Clairdee - Music Moves

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:22
Size: 125,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:13)  1. Yes Sir, That's My Baby
(4:42)  2. Cheek to Cheek
(5:54)  3. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)
(8:04)  4. Summertime
(4:38)  5. Do Something
(4:21)  6. If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight
(4:50)  7. Sunny
(4:41)  8. Someone Else Is Steppin In
(4:42)  9. All The Way
(6:15) 10. Alright, Okay, You Win

Music in motion. That's what Clairdee's performances are. Recorded live at Yoshi's in Oakland, California, Music Moves reveals a singer who communicates with her audience on all levels. It's easy to love her music and the way she delivers it. In her comments on this album, Clairdee mentions her deep respect for singers of jazz and blues, such as Ruth Brown, Al Green, Donny Hathaway, and Frank Sinatra. The album's final track is a salute to Eddie Harris, Les McCann, Joe Williams, and Count Basie. She sure can pick 'em. "Summertime" can be positioned to represent the ultimate test of a singer. It's that kind of a classic jazz piece. You may ask yourself, does the song's heartfelt spirit come through? Are emotions raised? Does the singer convince? Is the treatment of this classic song handled with care while providing a unique character? The answers this time out are yes, yes, yes, and yes. Clairdee gets capable support on Music Moves from pianist Ken French and saxophonist Charles McNeal. They're on fire. 

The live setting undoubtedly pumped a lot of energy into this performance. It sure does have a powerful effect. "Alright, Okay, You Win" begins with a funky version of "Cold Duck Time" and transitions seamlessly into the familiar theme that Joe Williams brought us time and again. The band puts goosebumps on your arms. The audience must have been up and dancing between the tables. "Sunny" saunters happily with a swingin' attitude and a funky spirit as Clairdee and her band interpret this classic pop tune convincingly. Elsewhere, the singer combines ballads and blues for a recommended performance. In person, or the next best thing to being there, Clairdee's performance is a don't miss opportunity. ~ Jim Santella  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/music-moves-clairdee-declare-music-review-by-jim-santella.php

Personnel: Clairdee: vocals; Ken French: piano, keyboard; Ron Belcher: bass; Deszon X. Claiborne: drums; Charles McNeal: soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones.

Music Moves

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Clairdee - Destination Moon

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:53
Size: 101,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:56)  1. When Lights Are Low
(3:46)  2. Star Eyes
(5:01)  3. Tonight I Shall Sleep With a Smile On My Face
(4:06)  4. I've Got the World On a String
(5:58)  5. My Future Just Passed
(3:16)  6. They Can't Take That Away from Me
(2:53)  7. Moonglow
(4:11)  8. Time After Time
(3:56)  9. East of the Sun and West of the Moon
(4:13) 10. Destination Moon
(2:32) 11. Beautiful Friendship

If a singer chooses to perform a program of standards in a laid back, relaxed manner, the vocalist had better have the chops to sustain slow tempos because there's nowhere to hide. One very fine singers now working out of the San Francisco area, Clairdee, pulls it off going away. With her husky, deep toned contralto, she runs through a musical agenda of eleven standards and near standards. All the usual adjectives rightfully apply to Clairdee's voice and delivery lush, velvet, smooth, sensuous and romantic. If one is listening to this with their significant other, the message is delivered very quickly to turn the lights down low and settle in for amorous activities along with some good listening. Clairdee brings to her interpretations of these gems from the Great American Songbook a feeling for jazz coupled with much more than a small breath of fresh air, but also a heavy dose of musical imagination with sensitivity. She gets plenty of help from the very good musicians who join her in the studio. 

On the title tune "Destination Moon" the opening measures by bassist John Wiitala provides the thematic framework for Clairdee and pianist Ken French to follow. Wiitala has worked with other San Francisco-based vocalists like Cathi Walkup. There's a Latin tinged rendition of "Star Eyes" that is one of the highlights of the album. Here Clairdee shows her ability to be soft and tender despite the pounding Latin beat. One of the few moments of swinging animation comes on "Beautiful Friendship" where Clairdee unpacks her scatting, but goes about in it a way so as not to override the whimsical ambience she creates with this CD. Dmitri Matheny's flugelhorn is used sparingly on this set. But he engages in a pleasant give and take with Clairdee on "I've Got the World on a String". With this album, Clairdee establishes her credentials as one of the more lyrical vocalists on today's scene. Destination Moon is highly recommended. ~ Dave Nathan  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/destination-moon-clairdee-declare-music-review-by-dave-nathan.php
 

Personnel: Clairdee - Vocals;  Ken French - Piano;  Eddie Marshall - Drums;  John Wiitala – Bass;  Dimitri Matheny - Flugelhorn

Destination Moon

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