Donna Byrne - It Was Me

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:07
Size: 117,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:00)  1. It's You Or No One
(4:21)  2. It Was Me
(4:25)  3. Lulllaby Of The Leaves
(6:27)  4. Lover Come Back To Me
(5:05)  5. The Fool On The Hill
(4:54)  6. Lady Be Good
(5:54)  7. Another Star
(4:57)  8. Exactly Like You
(5:08)  9. Sometime Ago
(3:21) 10. Go Easy
(3:31) 11. Three Bears

In 1995 Donna Byrne was described by Tony Bennett as one of the "best young jazz singers in the country." More often that not, these complements are little more than throw always done as a courtesy. But Byrne's latest album reveals she deserves that complement and more. Teamed with outstanding instrumentalists, they perform a program of a couple of jazz standards, nods to Stevie Wonder and the Beatles, but mostly classic entries from the Great American Songbook. Irrespective of the source of the song, Byrne brings to each of them a freshness and style that's a joy to listen to and, for a musician, a pleasure to share the performance with her. Byrne is blessed with perfect pitch from which she never waivers no matter what she's singing. Her sensitivity to the picture lyrics are conveying and her impeccable phrasing coupled with bass player (and Byrne's husband) Marshall Wood's arrangements that accent the most favorable features of her vocal qualities, help make the album an auspicious event. How all of this comes together is nowhere better illustrated than with the medley of "When Your Lover has Gone" and "Lover, Come Back to Me" an album highlight. On the former, the trumpet of the venerable Herb Pomeroy embroiders pretty musical figures behind Byrne's poignant rendition of the first half of the medley. 

Then Artie Cabral's high powered drumming leads the segue into the second part of the medley as Ken Peplowski's tenor barges upon the scene behind Byrne's exciting swinging. Peplowski picks up the solo cudgels engaging in an extended conversation with Gray Sargent's guitar as Byrne follows on with a moody chorus of the first half of the medley. The result is more than six minutes of an excellent performance of two warhorses with new saddles thrown over them. The other medley on the album shares the highlight award. On the first half of the pair of songs, Byrne's wordless vocalizing and Peplowski's sax replicate tenor sax player Lucky Thompson's authoritative 1956 recording of Oscar Pettiford's "Tricrotism," transforming it into a jazz sonata for vocal scat and tenor sax. Byrne follows by sliding into a medium tempo "Exactly Like You." The remaining tracks are done with equal enthusiasm and proficiency making the listener not only pleased with this album, but looking forward in anticipation of her next release. ~ Dave Nathan http://www.allmusic.com/album/it-was-me-mw0000647908

Personnel: Donna Byrne (vocals); Ken Peplowski (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Herb Pomeroy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Bill Cunliffe (piano); Gray Sargent (guitar); Marshall Wood (bass); Artie Cabral (drums).
 

Thank You my Friend!!!

 

It Was Me

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Donna Byrne - Byrnin'

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:27
Size: 145,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:34)  1. The More I See You
(4:26)  2. Somewhere In The Hills
(5:20)  3. September Song
(5:13)  4. Green Dolphin Street
(5:38)  5. Don't Take Your Love From Me
(4:22)  6. If It's Magic
(5:45)  7. Lover
(5:03)  8. Yesterdays
(4:38)  9. You Don't Know Me
(3:29) 10. An Occasional Man
(3:59) 11. Down With Love
(5:48) 12. All The Way
(5:04) 13. Just Friends

For her latest album, Donna Byrne returns to her Ol' Socks label for which she made her first CD in 1990. Over the ensuing eight years, the voice, while a little huskier, has lost not an iota of its attractiveness; neither has Byrne mislaid any ability to deliver a varied and interesting agenda of tunes in a most entertaining way. Swing is the tempo of choice for the first two numbers "The More I See You" and "Somewhere in the Hills." While there's a bit of a bossa nova beat present in the Antonio Carlos Jobim/Ray Gilbert not too often recorded "Hills," swing is the dominant tempo of the record. Stevie Wonder's "If It's Magic" gets an unusually plaintive reading from Byrne, accompanied by Tim Ray's piano, which is in synch with the tune's mood. Byrne introduces "Green Dolphin Street" and breathes new life into it with a verse sung a cappella and a masterfully delivered scatting chorus. Her interpretation ranks with Ella Fitzgerald's and Sheila Jordan's readings of this classic standard. There are many other goodies on the CD. 

