Claire Daly & George Garzone - VuVu for Frances

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:45
Size: 137,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:22) 1. All the Way
(6:23) 2. Sweet Georgia Bright
(4:51) 3. Fools Rush In
(4:54) 4. People Will Say We're in Love
(4:06) 5. The Lonely Goatherd
(2:22) 6. Mood Indigo
(4:55) 7. Warm Valley / What Am I Here For
(4:43) 8. Hold Out Your Hand
(3:51) 9. Half Nelson
(3:47) 10. Harlem Nocturne (feat. Jon Davis)
(3:15) 11. The Very Thought of You
(4:49) 12. The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers
(5:22) 13. Manhattan (feat. George Garzone)

Working jazz musicians have long been accustomed to the necessity of playing just about anything, in any setting, and Claire Daly is no exception. The intrepid baritone saxophonist has recorded tributes to Thelonious Monk and Rahsaan Roland Kirk and, in 2016, she even offered a distinctive take on Motown classics with 2468 West Grand Boulevard (Glass Beach Jazz). With the enviable versatility on her formidable horn which has brought her consistent acclaim, she now turns to more conventional jazz fare, uniting with tenor saxophonist George Garzone, a mentor and collaborator who brings his lighter touch to a wide-ranging, enjoyable set of standards and show tunes.

Daly's episodic work with Garzone goes back at least to 1998, when she appeared on his Moodiology (NYC Records), an album characteristic of Garzone's assertive style. Here he is much more subdued—indeed, the "VuVu" in this record's title is a neologism from Garzone which indicates his willingness to focus his contributions in a melodic, understated manner. Daly too stays largely within a restrained, lyrical temperament, suitable for a repertoire which ranges from Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo" to Rodgers and Hart's "I'll Take Manhattan." Ironically, the one cut in which the two saxophonists turn it loose is the Rodgers & Hammerstein number "Lonely Goatherd," one of two tunes from that songwriting team (the other being "People Will Say We're in Love"). On "Goatherd," Daly's arrangement uses an odd-meter framework to unleash some ferocious playing from both saxophonists, particularly during their mutual improvisation toward the close of the track. In other respects, the two play it straight, hewing closely to the tunes of the classic repertoire.

The rest of the band includes pianist Jon Davis, bassist Dave Hofstra, and drummer David F. Gibson. They provide all the support needed to let Garzone and Daly do their thing and with the delicate touch required on pieces such as Duke Ellington's "Warm Valley," rendered gorgeously before transitioning into the briskly paced "What Am I Here For?" There are a few surprises here, including a brief vocal turn from Daly on Steve Kuhn's "Hold Out Your Hand," and Davis switching to keyboards for a vigorous treatment of Kuhn's modal "Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers." For the most part the quintet refrains from taking too many chances, preferring to let the melodies shine lambently. And there is nothing to fault them for in that regard; when Daly and Garzone generate their tender dialogue on "Fools Rush In," it is easy to appreciate the genuine reverence the two veterans bring to this material.By Troy Dostert
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/vuvu-for-frances-clare-daly-with-george-garzone-daly-bread

Personnel: Claire Daly: saxophone, baritone; George Garzone: saxophone, tenor; Jon Davis: piano; Dave Hofstra: bass; David F. Gibson: drums.

Additional Instrumentation: Daly: vocals (8); Davis: keyboards (12).

VuVu for Frances

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Kit McClure - Some Like It Hot

Styles: Clarinet, Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:12
Size: 143,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:06)  1. April In Paris
(4:48)  2. Sing Sing Sing
(5:08)  3. I Can't Get Started
(5:18)  4. Take The A Train
(4:00)  5. In The Mood
(6:35)  6. In A Mellow Tone
(5:06)  7. It Don't Mean a Thing (If Ain't Got that Swing)
(4:53)  8. Harlem Nocturne
(3:37)  9. All Of Me
(2:51) 10. Opus One
(8:12) 11. Stompin' At The Savoy
(5:34) 12. Every Night

