Christian McBride Big Band - Bringin' It

Styles: Jazz, Post-Bop
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:00
Size: 161,1 MB
Art: Front

( 6:37)  1. Gettin' To It
( 5:59)  2. Thermo
( 6:59)  3. Youthful Bliss
( 6:09)  4. I Thought About You
(10:09)  5. Sahara
( 4:43)  6. Upside Down
( 6:25)  7. Full House
( 6:16)  8. Mr. Bojangles
( 4:37)  9. Used 'Ta Could
( 3:55) 10. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
( 7:06) 11. Optimism

Where and how does Christian McBride find the time to do what he does? His plate is full about nine times over, what with his work as bassist, composer, bandleader, educator, jazz advocate, public speaker, radio personality, DJ, and Artistic Director for the Newport Jazz Festival. It's no wonder that it took him six years to get this juggernaut of a big band back together in the studio. This album serves as the long-awaited follow-up to The Good Feeling (Mack Avenue, 2011), the group's Grammy-winning debut. And like its lauded predecessor, Bringin' It presents a tight and tasty program of music designed by McBride and bolstered by his bass. Everything you've come to expect from this musical dynamo taste, punch, humor, intelligence, solid gold grooves, an appreciation for lyricism is here for the taking. Styles and settings vary greatly from track to track and moment to moment, but this ensemble is remarkably consistent through it all. McBride looks to the funky side of life on "Gettin' To It," an album opener that finds trumpeter Freddie Hendrix and guitarist Rodney Jones stealing the show, and he delivers a solidly swinging take on Freddie Hubbard's "Thermo" that recalls his time spent working with that trumpet icon. Then he brings his wit into full view with "Youthful Bliss." Unexpected detours that seemingly come out of left field a quick drop into Brazil, a classically-oriented flute finger-bender make for a wild ride. They enliven the atmosphere and keep everybody on their toes.

The leader takes a compositional cue or two from the great Maria Schneider with his harmonically moored vision of "I Thought About You," a feature for trumpeter Brandon Lee, and he eschews the desert in favor of the jungle on McCoy Tyner's "Sahara," giving drummer Quincy Phillips the greenlight to take charge. As on The Good Feeling, vocalist Melissa Walker drops in for a pair of tunes "Upside Down" and "Mr. Bojangles," bookending a nod to Wes Montgomery in the form of "Full House" and she doesn't disappoint. The final stretch of the album proves no less memorable than what precedes it. The soul quotient is exceeded with "Used 'Ta Could," an earthy number showcasing saxophonist Steve Wilson and trombonist Michael Dease; Sinatra's late night clarity comes through in McBride's vision of "In The Wee Small Hours," a number resting on his lyrical arco lines and featuring Dan Pratt's tenor; and the band swings its way home through trombonist Steve Davis' arrangement of "Optimism." This album is proof positive that big band jazz can be entertaining without actually pandering or diluting itself. Whether putting a new coat of paint on material from his past, nodding to his influences and mentors, or looking to the classics for inspiration, Christian McBride proves artfully inventive while drawing us in with his magnetic personality. Bringin' It is a meritorious musical feast just waiting to be consumed. No real surprise there. Everything this man touches turns to gold. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/bringin-it-christian-mcbride-mack-avenue-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Christian McBride: bass; Steve Wilson: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute; Todd Bashore: alto saxophone, flute, piccolo; Ron Blake: tenor saxophone, flute; Dan Pratt: tenor saxophone, flute; Carl Maraghi: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Frank Greene: trumpet; Freddie Hendrix: trumpet; Brandon Lee: trumpet; Nabate Isles: trumpet; Steve Davis: trombone (11); Michael Dease: trombone; Joe McDonough: trombone (1-10); James Burton: trombone; Douglas Purviance: bass trombone; Xavier Davis: piano; Quincy Phillips: drums; Rodney Jones: guitar; Melissa Walker: vocals (6, 8); Brandee Younger: harp (10).

Bringin' It

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Christian McBride Bid Band - The Good Feeling

Styles: Jazz, Straight-ahead/Mainstream, Big Band
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:32
Size: 162,1 MB
Art: Front + Back

( 7:21)  1. Shake 'n Blake
( 4:05)  2. Broadway
( 4:53)  3. Brother Mister
( 5:17)  4. When I Fall in Love
(11:46)  5. Science Fiction
( 8:17)  6. The Shade of the Cedar Tree
( 3:49)  7. The More I See You
( 5:45)  8. I Should Care
( 3:28)  9. A Taste of Honey
( 8:45) 10. Bluesin' in Alphabet City
( 7:01) 11. In a Hurry

