Showing posts with label Cindy Bradley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cindy Bradley. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Cindy Bradley - Promise

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:02
Size: 101,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:12) 1. A Little Moxie
(4:30) 2. For The Cool In You
(4:21) 3. Drive
(4:30) 4. Night Flight
(4:25) 5. Gimme The Night
(4:30) 6. Promise
(4:09) 7. Cinco
(4:35) 8. Take The Plunge
(4:20) 9. Ani
(4:25) 10. Evening Zen

Cindy Bradley is back with a new album. It is called Promise, and it is her first set of new music in four years. Bradley always stays current with her sounds and the production is always first class. Greg Manning produced and mixed the ten track effort, which are all originals. Let's check out the songs!

The album starts off with A Little Moxie. The title is apt, as is is sort of a lazy song that also shows off her prowess on that trumpet. We love the layering of the horn parts, and the hook features the piano playing right with the trumpet, which enriches the sound.

If you like those dirty grooves, then For The Cool In You will fit the bill. You will notice the funky drum patch, and Bradley's horn play is really chill. This track shows why Bradley is one of the top horn players out there.

On every album, Cindy is good for an EDM style track. Drive is that song. Some artists have difficulty with some of the uptempo songs, but not Bradley. She can do a whole album of dance style music and we would not be mad at that!

In Night Flight, Bradley takes it down a few notches with a slow jam that will leave a smile on your face. Everything is working here, with the slick guitar, airy chords, and the soothing sounds of the flugelhorn.

Bradley keeps it moving with Gimme The Night. She plays the trumpet, tenor saxophone, and trombone on the track, and the background vocals add an excellent layer to the mix. The overall vibe is chilled, but with a little intensity.

The title track, Promise is next. The bassline will remind you of some of the classic soul tracks of the late 70's and with the flugelhorn, trumpet, and the piano play, this is a track where it all comes together. We get a little festive with Cinco. You cannot go wrong with a little Latin flair on any track. We actually think that this needs an extended version. In Take The Plunge, we get another uptempo track to keep you moving. The horn arrangements are refreshing, and the entire concept of the song is so different than the usual smooth jazz song. you can check it out below.

In Ani, the tempo slows down a bit, and this song just feels like home. Mark Jaimes adds the guitar play, and this is a new song to add to your Stepper's playlist. The set concludes with Evening Zen. Just like the title implies, you can just close your eyes and enjoy the music. You can add this to a Holiday playlist and it will fit right in.https://thejazzworld.com/review-promise-by-cindy-bradley/

Promise

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Cindy Bradley - The Little Things

Styles: Trumpet Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:37
Size: 116,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:45)  1. Wind Chill Factor
(4:55)  2. Stockholm Summer
(4:59)  3. I'm All Ears
(3:47)  4. Snack Grouch
(5:13)  5. Grey Area
(6:15)  6. Surrender
(5:14)  7. Exhale
(4:33)  8. The Little Things
(5:50)  9. Sonny's Home
(5:01) 10. Reminisce