The Kit McClure Band has been in existence since 1982, providing great music for audiences and performance opportunities for hundreds of women over the years. After the band's 1982 debut at the Ritz, the band quickly became a popular fixture in the New York nightclub scene, and also had the privilege of touring with the great Cab Calloway. Soon the band was noticed by the recording industry and was put on the payroll of Island Records to prepare a repertoire with rock star Robert Palmer. This show toured two years later, playing soldout houses at Radio City Music Hall, Garden State Arts Center and similar venues across the Northeast. Eight tours of Japan quickly ensued, with time out to produce the CD "Some Like It Hot" on Redhot Records. The band's second CD release, "Burning", also on Redhot Records, was produced a few years later by jazz legend Teo Macero. The band has toured Europe and the USA numerous times in support of these recordings. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/kitmcclure

Personnel:  Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Kit McClure; Alto Saxophone, Vocals – Paula Atherton;  Baritone Saxophone – Claire Daly; Drums – Bernice Brooks; Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Joyce Toth; Trumpet – Lauren Draper, Laurie Frink, Rebecca Coupe Franks

Some Like It Hot

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Kit McClure Band - Just The Thing

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:37
Size: 119,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. Diggin Dirt
(4:25)  2. One O'clock Jump
(4:28)  3. Just the Thing
(5:01)  4. I Never Get Tired
(3:51)  5. Honeysuckle Rose
(4:10)  6. Vi Vigor
(4:16)  7. Jump Children
(5:03)  8. She's Crazy With the Heat
(4:32)  9. Don't Get It Twisted
(5:34) 10. Slightly Frantic
(5:15) 11. Nyc Rap

Just the Thing is Part Two of the Kit McClure Band's warmhearted salute to the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, a groundbreaking all-woman ensemble that came out of a school for poor black children in Piney Woods, Mississippi, to become one of the most widely successful and admired big bands of the World War II era. Whereas Part One was devoted for the most part to faithful transcriptions of original charts played by the Sweethearts, this second component consists of updated arrangements of those same charts, flavored with hip-hop, funk and salsa, presumably denoting the way the Sweethearts would be playing them today. As the Sweethearts are no longer with us, no one can reasonably argue the point. The first ten selections on Part 2 are the same as on Part 1 (although not in the same order), with Juan Tizol's "Perdido, the last track on the earlier album, replaced on this one by the clunky "NYC Rap, which, as one would expect, suffers by comparison (in other words, they don't write 'em like they used to). McClure had a hand in arranging and reupholstering every number, helped at times by pianist Cathy Harley, bassists Kim Clarke and Nicki Parrott, drummers Barbara Merjan, Bernice Brooks, Lakecia Benjamin and L. Olivia Sci, trombonist Britta Langsjoen and composer/arranger Maurice King who had written five of the tunes for the Sweethearts themselves. It's a sincere and interesting endeavor but as a rule lacks the vitality and enthusiasm of Part 1, which was a tad more straight-ahead and swinging. Several numbers "Vi Vigor, "Just the Thing, Don't Get It Twisted, "She's Crazy with the Heat, Basie's "One O'Clock Jump, a more laid-back version of Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose  are neat and handsome in their new clothing, while others don't fare quite as well. In that respect it's a split decision, one that rests in part on one's penchant for classic swing vs. cool and modern. 

Two selections "Jump Children and "I Never Get Tired were enhanced on the earlier session by one of the original Sweethearts, guitarist/vocalist Carline Ray, who's absent this time. Part Two's most explicit advantage lies in the playing time, 51:36 as opposed to the first album's meager 34:27. That gives the soloists more room to stretch, and McClure, Harley and the others make the most of it. Trumpeter Tanya Darby contributes a number of animated solos, as do drummer Benjamin (especially on "Vi Vigor ) and saxophonists Tia Fuller and Erica Von Kliest. While I'd give a narrow edge to Part One of The Sweethearts Project for overall charm and pleasure, Part Two has much to offer in its own right and is easily recommended. ~ Jack Bowers https://www.allaboutjazz.com/just-the-thing-kit-mcclure-band-redhot-records-review-by-jack-bowers.php

