Katie Thiroux - Off Beat

Styles: Vocal, Post Bop
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:36
Size: 114,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:15)  1. Off Beat
(5:23)  2. When Lights Are Low
(5:08)  3. Why Did I Choose You?
(5:59)  4. Slow Dance with Me
(5:40)  5. Brotherhood of Man
(3:59)  6. Ray's Idea
(5:54)  7. Some Cats Know
(4:53)  8. When the Wind Was Green
(4:57)  9. Happy Reunion
(4:24) 10. Willow Weep for Me

Katie Thiroux has studied with jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton and bassist John Clayton, and the bassist/vocalist was awarded a scholarship to the Berklee, later teaching at the esteemed College of Music. Her resume is as impressive as it gets, but this is not a woman who rests on her laurels. Her instruments are her calling cards. Off Beat is her sophomore album and is quite impressive. The core lineup of pianist Justin Kauflin and drummer Matt Witek is augmented by the brilliant clarinetist/tenor saxophonist Ken Peplowski, as well as saxophonist Roger Neumann. The ten-song program is filled with familiar and not-so-familiar songs, and mixes vocal tunes with instrumentals. The results are glorious. The title cut opens the program and sets the stage; the old June Christy tune is given a finger-snapping reading that sees Peplowski, Kauflin and Witek backing Thiroux as she sings, "just 'cause I'm different doesn't mean I'm wrong." On Benny Carter's "When Lights Are Low," Thiroux owns the song. Her phrasing has just the right amount of simultaneous tenderness and swing, while Kauflin's solo is a perfect foil. "Why Did I Choose You?," from the 1946 film The Yearling, is a tender ballad. The Thiroux-penned "Slow Dance With Me" is a medium-tempo instrumental, with the band invited to stretch out; everyone shines. An instrumental take on Frank Loesser's "Brotherhood Of Man" is followed by Thiroux scatting on "Ray's Idea," also featuring a delicious clarinet solo. On Leiber and Stoller's "Some Cats Know," Peplowski blows a smoky tenor behind Thiroux's snazzy, lazy vocal ("some cats know how to make the honey flow but if a cat don't know a cat don't know"). "When the Wind Was Green," a Frank Sinatra vehicle with the lyrics "When the wind was red like a summer wine, when the wind was red like your lips on mine, it caressed my face and it tossed my hair, you were there," is given a hip reading that does the original proud. Again, Peplowski's clarinet is prominent. Roger Neumann trades tenor lines with Peplowski on Duke Ellington's classic and classy "Happy Reunion," under which Thiroux and Witek are joined by Kauflin's perfect accompaniment. Closing with "Willow Weep For Me," Thiroux plays bass and sings, unaccompanied. Her bass work, in particular, is impressive. A highly recommended disc by a rising star in the jazz firmament. ~ Mark E.Gallo https://www.allaboutjazz.com/off-beat-katie-thiroux-capri-records-review-by-mark-e-gallo.php

Personnel: Katie Thiroux: bass, voice; Ken Peplowski: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Roger Neumann: tenor and soprano saxophones; Justin Kauflin; piano; Matt Witek: drums.

Off Beat

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Justin Kauflin - Dedication

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 60:22

Size: 138.2 MB

Styles: Piano jazz

Year: 2014

Art: Front

[6:12] 1. Elusive

[6:38] 2. B Dub

[4:38] 3. For Clark

[4:42] 4. The Professor

[5:25] 5. Epiphany

[5:09] 6. Tempest

[5:17] 7. No Matter

[4:29] 8. Where Are You

[3:28] 9. Up And Up

[5:12] 10. Lasting Impression

[4:46] 11. Mother's Song

[4:21] 12. Thank You Lord

Award-winning jazz pianist, Justin Kauflin began his musical journey at age 4 with Suzuki violin (Suzanne Schreck), adding piano a few years later with Virginia Koun. By age 6, he was performing in concerts, nursing homes and weddings, eventually becoming concertmaster for several orchestras. However, it was during this time that he also endured numerous trials, particularly losing total vision by a rare eye disease. He adjusted by learning 5 grades of Braille, cane mobility and, after a decade of classical violin and piano, switched to jazz piano at the Governor's School for Performing Arts. He studied with Liz Barnes, Woody Beckner, Chris Brydge, Jeff Smith, Jae Sinnett and ODU jazz professor, John Toomey; he attended the Vail Jazz Workshop, Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead Residency, and received top honors in jazz festivals across the U.S. He began performing jazz professionally at age 15, most notably with the Jae Sinnett Trio.

Justin's relationship with mentor Clark Terry was chronicled by Absolute Clay Productions' Al Hicks and Adam Hart. Five years in the making, the resultant documentary, Keep On Keepin' On, won both Heineken Audience and Best New Director Awards at Tribeca Film Festival and released in theaters through RADIUS-TWC. Justin and Dave Grusin are credited for its filmscore. Keep On Keepin' On was Oscar Shortlisted for best documentary (2015 Academy Awards).

Justin was subsequently signed by legendary producer and music icon, Quincy Jones for management, and in 2013 and 2014, was part of Quincy Jones' World Tours which traveled to Montreux, Switzerland; Vienne, France; Seoul, Korea; Tokyo and HIroshima, Japan. Throughout 2014, in addition to Keep On Keepin' On screening performances throughout the USA, Justin worked with Quincy Jones on his second full-length CD and debut album for Jazz Village, DEDICATION. The CD consists of 12 original compositions, 9 of which are dedications to teachers, friends and family, with a 3-part suite reflecting his faith sandwiched in between. It was released on January 13, 2015 and debuted at #6 on CMJ Jazz chart, #10 on Billboard's Traditional Jazz Chart, hit #1 on JazzWeek's chart, remaining in the top 10 for 9 straight weeks.

Dedication  

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