The Good Feeling marks the debut of the Christian McBride Big Band, but the seeds for this album were sown in the mid-'90s. Jazz at Lincoln Center commissioned McBride to write and arrange his first major big band work "Bluesin' In Alphabet City" in 1995, and that experience really sparked his interest in composing for large groups. Now, sixteen years after the ink dried on that number, it appears in the penultimate position on his first big band recording. Over the course of eleven tracks, McBride manages to present music that's respectful of big band traditions, while also showcasing his own unique compositional voice. On one piece, the band might be playing over a pedal-to-the-metal swing pulse, with a string of strong soloists selling their wares over feisty backgrounds that come and go ("In A Hurry"), while another number might sound like a cross between "Maiden Voyage" and funky Freddie Hubbard-style fare ("Brother Mister"), as distilled through the mind of one of jazz's most talented, high profile bassists.

The instrumentalists rule the roost on this album, but McBride makes room for vocalist Melissa Walker on a few numbers, and she brings class to the proceedings. Walker's first feature, "When I Fall In Love," opens with McBride's elegant arco work, and contains some charming piano soloing from Xavier Davis, while the band cooks behind her vocals on the waltzing "A Taste Of Honey." "The More I See You" opens in a relatively calm state, with Walker singing the verse, but things really heat up later, when a Sonny Payne-style triplet build-up from drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. leads to some shouting brass. While the vocal standards tend to showcase McBride's more conservative, in-the-tradition arrangements, his own "Science Fiction" shows what he can do when he moves away from the norm. 

This number proves to be an episodic odyssey full of wonder and surprise. Suspense gives way to sounds of the bold and big variety, and Davis and McBride set things in motion with driving, hook-laden riffs. Seismic shifts take place in certain places, while more subtle adjustments are at play throughout the piece. McBride utilizes flutes and bass clarinet in expert fashion, and these instruments help to broaden the overall sound of the band. Featuring McBride at the top of his game, The Good Feeling, like its creator, is steeped in tradition while remaining tapped into what's current and exciting in jazz today. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-good-feeling-christian-mcbride-mack-avenue-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php
 

Personnel: Christian McBride: bass; Steve Wilson: alto saxophone, flute; Todd Bashore: alto saxophone, flute; Ron Blake: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute; Todd Williams: tenor saxophone, flute; Loren Schoenberg: tenor saxophone (2, 8); Carl Maraghi: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Frank Greene: trumpet; Freddie Hendrix: trumpet; Nicholas Payton: trumpet; Nabati Isles: trumpet; Steve Davis: trombone; Michael Dease: trombone; James Burton: trombone; Douglas Purviance: bass trombone; Xavier Davis: piano; Ulysses Owens, Jr.: drums; Melissa Walker: vocals.

The Good Feeling

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Melissa Walker - I Saw The Sky

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 60:41
Size: 138.9 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[4:09] 1. You Were Never Lovelier I'm Old Fashioned (Arr. C. Penn) I'm Old Fashioned
[6:11] 2. Some Other Time
[4:47] 3. Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You
[5:38] 4. My Shining Hour
[4:47] 5. I Saw The Sky
[4:44] 6. Twilight Song
[6:19] 7. I Get Along Without You Very Well
[4:15] 8. Let's Take An Old Fashioned Walk
[5:05] 9. The Face I Love
[8:29] 10. Return To Me
[6:11] 11. I'm In Love

I Saw the Sky is Melissa Walker's third release for Enja Records and features 11 compositions penned by notable songwriters from a vast array of musical styles. From standards by the great Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, and Johnny Mercer to originals by Walker, Nina D'Alessandro, Kenny Barron, Shedrick Mitchell, and Andrew "Tex" Allen, the music selected for this CD provides an excellent vehicle for Walker's vocal prowess. She attracts your attention immediately with her impeccable phrasing and resonance that is reminiscent of a young Sarah Vaughan on "I'm Old Fashioned." Kenny Barron's solo adds a nice touch of piano magic to Clarence Penn's arrangement. Together, they take this song off of memory lane and turn it into a great 21st century jazz experience. Walker's interpretation of "Some Other Time" is beautiful. She floats through this song with ease as Larry Willis' signature string arrangement adds another layer of emotion to Walker's lovely vocals and her ability to hold a note effortlessly through the fade. "Return to Me" is a sensitive ballad that evokes passionate memories. Walker's voice surrounds the lyrics with tenderness and that special feeling that gives meaning to the mysteries of love. I Saw the Sky succeeds on several levels where Moment of Truth lingered. Walker's compositional integrity has improved and her choice of accompanying musicians, arrangers, and composers for this CD are among some of the best in the jazz world. If there is any truth to the old saying "The third time is a charm," then Melissa Walker is definitely having her shining hour on I Saw the Sky. ~Paula Edelstein