It’s always a joy reviewing a new release from trumpeter Cindy Bradley. You pretty much already know that there will be some driving, pushing, solid, phat grooves coming your way. That’s just the way she rolls. Here on her latest release The Little Things, she again doesn’t disappoint as she leads with her trumpet to take us through another music wonderland and explores all the possibilities for making a track solidly a “cannot ignore” track. With writer/producer Michael Broening at her side working his writing magic, the lovely trumpeter seduces, dazzles, and beckons one to join her in a dance (slow or up-tempo, take your pick) to celebrate c-jazz the way it was meant to be celebrate from the soul. Broening also offers his invaluable services on keys, piano, bass, and drum programming on all tracks while guitarist Freddie Fox, bassist Mel Brown, Skinny Hightower (who offers his skills on bass and vibes here) and other strong musicians complement the album’s allure with color and finesse. What’s so very becoming about Cindy Bradley is not only her skill, charm, and beauty, but how she makes certain to keep that jazz element front and center in all of her music. While the soul/R&B groove get their fair share of inclusion, it’s her signature take on cool, silky c-jazz (with hints of straight-ahead heard clearly in her runs) that seems to keep it all centered for her, and Michael Broening writes with that in mind, I’m sure. It’s easy to tell that the vibe fits her like a glove. It’s Cindy’s character and personality and only Cindy’s character and personality. It shines through and presents itself with such brilliance. Just grab a listen to the lead track “Wind Chill Factor,” the title track, “Sonny’s Home,” and so many others here. There’s the class and sophistication of traditional jazz cuddling up with the swag and soul of c-jazz, and it all comes out as robust and definite jazz. She simply never loses her grip on her beginnings and early influences (John McNeil, Bob Brookmeyer, Jerry Bergonzi, George Russell, and Steve Lacy, to name s few) while ushering in her brand of Smooth. The trumpet is a soulful, calling instrument, and Cindy Bradley has mastered its irresistible charm. Witness how easily she does it here on The Little Things or on any of her earlier material. You’ll get my point ~  Ronald Jackson https://thesmoothjazzride.com/cindy-bradley-the-little-things/

The Little Things

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Nancy Osborne - Hot Swing, Cool Jazz

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:22
Size: 112,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:20)  1. I Love Being Here With You
(3:36)  2. Mister Sandman
(2:57)  3. Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead
(4:08)  4. I've Got You Under My Skin
(2:49)  5. It's De-lovely
(2:12)  6. Something's Gotta Give
(4:41)  7. Only You
(3:13)  8. And the Angels Sing
(3:26)  9. All That Jazz
(2:27) 10. He's a Tramp
(2:19) 11. Pardon My Southern Accent
(2:26) 12. Two Lost Souls
(3:08) 13. Gypsy in My Soul
(4:24) 14. Georgia On My Mind
(2:33) 15. Hallelujah I Just Love Him So
(1:36) 16. As Long As I'm Singing

I'm in a quandary to describe this album of big band jazz vocals from Nancy Osborne as anything more than "pleasant." Through no fault of the singer or the top-flight band of West Coast musicians like Pete Christlieb, Gary Herbig, Charley Loper and Tom Ranier or the arrangements of Bob Florence, Paul McDonald, Lon Norman, Jonathan Barick or Dave Wolpe this album cannot be lifted into a higher category. The best summary I can offer is that the album offers "safe" middlebrow jazz music. Several of the tunes are currently overexposed per the Great American Songbook (eg. "I've Got You Under My Skin," "It's Delovely," "Georgia On My Mind") and deserve at least temporary retirement. Osborne's voice is fine, with a bright quality that emphasizes the lyrics and hits a balance with the orchestrations, so that both are heard to their advantages.  However, this is a big band vocal album, not a jazz-oriented vocal occasion. There are a few false starts. "It's De-Lovely" begins with the opening riff of "Milestones" and "Something's Gotta Give" begins with Osborne's vocalese matching the horn lines, but this is a introductory tease for both songs. Nancy Osborne also provides effective vocalese on the instrumental break of "Gypsy In My Soul." I'd suggest that this is an excellent choice for afficianados of big band music in a contemporary setting. Let's look at a few more positives. 

Osborne opens with a saucy version of Peggy Lee's "I Love Being Here With You" and concludes with Bobby Darin's signature song, "As Long As I'm Singing," which he usually used to close sets. "Pardon My Southern Accent" is an obscure Johnny Mercer tune from 1934 and "Two Lost Souls," borrowed from the Broadway musical Damn Yankees, is a nifty duet with Ned Rifkin. Osborne's take on "He's A Tramp" (from the Disney film Lady and the Tramp) once again emulates the style of writer and performer Peggy Lee. 
~ Michael P.Gladstone https://www.allaboutjazz.com/hot-swing-cool-jazz-nancy-osborne-self-produced-review-by-michael-p-gladstone.php

Personnel: Nancy Osborne: vocals; Charlie Davis, Ron Barrows, Mike NcGuffy, Barbara Laronga: trumpet; Charlie Loper, Paul Young, Linda Small, Bryant Byers: trombone; Pete Christlieb, Gary Herbig, Darryl Winseman, Andrew Martinez, Cindy Bradley, Mike Acosta: reeds; Jim Cox, Tom Ranier: piano; Ron Hershewe: guitar; Geo Valle: bass; Sammy K: drums; Ned Rifken: guest vocalist.