Personnel: Kit McClure: alto, tenor sax, leader; Liesl Whitaker, Barbara Laronga, Laurie Frink, Tanya Darby: trumpet; Lakecia Benjamin, Lisa Parrott, Tia Fuller, Erica Von Kliest: alto sax; Kristy Norter: tenor sax; Claire Daly: baritone sax; Britta Langsjoen, Jennifer Krupa: trombone; Cathy Harley, Jill McCarron: piano; Nicki Parrott, Kim Clarke: bass; Barbara Merjan, L. Olivia Sci, Bernice Brooks: drums; Sue Hadjopoulos, Karen Jones: percussion.

Just The Thing

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Claire Daly - Movin' On

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:07
Size: 153.6 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[4:20] 1. Softly As I Leave You
[4:35] 2. You Said It
[4:33] 3. Every Time We Say Goodbye
[7:03] 4. Goodbye
[4:59] 5. Smile
[5:40] 6. After You've Gone
[6:28] 7. If Ever I Would Leave You
[5:31] 8. Goodbye Porkpie Hat
[5:13] 9. Birdie Bye
[5:47] 10. A Bientot
[4:11] 11. Bye-Ya
[5:55] 12. Love Me Or Leave Me
[2:45] 13. Some Other Time

Since leaving the big band Diva and striking out on her own, baritone saxophonist Claire Daly has proved to be a terrific leader in her own right. Her ability to coax a consistently lyrical sound out of her somewhat ungainly instrument combined with her ability to put together a tight small group and a wide-ranging program are all factors that make this a very enjoyable session. The songs all center around the end of relationships, whether due to death, departure, or encouraging someone to leave. Although "After You're Gone" eventually picks up to the brisk tempo at which its normally played, Daly has fun playing around with the theme at a more relaxed pace, as if celebrating a pending breakup with some glee before calling it quits. "If Ever I Would Leave You" is so often played at maudlin tempos that Daly's brisk arrangement is a welcome departure, beautifully seasoned by the soft muted trumpet of guest James Zollar. In addition to the many other fine standards heard here, her emotional treatment of "Goodbye Porkpie Hat," a foot-patting interpretation of Billy Taylor's "A Bientot," and a playful run through Joel Forrestor's "Birdie Bye" add to the luster of this gem of a CD. Daly makes her recorded debut as a singer with very effective vocals on Charlie Chaplin's bittersweet "Smile" and a heartfelt take of Leonard Bernstein's "Some Other Time." The outstanding rhythm section of pianist Eli Yamin, bassist Dave Hofstra, and drummer Peter Grant provides the perfect chemistry for this very talented baritone saxophonist's well-crafted studio date. ~Ken Dryden

Movin' On

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Claire Daly - Swing Low

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:01
Size: 114.5 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[0:45] 1. Swing Low
[3:59] 2. I've Got The World On A String
[5:56] 3. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
[4:41] 4. For All We Know
[4:26] 5. You Make Me Feel So Young
[5:39] 6. Lady's Blues
[6:17] 7. The Chooch
[4:14] 8. Sharp Turn
[4:40] 9. I Wished On The Moon
[5:20] 10. I Thought About You
[4:00] 11. Little Old Lady

Claire Daly, baritone saxophone; Eli Yamin, piano; Dave Hofstra, bass; Peter Grant, drums; George Garzone, tenor saxophone (3, 7, 11).