"Don't Take Your Love from Me," starts out with a Latin beat and segues into a bluesy tempo featuring fine bass work by Byrne's husband Marshall Wood. "Down with Love" is done with a slightly Peggy Lee sardonic touch through which Byrne opines that this "pain" called love, as well as anything and anyone associated with it, should be put away for good. Again Wood does yeoman work on the bass. The album ends with a romping version of "Just Friends," where Byrne delivers the lyrics at a breakneck pace. At no time, however, does she lose the beat or her pitch; nor in any way does she slur the words as so often happens when a song is delivered at this pace. Tim Ray and Jim Gwin stretch out splendidly on this tune. Donna Byrne's fifth album validates her as one of the most accomplished and entertaining jazz vocalists on the scene today, deserving far greater recognition than she has been afforded to date. ~ Dave Nathan http://www.allmusic.com/album/byrnin-mw0000406139

Personnel:  Donna Byrne (Vocal);  Tim Ray (Piano);  Marshall Wood (Bass); Jim Gwin  (Drums).
 

Thank You my Friend!!!

Byrnin'

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Donna Byrne - Licensed To Thrill

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:23
Size: 145,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:34)  1. You And The Night And The Music
(3:52)  2. Nobody Else But Me
(4:52)  3. My Old Flame
(4:53)  4. Agua De Beber
(6:20)  5. Talk To Me Baby
(5:30)  6. Reaching For The Moon
(4:48)  7. Shadowland
(3:51)  8. Old Devil Moon
(5:38)  9. The Underdog
(4:31) 10. I'll Always Be In Love With You
(3:51) 11. I Don't Care Much
(4:58) 12. I'm Walkin'
(4:40) 13. Remember My Child / Grow Tall My Son

Any recording titled Licensed to Thrill sets up a certain expectation. Unfortunately, the latest CD from the Boston-based vocalist rarely lives up to its promise. Byrne delivers a solid, competent set of pop and jazz standards, but her thin, reedy voice isn't particularly distinctive or compelling, much less thrilling. What sparkles are the nuanced, textured arrangements by bassist and husband Marshall Wood and the masterful performances by her sidemen. Scott Hamilton's soaring tenor sax underlines the light-hearted rhythms of "Nobody Else But Me," while Wood's subtle bass lends a sexy playfulness to "Talk To Me Baby." Byrne displays confident phrasing on up-tempo numbers like "Old Devil Moon" and "Agua de Beber." She swings comfortably, but doesn't bring anything particularly interesting or innovative to her selections. An exception is the Fats Domino golden oldie "I'm Walkin," in which Bucky Pizzarelli's divine guitar propels the rhythm section with a joyous drive lacking on the rest of the album (this arrangement has a contribution by pianist Tim Ray). Byrne's at her best on ballads; her lack of vocal color hinders her the least when she can shine as an interpreter. 

She is dry and evocative on "The Underdog," a bittersweet song by Dave Frishberg, and appropriately moody for a melancholy jazz take on "I Don't Care Much," a John Kander/Fred Ebb song cut from, then reinstated into, the Broadway musical Cabaret. Her soft, understated version of the war-horse "My Old Flame" is meticulously rendered with nearly perfect diction. While Byrne has an attractive tone and is rhythmically adept, she is too often upstaged by her own arrangements to make a mark for herself with this disc. ~ Ed Felper https://www.allaboutjazz.com/licensed-to-thrill-donna-byrne-a-records-review-by-ed-felper.php
 

Personnel: Donna Byrne –Vocals;  Scott Hamilton -Sax (Tenor);   Bucky Pizzarelli –Guitar;   Tim Ray -Piano, Arranger;   Marshall Wood -Bass, Arranger, Associate Producer;   Jim Gwin –Drums .

Licensed To Thrill

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Donna Byrne - Don't Dream Of Anybody But Me

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:38
Size: 157,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over
(7:37)  2. Street Of Dreams
(3:38)  3. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
(3:15)  4. In A Sentimental Mood
(3:10)  5. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
(6:37)  6. Don't Dream Of Anybody But Me
(6:25)  7. The Two Lonely People
(3:12)  8. All Alone On My Own
(5:16)  9. My Melancholy Baby
(4:23) 10. East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)
(4:21) 11. He Was Too Good To Me
(5:23) 12. Someone To Light Up My Life
(6:52) 13. A Cottage For Sale - A House Is Not A Home
(3:26) 14. I Hear Music