Hot Swing, Cool Jazz

Friday, March 31, 2017

Cindy Bradley - Natural

Size: 112,7 MB
Time: 48:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz
Art: Front

01. Girl Talk (4:06)
02. Category A (4:19)
03. Everyone But You (5:10)
04. Vibralux (4:10)
05. Imagine That (4:55)
06. Clean Break (4:28)
07. Natural (4:11)
08. Bring It Back (4:34)
09. She Bop (4:37)
10. Crush (3:19)
11. Coco's Lullaby (4:18)

Flugelhorn and trumpet really rock her boat. Cindy Bradley left some imposing traces in the sand of the smooth jazz genre with Just A Little Bit (2007), Bloom (2009), Unscripted (2011) and Bliss (2014). Natural (2017) is her fourth album in connection with the label Trippin' n' Rhythm.

The set opens with Girl Talk, a funky exchange of blows between Cindy on trumpet and Paula Atherton on sax. Sax veteran Paula had invited Cindy on her fourth album Ear Candy (2015) and the opening track is according to the principle of mutuality a great thank-you with positive effect.

On Category A Cindy works together with outstanding guitarist Chris Standring, who has a superb knack for the perfect sonic twist. Music lovers will recognize parallels to groundbreaking pieces of pop history. Everyone But You touches a romantic chord within the listener with unadulterated sound of the flugelhorn and an acoustic guitar of classical characteristic.

The meaning of the title Vibralux will be revealed, when one mingles vibrancy, the quality of being vibrant, with lux, the derived unit of luminance or illumination. The magical formula of discovering shining music. Imagine That merges symbiotically flugelhorn with horn harmonies and out of this rises the sound of sax. The epitome of trumpet and sax in a creation of sonic balance.

Clean Break is continually evolving from a disco like stomping beat to a funky bridge. Bradley breaks out from the closed manege of rhythm and enjoys the sensation of artistic freedom. Natural is constructed with funk components, David Mann's exquisite horn arrangement, Cindy's cool muted trumpet and Chris Standring's special UK guitar flavor.

Bring It Back shows Cindy's great talent as a compositional storyteller. A muted trumpet in a sonic flow closely entwined with Nick Colionne's guitar performance. She Bop bridges the gap between Bebop jazz, swing and contemporary jazz stretching the limits of these genres with an inventive sound and a modern spin.

Crush is crisp and definitely right in the groove. This well-balanced tune with a bouncy melody creates the perfect mood for every occasion. Coco's Lullaby is flugelhorn in best hummable harmony. A quiet engaging creation hook-filled with an emotional impact.

Beauty, elegance, and a quiet grace infuses distinct artistic individuality into melodies. Natural is one of those rare works of art having body, soul, and spirit.

Natural

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Cindy Bradley - Bloom

Styles: Trumpet Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:26
Size: 112,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:44)  1. Bloom
(4:01)  2. Swing Set
(4:47)  3. Curves Ahead
(4:42)  4. Sycamore Soul
(4:36)  5. Uptown Drive
(4:33)  6. Brooklyn Bounce
(4:11)  7. Take Me There
(4:41)  8. Catch The Wind
(4:13)  9. On Solid Ground
(4:54) 10. Before I Go