Oh, how I’d love to use this disc as part of a blindfold test for those who roll their eyes or otherwise show their disdain when the discussion turns to women in Jazz who do anything other than sing or play the piano. I can almost picture the looks of shock and disbelief as I disclose that this baritone saxophonist’s name is Claire Daly and that she is the leader on this exemplary quartet/quintet date. What is the Jazz world coming to, the nay–sayers may wonder, when a woman not only chooses to play an instrument as large and unwieldy as the baritone but does so as well as any of her male counterparts. After two decades of gigging around New York and going on the road with various groups including the marvelous all–woman big band, DIVA, this is Daly’s first recording under her own name, and it’s a debut that is long overdue. To put it as concisely as possible, she’s something else. On the breezy opener, “I’ve Got the World on a String,” Daly’s unruffled approach and burnished tone remind one of the fabled Bostonian, Serge Chaloff. Elsewhere, as on “For All We Know” or “You Make Me Feel So Young,” she stirs memories of one of the greatest (and most sadly neglected) baritone masters of them all, Sweden’s Lars Gullin. But while the influence exerted by those giants (as well as by Cecil Payne, Pepper Adams and such recent poll–winners as Nick Brignola and Ronnie Cuber) is inescapable, Daly’s no robotic clone. She has found her own voice, and it’s as bold and persuasive as anyone else’s — male or female. She’s as comfortable with burners as she is with ballads, never overlooks a melodic phrase, has a gorgeous sound and always swings — low or high. Daly also has a keen sense of humor, as she shows on Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s playful ”Lady’s Blues,” on which she uses some squeals, honks and even a Kirk–style whistle to make her point. Daly invited Boston–area tenor George Garzone to sit in on three tracks, and he’s a standout on Lerner and Loewe’s “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face,” his own composition “The Chooch,” and the ironically chosen finale, Hoagy Carmichael’s “Little Old Lady” — which Daly is anything but. We haven’t mentioned the rhythm section, but should, as Yamin, Hofstra and Grant are impeccable in support and deliver consistently impressive solos whenever their turn comes around. Apart from its 49:57 playing time, the session as a whole is near–perfect. I do wish that Daly had been able to include at least one more highly appropriate standard, “Close Your Eyes,” because if you can do that, while opening your ears, you’ll hear an awesome baritone saxophonist who’s as dynamic and resourceful as any you can name. If you like the baritone, you’re gonna love Claire Daly. Encore! ~Jack Bowers

Swing Low

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The Claire Daly Quartet - Baritone Monk

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 2012

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 56:19

Size: 130,5 MB

Art: Front

(4:53)  1. Teo

(4:25)  2. Light Blue

(5:26)  3. Two Timer

(4:41)  4. Pannonica

(5:03)  5. Bright Mississippi

(5:04)  6. Ruby, My Dear

(5:25)  7. Let's Cool One

(4:37)  8. Brake's Sake

(4:54)  9. Green Chimneys

(5:22) 10. 52nd Street Theme

(6:24) 11. Holiday Medley

Claire Daly grew up in Yonkers, NY, affording her access to many jazz greats performing live in NYC. Her father supported her enthusiasm about the music and brought her to many live shows including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Benny Goodman and more. At the same time, she was hearing contemporary music with her peers at venues like The Schaeffer Music Festivals in Central Park. Her taste runs from the classics through the avant garde, and Claire still believes in the importance of hearing live music regularly.

She graduated Berklee College of Music as an alto player and traveled on the road with both jazz and rock bands, but her life changed significantly the first time she played a baritone sax. It happened to be the first horn Howard Johnson had owned, for sale by a mutual friend. "It was an epiphany. I felt like, There I am this is my voice." Claire hasn’t looked back and has become a well known, leading voice on the big horn. In 2012, The North Coast Brewing Co. in California produced a CD for Claire called "Baritone Monk" to promote their "Brother Thelonious Ale". It was on the Jazzweek Charts for 24 weeks, 9 of which were top ten. This led to headlining at the Monterey Jazz Festival, KC Rhythm‘n Ribs Fest, Pittsfield Jazz Festival and more in addition to touring the United States with the quartet.  http://www.clairedalymusic.com/bioframe.html

Personnel:  Baritone Saxophone – Claire Daly;  Bass – Mary Ann McSweeney;  Drums – Peter Grant (5);  Flute – Claire Daly (tracks: 4);  Piano – Steve Hudson (2);  Vocals – Claire Daly (tracks: 11)

Baritone Monk

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