I Saw The Sky

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Melissa Walker - May I Feel

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:17
Size: 133,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:55)  1. I'm A Fool To Want You
(4:49)  2. A Time For Love
(6:00)  3. Dancing In The Wings
(5:24)  4. Love Is
(3:50)  5. What A Little Moonlight Can Do
(6:21)  6. Ruby My Dear
(6:31)  7. Never Let Me Go
(6:26)  8. Little Wishes
(5:27)  9. Miss Otis Regrets
(6:30) 10. The Old Country

Melissa Walker's debut recording as a leader is impressive for a number of reasons. Gifted with a deeply expressive voice, and a terrific supporting cast of musicians, including trumpeter and flugelhornist Terell Stafford (her husband), saxophonist Gary Bartz, pianist George Colligan, guitarist Paul Bollenback, bassist James King, drummer Clarence Penn, and percussionist Steve Kroon, Walker finds fresh approaches to several very familiar songs. "I'm a Fool to Want You" finds it groove immediately with her sensitive vocal over a hip rhythm section, accented by Bartz's powerful alto sax solo. Colligan's whispering piano provides the perfect accompaniment for her gorgeous vocal to "A Time for Love." 

Penn's light, swinging brushes, Stafford's darting muted trumpet, and Bollenback's quick runs all assist Walker in her swinging rendition of "What a Little Moonlight Can Do." Bartz's soprano sax is a highlight of her waltz treatment of Cole Porter's oddball "Miss Otis Regrets," which Walker sings very effectively. Her gospel background is evident in her inspired original, "Love Is." This is a brilliant start for a very promising singer. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/may-i-feel-mw0000596781

Personnel: Melissa Walker (vocals); Paul Bollenback (guitar); Gary Bartz (soprano & alto saxophones); Terell Stafford (trumpet, flugelhorn); George Colligan (piano); James King (bass); Clarence Penn (drums); Steve Kroon (percussion).

May I Feel

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Melissa Walker - I Saw The Sky

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:23
Size: 141,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:13)  1. I'm Old Fashioned
(6:14)  2. Some Other Time
(4:51)  3. Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You
(5:41)  4. My Shining Hour
(4:51)  5. I Saw The Sky
(4:48)  6. Twilight Song
(6:23)  7. I Get Along Without You Very Well
(4:18)  8. Let's Take An Old Fashioned Walk
(5:09)  9. The Face I Love
(8:35) 10. Return To Me
(6:15) 11. I'm In Love

Canadian born Melissa Walker decided to break off law studies to become a barrister at the court of song, and wasn't that a bit of luck for us. On this her third Enja release, Walker proves conclusively that great standards need never when in the hands of an imaginative stylist able to restore their magic and glitter. Walker uses a variety of vocal modes and instrumental backup to deliver a set of special interpretations. A string quarter opens "Some Other Time" and then Walker startles with her pure soprano which starkly contrasts with the deep coloration of the strings. Continuing to find ways to use sidemen with ingenuity, they take a chorus on "The Face I Love" with Stefon Harris' vibes taking the lead. More contrast here as Walker wheels along in a much slower pace than that employed by Harris and cohorts as Walker intuitively works within and around the beat. Good stuff! "Let's Take an Old Fashioned Walk" reveals a debt to Sarah Vaughan, before Vaughan moved on to diva status with plummeting and plunging deliveries. 

But of all the tunes on the play list, it's a poignant and wishful thinking "I Get Along without You Very Well" where Walker gives a clinic on how to caress a lyric. Shunning dramatics, she employs gentleness, on the mark pitch and knowing phrasing to recite the story embedded in one of Hoagy Carmichael's finest compositions. Once more Harris' vibes provide the cushion that allows Walker to effortlessly glide through this lovely tune without excess emotional display. There is a smattering of lesser known and original material on the play list. One of the more expressive is "Return to Me", expressively arranged by Makoto Ozone, which gives Walker an opportunity to glide between soft and powerful regions of her vocal chords. While such guest artists as Kenny Barron are a nice extra attraction, it's the steady rhythm section led by pianist/arranger Shedrick Mitchell that deserves the award for best supporting musicians. ~ Dave Nathan   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/i-saw-the-sky-melissa-walker-enja-records-review-by-dave-nathan.php#.U62XnLG4OSo
 

Personnel: Melissa Walker - Vocal; Shedrick Mitchell, Kenny Barron, Makoto Ozone - Piano; Kiyoshi Kitagawa - Bass; Clarence Penn - drums; Stefon Harris - Vibes/Marimba; Vesselin Gellev, Deborah Bock - Violin; Olga Terlitsky - Viola; Ann Kim - Cello

I Saw The Sky

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