A gem of a singer, Donna Byrne's latest is a 14-track journey through the pages of the Great American Songbook, and she brilliantly captures the essence of each of these chestnuts. The Boston vocalist knows how to extend herself far beyond mere recitation of words. Her delivery is so engaging, so dazzling, so bright, that each tune is an entertaining foray into the world of the art of jazz vocal. Not only is she equipped with an extraordinary set of vocal chords, as well as excellent and top-of-the-line timing and phrasing, but she does not get hemmed in by conventional vocal wisdom  she lets her imagination provide the direction for the session. Whether it be on a rousing up-tempo number like "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (where she uncharacteristically indulges in some scatting going back and forth with Mike Turk's harmonica), to her poignant delivery of "He Was Too Good to Me," Byrne uses the appropriate combination of swing, elan, wit, or romanticism  whatever is needed to make the performance go. Another factor that makes this CD go are two sets of exemplary musicians who perform their duties as Byrne's supporters, adding their own inventive musical musings. Jazz piano institution and fellow New Englander Dave McKenna once again joins Byrne. But while he makes no attempt to overshadow the singer, his years as a top-flight jazzman come through clearly on tunes such as "My Melancholy Baby." The other pianist on the set, Tim Ray, also shines as he helps with a swinging melody on "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top." Erstwhile reedman Mike Monaghan's slightly biting tenor is in front on tracks such as "East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)." Byrne's regular rhythm section, Jim Gwin on drums and husband Marshall Wood on bass, shows that familiarity in no way breeds contempt but respect, harmony, and mutual admiration. The last two cuts are not on the play list: Track 13 is a lovely medley of "A Cottage for Sale"/"A House Is Not a Home," and track 14 is an off-to-the-races "I Hear Music." Don't Dream of Anybody but Me only solidifies Byrne's position as a major contemporary jazz singer. ~ Dave Nathan http://www.allmusic.com/album/dont-dream-of-anybody-but-me-mw0000722605

Personnel:  Donna Byrne -Vocals;  Dave McKenna -Piano;  Tim Ray -Piano/Fender Rhodes;  Jim Gwin -Drums;  Marshall Wood -Bass;  Mike Monaghan -Tenor Sax/Flute;  Kenny Wenzel -Trombone/Flugelhorn;  Mike Turk -Harmonica

Thank You my Friend!!!!

Don't Dream Of Anybody But Me

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Carmen Cicero - Friends

Size: 117,8 MB
Time: 50:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Traditional Jazz Combo, Vocals
Art: Front

01. Autumn In New York (2:28)
02. You Stepped Out Of A Dream (5:23)
03. My Buddy (4:00)
04. Every Time We Say Goodbye (3:53)
05. You’re My Everything (3:56)
06. I Cover The Waterfront (3:29)
07. My Romance (7:34)
08. My Old Flame (Feat. Donna Byrne) (5:24)
09. You Are My Sunshine (Feat. Donna Byrne) (2:34)
10. If I Had You (Feat. Donna Byrne) (2:38)
11. Day By Day (Feat. Donna Byrne) (2:27)
12. But Not For Me (6:29)

Carmen Cicero was trained as a concert classical clarinetist as a child, switching to alto saxophone in his early '20s and playing jazz. He played free-form jazz for many years and was reviewed in "Downbeat Magazine". In this, his second CD, Carmen has added several world-class musicians, some of whom he has performed with for many years. Following is Cicero's introduction to his new CD "Friends":
On Dec. 9, 1971, I had a devastating fire in my studio and lost all of my musical instruments. As a consequence, I stopped playing for a number of years, but finally acquired a saxophone and started practicing again. I was, of course, rusty. By a stroke of good fortune, I met the pianist Kent Hewitt who, despite my inadequacies, allowed me to sit in with his group. We soon became great friends and have played together ever since. Kent is a remarkable person and pianist who has worked with some of America’s most famous jazz musicians.
I became acquainted with Marshall Wood shortly after my friendship with Kent began. Marshall is without doubt a world-class bassist (presently working with Tony Bennett). Marshall’s outstanding musicianship and intelligence made it easy for us to become lasting friends.
I came to know Donna Byrne while playing concerts with her in Provincetown, MA. Donna not only has a superb singing voice (Tony Bennett called her ”…one of the best jazz singers in America”); she also has the ability to relate to her audience with warmth and professional ease. It was through her great sense of humor, however, that we became fast friends.
Our drummer was unable to be with us for this recording, however, we were very fortunate to get Jim Guin, a highly-regarded drummer who has worked with the Boston Pops for many years. Kent, Marshall and Jim form a fabulous rhythm section. We hope that you enjoy listening to us as much as we enjoyed playing together.

Friends

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