic originals (which are generally pop-oriented), Bennett is featured in several different settings. There are some duets with pianist Eric Doney, a few of the other pieces also use guitarist Wayne Johnson, bassist Cliff Hugo, percussionist Bobbye Hall, flutist Gary Herbig, the tenor of Armando Castagnoli and/or violinist Haim Shtrum (who has a pretty tone), and the singer plays piano on three of her songs. With a few exceptions (such as "Make Me New For You"), the emphasis is on slower tempos, but Bennett's sensuous long tones make the record quite listenable. ~Scott Yanow

Less Is More

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Chris Bennett - Bennett On Broadway

Size: 151,4 MB
Time: 64:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2005
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Broadway
Art: Front

01. Come Back To Me (3:49)
02. Just One Of Those Things (2:50)
03. Old Devil Moon (3:48)
04. What Did I Have That I Don't Have (4:43)
05. Losing My Mind (5:59)
06. He Was Too Good To Me (4:33)
07. Summertime (4:15)
08. Wouldn't It Be Loverly (3:04)
09. If Ever I Would Leave You (4:41)
10. September Song (3:15)
11. All Of You (2:38)
12. All That Jazz (2:21)
13. This Nearly Was Mine (2:56)
14. Get Out Of Town (3:22)
15. Fascinatin' Rhythm (2:52)
16. I'll Tell The Man In The Street (4:09)
17. Cabaret (2:08)
18. The Party's Over (3:13)

Chris Bennett is, today, a name synonymous with the international success and commercial appeal of the southern California contemporary jazz music scene. With the Summer 2008 release GIRL TALK, her 10th studio CD release, she has secured a revered place as one of an intimate handful of successors to Peggy Lee, June Christy, Anita O'Day and the classic American female jazz vocalists.

Chris Bennett has 10 CDs available which include a Christmas Jazz CD, a Latin Jazz CD, and an import-only live CD released in 2004. A humanitarian of the first order, she has also co-written and recorded a song in memory of the Holocaust survivors (“Remember), as well as a song in support of gay marriage (“Everybody Has the Right). An outspoken artist for social change and an advocate of community activism, locally and globally, Chris is often called upon to perform in benefit of organizations such as SHARE, The Torch Foundation and many others.

From disco diva to jazz chanteuse, the musical journey of Chris Bennett has been the evolution of an artist come full circle. An accomplished vocalist, songwriter, composer and producer, she recently added Broadway musical composer to her repertoire. Her latest CD GIRL TALK is an homage to the classic jazz recordings of a bygone era. Utilizing string arrangements and an all-girl band, Girl Talk is her finest effort to date and charts the musical, personal and artistic growth of a classic jazz vocalist returning to the songs, the strings and the soul of her mentor and friend, the late Anita O’Day.

Bennett On Broadway

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Chris Bennett - Chris Bennett / Less Is More

Album: Chris Bennett
Size: 104,4 MB
Time: 44:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1993
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Pop/Rock
Art: Front

01. My Funny Valentine (4:00)
02. Shimmy Softly (4:05)
03. Turning Into Love (4:25)
04. Aint No Game (4:13)
05. Roll (3:57)
06. Bus Stop (4:12)
07. Besame Aqui (4:21)
08. Secret Spaces (4:27)
09. And Yet (5:26)
10. Somewhere (5:43)

Chris Bennett is a fine singer based in Los Angeles whose style crosses over between pop and jazz and whose voice can be quite haunting. Both of her parents played piano (her mother was an elementary school music teacher) and she was studying piano and dance by the time she turned five. Bennett majored in music and dance at the University of Illinois and went to graduate school at UCLA. She started appearing in nightclubs at that time and for a period settled in Germany. As a pop songwriter, she was quite successful; her tunes were recorded by top artists in the R&B and pop fields, including Tina Turner. Since returning to Los Angeles, Chris Bennett has recorded as a leader for Renegade and Pacific St. ~Biography by Scott Yanow

Chris Bennett

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Album: Less Is More
Size: 116,1 MB
Time: 49:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1998
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Pop/Rock
Art: Front

01. Drifting (3:23)
02. Where Do You Start (3:07)
03. Isnt It Romantic (3:33)
04. My Foolish Heart (4:07)
05. Make Me New For You (3:49)
06. People Will Say Were In Love (3:39)
07. Dindi (5:47)
08. Theme From Midnight Express (5:05)
09. Feels Like A Heartbreak (4:10)
10. You Never Saw Me Dance (3:46)
11. Less Is More (3:29)
12. Some Other Time (5:40)

