Gabrielle Goodman - Travelin' Light

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:17
Size: 101,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:16)  1. Travelin' Light
(4:21)  2. Cherokee
(3:52)  3. Over The Rainbow
(5:59)  4. Manila
(4:23)  5. Never Too Late
(3:19)  6. Blues Walk
(6:40)  7. My Funny Valentine
(4:52)  8. Use Me
(6:30)  9. Don't Explain

Sounding like a combination of Sarah Vaughan and Chaka Khan seasoned with a dash of Roberta Flack, Gabrielle Goodman is joined by a motley crew of modern musicians, swoops, scats, and whoops through a playlist of standards and originals, one of them by Goodman herself. For the most part, it seems that the arrangements, including those of the standards, are "popularized." That is, they have been designed to be attractive to fans of contemporary popular music. One exception is the Gershwin Brothers' "Someone to Watch Over Me," where Goodman opens the verse with just Kevin Eubanks' subdued guitar (one of few subdued moments on this disc) behind her. Additional instrumentation, especially Gary Thomas' tenor, joins in for a very relaxed chorus. (Thomas and his saxophones are very prominent on this disc.) But on most of the cuts, Goodman's voice soars to the heavens. "Over the Rainbow" becomes a bop aria, and on "Travelin' Light," her voice becomes a horn, competing with Thomas' tenor for the dominating position on this tune. Goodman's rendition will not remind anyone of Judy Garland's. 

The Goodman composed "Manila" is a major production. The pulse is established by drummer Buddy Williams' back beat. Barry Miles' synthesizer weaves in and out with Goodman's voice as she overdubs the background vocals. Clifford Brown's "Blues Walk" flirts with the avant-garde, as Goodman sings wordless vocals, Thomas' serendipitous sax wailing with her. This tune, with Goodman and Thomas as a two-person ensemble, is one of the album's highlights. Once more she relies on the laid-back guitar of Eubanks in her thoughtful, emotional offering of "Don't Explain," another of the album's strong performances. Many will have to give this album more than a single play before fully appreciating it, but they will assuredly be drawn to Goodman's wide-ranging, unusual but haunting presentation of the music. Travelin' Light will be particularly appreciated by those who prize a singer willing to take some major risks. [Fortunately, the lyrics are reprinted in the liner notes.] ~ Dave Nathan  http://www.allmusic.com/album/travelin-light-mw0000107892

Personnel: Gabrielle Goodman (vocals, background vocals); Michael Cain (piano); Anthony Cox (bass instrument, acoustic bass); Rubén Rodríguez (bass instrument, electric bass); Tony Bunn (electric double bass); Tony Bunn (electric bass); Mark Feldman (vocals, violin); Kevin Eubanks (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Wolfgang Muthspiel (guitar, electric guitar); Gary Thomas (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Barry Miles, David Bunn (piano, synthesizer); Mike Cain (piano); Buddy Williams (drums); Don Alias (congas, percussion).

Travelin' Light

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Gabrielle Goodman - Songs From The Book / Spiritual Tapestry

Album: Songs From The Book
Size: 42,2 MB
Time: 17:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Soul, Gospel
Art: Front

01. Prelude (0:28)
02. I Wanna Be With You (2:45)
03. Neo Soul Etude (3:12)
04. Wade In The Water (3:51)
05. A Change Gon' Come (Feat. Jeff Ramsey) (2:17)
06. Thankful (4:52)
07. Neo (0:28)

"Songs From The Book" is a seven song collection of R&B and contemporary Gospel by the soulful diva Gabrielle Goodman. Goodman shows off her powerful vocals and demonstrates her skills as a songwriter and producer on this inspiring CD. As the writer of all but one of the songs on this CD, Goodman, the ASCAP award winning co-writer of Chaka Khan's "You Can Make The Story Right", proves that she's here to stay as a singer, songwriter, and producer. On "I Wanna Be With You" Goodman takes you back to the early days of Aretha Franklin and makes you wanna get up and dance. Her powerful vocals are a force to be reckoned with when her gospel roots shine through on "Thankful" and "Wade In The Water". Unafraid to share the spotlight, Goodman features vocalist Jeff Ramsey on "A Change Gon' Come" which is also written and produced by Goodman. When asked why she didn't sing lead on it she replied, " I wrote and produced it, so I'm there in a different capacity. And... Jeff sang the you "know what out" of it. I loved what he did with it and you will too!"All of the songs sizzle with soul power. Oh.. and if you're wondering what book the songs are from, all songs appear in Gabrielle Goodman's "Vocal Improvisation: Techniques in Jazz R&B and Gospel Improvisation" book. But "Songs From The Book" is strictly for your listening pleasure. So if you want to a taste of soul, sit back, relax and enjoy "Songs From The Book".

Songs From The Book

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Album: Spiritual Tapestry
Size: 150,6 MB
Time: 64:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Vocals, Gospel
Art: Front

01. Motherless Child (Feat. Terri Lyne Carrington & David A. Bunn) (4:13)
02. Steal Away (5:59)
03. Go Down Moses (6:28)
04. Deep River (Feat. Walter Beasley) (5:56)
05. Heaven Heaven (Feat. Patrice Rushen & Terri Lyne Carrington) (5:06)
06. Wade In The Water (4:33)
07. A City Called Heaven (Feat. Patrice Rushen) (5:41)
08. Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel (5:38)
09. Swing Low Sweet Chariot (5:43)
10. Hold On (5:17)
11. Nobody Knows (The Trouble I've Seen) (4:55)
12. Over My Head (Feat. Matthew Truss) (5:00)

Spiritual Tapestry is a celebration of Negro Spirituals coupled with jazz and soul at its best with the soulful songstress Gabrielle Goodman at the helm. It is Gabrielle Goodman's 5th commercial CD. Spiritual Tapestry is a collection of 12 Negro Spirituals that have been given various stunning jazz treatments. Goodman's powerful vocals are featured on the CD with the sizzling sounds of Patrice Rushen (piano), Terri Lyne Carrington (drums), Walter Beasley (sax), David Alan Bunn (piano), Yoron Isreal, Wiil Lydgate (bass), Jiri Nedoma (piano), Ron Reid (acoustic bass) and host of other great players breathing new life into the songs. Spiritual Tapestry takes listeners on a musical journey that freely moves from smooth jazz to traditional jazz with soul-stirring gospel inflections. Goodman's vocals will soothe your soul on "Steal Away" and have you dancing to the funky New Orleans beat on "Heaven Heaven". And on “Deep River” the singer clearly displays her gospel influences sounding like Aretha Franklin taking the song to higher heights with the help of saxophonist, Walter Beasley.

Spiritual Tapestry

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