The smooth jazz listing in Wikipedia includes only eight trumpeters/flugelhornists and half of them are artists whose surname starts with the letter "B." The names include Chris Botti, Rick Braun, Randy Brecker and Tom Browne, all of whom have their own style and have left their own mark. It's time for another "B" to break up the boys club and her name is Cindy Bradley, following her 2007 self-produced album Just A Little Bit with a major label debut, Bloom. This CD showcases Bradley as an extremely promising young talent who isn't simply following in the footsteps of predecessors, but striking out on some new paths of her own. Bradley's background as a sideman includes stints playing both straight ahead jazz and as a soloist with smooth jazz stalwart Pieces of a Dream. Michael Broening, the longtime producer of saxophonist Marion Meadows, handles the production here and provides Bradley plenty of opportunities to demonstrate her skill both as a player and songwriter. The title track showcases Bradley's skill on flugelhorn as it washes over Broening's shimmering, yet subtle keyboards like a warm spring shower. 

Bradley alternates between flugelhorn and trumpet as the album neatly alternates between slower moodier songs and the up-tempo head-bobbers like "Swing Set" and "Uptown Drive" where Meadows drops in to engage Bradley in a sassy sax versus trumpet tete-a-tete. To her credit, Bradley, the fresh-faced rookie doesn't take a back seat as she matches Meadows, the savvy veteran, blow-for-blow. In this musical genre, a pretty face is no substitute for knowing how to play. 2008 saw the emergence of exciting new jazz women such as bassist Esperanza Spaldingto widespread approval. 2009 may find Cindy Bradley enjoying similar success. Bloom is the sweet sound of something new and fresh on the scene. ~ Jeff Winbush  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/bloom-cindy-bradley-trippin-n-rhythm-records-review-by-jeff-winbush.php#.VHvJ-smHmtg
 
Personnel: Cindy Bradley: trumpet, flugelhorn, horn arrangement; Tim Bowman: lead guitar (1); Mel Brown: bass (1-7); Freddie Fox: guitar, rhythm guitar; Michael Broening: keyboards, programming; Tony Morra: drums (3, 5, 10); Thano Sahnas: guitars (4, 8); Marion Meadows: tenor sax (5); Jaared: alto sax (6); Mario Mendivil: bass (8-10); Jay Soto: guitar (9); Michael White: drums (2).

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Cindy Bradley - Bliss

Styles: Smooth Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:48
Size: 116,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:25)  1. Button Legs
(5:14)  2. Bliss
(5:29)  3. Riverside Jive
(6:54)  4. Squeeze Me
(4:33)  5. 49th & 9th
(5:03)  6. Could It Be You
(4:31)  7. Comin' Home to My Baby
(4:22)  8. Lost and Found
(5:21)  9. Sharp a Strut
(3:51) 10. God Bless the Broken Road

It's always difficult when you have set the bar so high as Cindy did with her groundbreaking and highly heralded second recording 'Unscripted', voted 'Critic's Choice 2011' by Jazziz Magazine, and one that spawned back to back #1 Billboard singles, to not only follow but to continue to stretch higher. With the release of BLISS, Bradley's third she again finds Grammy award winning producer Michael Broening at the rudder steering the ship and together again they not only grab hold of the bar they set, but leap over it, carried forward by the current of her wave of popularity.

Bliss is the apropos title for this set of musical sketches that continues to expose the many facets of this extraordinary artist who laid bare her emotions and challenges in 'Unscripted' and now finds a place in her life where she is finding great peace and joy through her perseverance and increase in capacity. These musical portraits painted with a variety of different brushes and strokes cover the gamut of moods and emotions, open, honest and revealing. From her trademark swing and sass to the beauty and sensitivity through which she caresses the muted Harman, it's all here. Her jazz chops are in full display on 'Squeeze Me' a wistful rendering chock full of artistic expression and interplay. Gospel, Funk, House and blues all find appearance in this new exploration of what is Cindy Bradley and the results are robust and satisfying.

Radio is licking its collective chops and Bradley's legions of fans will line up and welcome with full embrace this long awaited expose. The sails are set and this ship is prepared to leave port for destinations unknown. Welcome aboard. ~ Editorial Reviews   http://www.amazon.com/Bliss-Cindy-Bradley/dp/B00JJNLXEG