Chris Bennett is a versatile singer whose spine-tingling voice generates soft power. She gets her message across with quiet subtlety and always seems to fully understand the words she is interpreting. Although not really an improviser, Bennett is quite effective throughout this ballad album. Singing some older tunes (including "Isn't It Romantic," "My Foolish Heart" and "Some Other Time") and six of her melodic originals (which are generally pop-oriented), Bennett is featured in several different settings. There are some duets with pianist Eric Doney, a few of the other pieces also use guitarist Wayne Johnson, bassist Cliff Hugo, percussionist Bobbye Hall, flutist Gary Herbig, the tenor of Armando Castagnoli and/or violinist Haim Shtrum (who has a pretty tone), and the singer plays piano on three of her songs. With a few exceptions (such as "Make Me New For You"), the emphasis is on slower tempos, but Bennett's sensuous long tones make the record quite listenable. ~Review by Scott Yanow

Less Is More

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Chris Bennett - Sail Away - The Tahiti Sessions

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:26
Size: 97,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:18)  1. These Foolish Things
(3:40)  2. A Day in the Life of A Fool
(3:53)  3. I Get Along Without You Very Well
(3:38)  4. Perfidia
(5:14)  5. Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry
(4:16)  6. Sail Away
(2:55)  7. Won't Let Me Go
(4:31)  8. Besame Mucho
(4:09)  9. I Can't Think About It
(3:47) 10. All For Naught

When it comes to vocal jazz, sometimes simplicity is best. Chris Bennett’s new album, Sail Away: The Tahiti Sessions, exemplifies this rule. Bennett, a singer/songwriter who has been performing since the 1970s, remains an underrated interpreter of jazz standards as well as a creator of new classics. Sail Away’s back-to-basics approach may expose her talent to broader audiences. Bennett began her career as a dancer and choreographer, gradually forming her jazz singing and composition skills. Her break came in 1978, when producer Giorgio Moroder asked her to join his disco group Munich Machine. Bennett emerged as lead singer on their sophomore album, which contained a dance cover of Procol Harum’s “Whiter Shade of Pale.” 

She further explored disco, singing backup on Donna Summer’s hits “MacArthur Park” and “Heaven Knows.” During this time she gained acclaim for co-writing and performing the theme to the film Midnight Express. After forging a successful career as a songwriter, producer, and vocalist for artists such as the Manhattan Transfer, Tina Turner, Rita Coolidge, and Johnny Mathis, she returned to her jazz roots in the early 1990s. Her self-titled 1993 release showcased her jazz vocal skills, and since then has over 10 albums to her credit. Sail Away: The Tahiti Sessions was recorded in 2010, although the songs do not necessarily contain any particular elements of the island. Instead, the album maintains an intimate vibe, with sparse arrangements that effectively showcase Bennett’s smooth, deep voice. “These Foolish Things” features just piano and strings, beautifully arranged to highlight the song’s melody. Bennett gives a heartfelt performance, never over-singing the words. 

A similar arrangement also benefits her interpretation of Hoagy Carmichael’s “I Get Along Without You Very Well,” with Bennett taking a cue from some of the best pop and jazz vocalists: she carefully considers every word in the lyrics, lingering over certain phrases while emphasizing other key words. Again, along with arrangers Eric Doney and Bill Augustine, she retains the song’s grace and simplicity. Not limited to ballads, Bennett also demonstrates her ability to interpret Latin rhythms. Her warm voice wraps around the words of “Perfidia,” while percussionist Ariel Cruz provides a soft, subtle rhythm that perfectly accompanies Felix Vilchez’s deceptively simple piano playing. Like Ralph Sharon, Vilchez knows how to create complicated fills that accent certain parts of the song, yet plays straightforward chords that cushion rather than overshadow the lead vocalist. The classic “Besame Mucho” also benefits from the elegant treatment, with Vilchez’s piano and Armando Castagnoli’s soprano sax perfectly complementing each other. Bennett effortlessly croons in Spanish, the entire production stressing the song’s seductive qualities. In addition to standards, Sail Away: The Tahiti Sessions also includes original compositions. Bennett’s songs seamlessly fit in with the album’s overall tone, with lyrics describing love lost and regained. 

The best of these originals, “I Can’t Think About It,” could become a modern standard. Singing over a gentle samba rhythm, Bennett sings of recovering from a love affair gone sour. “I’m ready for a new romance…Time for me to slam this door/Use the fear, don’t cry anymore,” she croons, the subtle percussion intermingling with the piano and saxophone. The song’s melody lingers long after the album ends. “Won’t Let Me Go” suits a jazz chanteuse, its highly emotional lyrics and intimate arrangement (sans percussion) conjuring images of a smoky room and a vocalist dramatically singing the words, accompanied by piano. Sail Away: The Tahiti Sessions is a pleasant surprise, a stellar collection of standards and originals performed by a gifted, seasoned artist. Perhaps this album will draw more attention to the underrated Bennett, and will demonstrate that sometimes simplicity is the key for creating memorable, inspiring jazz.   http://blogcritics.org/music-review-chris-bennett-sail-away/

Personnel: Chris Bennett: vocals; Eric Doney: piano.

Sail Away - The Tahiti Sessions

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