Deanna Witkowski - From This Place

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:17
Size: 138,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:44)  1. Let My Prayer Rise (Psalm 141)
(5:34)  2. I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say
(4:49)  3. From This Place
(2:37)  4. Evening Mass: Kyrie
(3:07)  5. Evening Mass: Gloria
(2:53)  6. Evening Mass: Sanctus
(2:43)  7. Evening Mass: Agnus Dei
(6:53)  8. O, The Deep, Deep Love
(2:52)  9. Christ The Light
(3:19) 10. Never Before
(1:39) 11. Make Your Wonders Known
(5:45) 12. Pass Me Not
(3:51) 13. Keep In Mind
(2:48) 14. Take My Life And Let It Be
(3:36) 15. Song Of Simeon

Deanna Witkowski takes the spiritual road on From This Place through gospel, Catholic liturgy, blues and jazz, and 19th century text to which she has written music. Sacred music and jazz have come together through Mary Lou Williamsand Duke Ellington, to name two, while John Coltrane brought in his own ardent beliefs to several of his compositions. Witkowski's sacerdotal calling is strongl manifested, particularly in the sincerity of her singing.

"Let My Prayer Rise (Psalm 141)" is a gospel tune with Donny McCaslin laying the groove on the tenor saxophone. His warmth embraces the innate fervor with Witkowski adding to the impact with her pure, soaring voice. McCaslin is comfortable in several situations and this is one more for him; he makes it a memorable experience. Laila Biali and Kate McGarry join Witkowski on the a capella "Never Before," the purity of their harmonies circling and descending in a cloak of velvet. The words, written by Witkowski, are a testament to her faith and sound unabashedly naked in their sensibility; they harken back to the time when the human soul sought the spirit of the Lord and found communion with it. The mood is relaxed when Peter Eldridge turns up for a quartet to take on the joyous "Keep in Mind" accompanied by the piano and a melodic turn of phrase on the electric bass by John Patitucci. The juxtaposition of the two works well with the intensity of the first being calmed by the relaxing timbre of the second.

The modern does not escape her and Witkowski gives "Take My Life and Let it Be" and "Song of Simeon" straightforward contemporary turns. They are intensely personal evocations, but "Take My Life and Let It Be" may be in better form because of the harmonies. Witkowski comes up solidly on the side of faith and those who lean towards religious music will be rewarded. ~ Jerry D’Souza  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/from-this-place-deanna-witkowski-tilapia-records-review-by-jerry-dsouza.php

Personnel: Deanna Witkowski: piano, vocals; Donny McCaslin: soprano and tenor saxophones; John Patitucci: acoustic and electric basses; Scott Latzky: drums; Laila Biali: vocals (5, 7, 10, 13); Peter Eldridge: vocals (5, 7, 13); Kate McGarry: vocals (5, 7, 10, 13).

From This Place

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Deanna Witkowski - Length of Days

Styles: Vocal, Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:12
Size: 142,5 MB
Art: Front

(8:27)  1. Beautiful Hands (Witkowski)
(8:14)  2. Hi-Lilil, Hi-Lo (Deutsch/Kaper)
(7:06)  3. Straight, No Chaser (Monk)
(5:00)  4. Length of Days (Witkowski)
(7:17)  5. Prayer for Linda (Witkowski)
(7:34)  6. In the Still of the Night (Porter)
(4:47)  7. Feed the Birds (Sherman)
(7:45)  8. Song for Sarah (Witkowski)
(5:58)  9. I'm Beginning to See the Light (Ellington,George,Hodges,James)

Pianist Deanna Witkowski began her musical journey on the classical side, studying piano and flute. In college jazz called, first on the saxophone, then through piano lessons from Chucho Valdes and Hilario Duran. Length of Days, Witkowski's third release as a leader, opens with "Beautiful Hands," inspired by a compliment given to her by Billy Childs. High praise from such an accomplished fellow pianist/composer, but he could just as well have remarked on a beautiful throat to compliment Witkowski's vocal prowess. She uses her voice to color her arrangements with vibrant hues, whether on her wordless, melifluous chant on the opener, or lyrically on the title tune that bemoans spiritual empiness inspired, reportedly, on the pianist's meditations on the New Testament image of St. Peter's blinding conversion. 

Witkowski's teaming with saxophonist Donny McCaslin (who was nominated for a Grammy for his work on Maria Schneider's Concert in the Garden) is a key to this disc's success. Witkowski the arranger crafts complex harmonies, and her voice and McCaslin's soprano saxophone sound as if they were created to play together, a magical blend in harmony, with McCaslin extending the vocalist's phrases with an inspired improvisational logic. Cole Porter's "In the Still of the Night" gets a piano trio treatment, with Witkowski taking the melody up and twisting it around a bit, an uplifting stretch. Much of Witkowski's sound is shaded by her spirituality, but she gets deep into the jazz religion with Thelonious Monk's "Straight, No Chaser," with McCaslin trading in the smooth-flowing soprano for a beefy tenor sax, blowing down and dirty while Witkowski plays light and clean behind him. The disc closes with Ellington's "I'm Beginning to See the Light," with McCaslin again on tenor, giving way to an uplifting, Chucho-esque arrangement, the rhythm bubbling, Witkowski stepping light and pretty." Following Maria Schneider's lead, Length of Days is an ArtistShare release, available only on Witkowski's website. ~ Dan Mcclenaghan   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=20195#.Uu5IlbSgsit

Personnel: Deanna Witkowski: piano, vocals; Donny McCaslin: soprano and tenor saxophones; Dave Ambrosio: bass; Vince Cherico: drums.

Length of Days

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