Bria Skonberg - So Is the Day

Styles: Vocal And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:26
Size: 148,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:10)  1. Keep Me In The Back Of Your Mind
(7:35)  2. So Is The Day
(7:30)  3. Hip Check
(4:03)  4. I Wish I Hadn't Forgotten
(4:48)  5. Have A Little Heart
(3:45)  6. Far Away
(5:12)  7. Penny In Your Pocket
(4:29)  8. Let Yourself Go
(5:49)  9. Chilliwack Cheer
(4:08) 10. Big Yellow Taxi
(7:48) 11. Gymnopedie
(4:03) 12. My Friend

It's a rare talent that can straddle and dare request membership in the trumpet artist continuum emanating from Louis Armstrong and progressing down through his "Neo Orleans" progeny: Byron Stripling, Wynton Marsalis and Nicholas Payton (whose big band trumpet section Skonberg graces). However, with her bravura performance on So is the Day, Bria Skonberg confirms that she is not only indeed a triple threat musician player, vocalist and composer but also that that esteemed lineage, consummate entertainers all, would heartily approve her membership. This stunningly beautiful British Columbia native plays (and writes and sings) at levels of excellence and maturity far beyond her years. Whether it's plunging and growling away, soaring across the horn's range ferociously, or delivering beautifully constructed lyrical solo lines, Skonberg demonstrates solid chops and great command of her instrument. Displaying artistic flexibility and fire, she unabashedly channels Armstrong, Cootie Williams, Warren Vache, and other legendary players. It's also obvious that Skonberg is an admiring student of the vocal tradition, too. She exhibits stylistic shades of Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, and Diana Krall. She has a beautiful voice both soul sultry and innocent sweet and an instrumentalist's feel for melodic line and rhythm. Her vocal and horn chops intertwine seamlessly. "Have a Little Heart" is a perfect example. An insightfully versatile composer, Skonberg delivers nine engaging originals, all stylistically unique. 

She's done her homework; the forms and lyric phrasings are classic. "I Wish I Hadn't Forgotten" frames Skonberg with guest John Pizzarelli, a perfect vocal partner, on an elegant guy/gal swinger. "Penny in Your Pocket" grinds blue with Scott Elias' organ. "Hip Check" (a sidewinder turned inside out to 5/4 time) and "Chilliwack Cheer" deal Cajun spice. "Far Away," the most contemporary of her originals, modulates dreamily. Three well-known selections are given refreshed presentations performed with verve. Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" shines with a bouncy Caribbean groove and a beauty of a Skonberg flugelhorn solo. "Let Yourself Go" and Erik Satie's over-recorded "Gymnopedie" are done in Latin-esque treatments. Skonberg's supporting crew is stellar throughout, and seems to relish placing Skonberg in the spotlight. Swinging woodwind artist Victor Goines, trombone stars Wycliffe Gordon and Michael Dease, and a rhythm section of (terrific) pianist Jeff Lashway, the versatile Randy Johnston on guitar, bassist Kelly Friesen, and drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. collectively and individually energize. So is the Day, while tipping a hat to tradition, appropriately pushes Bria Skonberg to the forefront of today's musical talents. She has it all so does this superb recording. ~ Nicholas F.Mondello  

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/so-is-the-day-bria-skonberg-random-act-records-review-by-nicholas-f-mondello.php
 

Personnel: Bria Skonberg: trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals; Victor Goines: tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute; Wycliffe Gordon: trombone (1, 9); Michael Dease: trombone (11); Jeff Lashway: piano; Scott Elias: organ (7);Randy Johnston: guitar; Kelly Friesen: bass; Ulysses Owens, Jr.: drums; Roland Guerrero: percussion; John Pizzarelli: guitar, vocals (4).

So Is the Day

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Houston Person & Joey DeFrancesco - The Party

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 53:09
Size: 97,4 MB
Art: Front

(9:59)  1. Love Me Tender
(6:06)  2. Blue Velvet
(7:17)  3. Blues for H.P.
(5:22)  4. Ceora
(5:59)  5. Impossible
(8:26)  6. Party's Over
(9:58)  7. True Blues

Good soul jazz and blues session, with young lion organist Joey DeFrancesco providing the funky undercurrent to tenor saxophonist Houston Person's thick, authoritative solos and Randy Johnston and Bertell Knox filling the spaces on bass and drums, plus Sammy Figueroa adding some Afro-Latin fiber for additional support.~Ron Wynn http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-party-mw0000278195

Personnel: Houston Person (tenor saxophone); Joey DeFrancesco (organ); Randy Johnston (guitar); Bertell Knox (drums); Sammy Figueroa (percussion, congas).

The Party

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The Randy Johnston Trio - Riding the Curve

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:09
Size: 133,1 MB
Art: Front

( 6:20)  1. The Song Is Ended
( 8:26)  2. All Through the Night
( 6:12)  3. I Get Along Without You Very Well
( 8:25)  4. High-Heel Sneakers
(10:04)  5. You've Never Been There!
( 5:13)  6. The Park
( 8:08)  7. Wives and Lovers
( 5:18)  8. For Thomas

Recorded on April 30, 1998. Includes liner notes by Bob Blumenthal. Further asserting himself as a premier jazz guitarist, Johnston presents his fifth recording as leader, the second with organist Joey DeFrancesco (the first was In-A-Chord). Idris Muhammad plays the drums with usual aplomb, and tenor saxophone legend Johnny Griffin shows up on two cuts. Johnston does a little bit of everything on this one. There's the midtempo swing of "The Song Is Ended," the funky R&B of "High-Heel Sneakers" (which recalls Jimmy Smith), and the waltzing "Wives and Lovers." On a dangerously slow version of "I Get Along Without You Very Well," Johnston adds some quicker lines. "All Through the Night," featuring Griffin on tenor, is smooth and swift. There are two Johnston originals "The Park" is an easy, no-frills bossa, while "For Thomas" (dedicated to Johnston's old college roommate, the late Thomas Chapin) is a swinging remembrance of more innocent days. 

The longest cut is another piece reminiscent of Jimmy Smith, Griffin's ten-minute-plus "You've Never Been There!" It features a blues groove with tenor sax/guitar unison, an element that Johnston is well-known for. Johnston is an accessible musician whose lyricism is ever-present but rarely flashy. Following in the tradition of legends like Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, and Pat Martino, he proves himself immensely capable on this fine CD, as he continues to grow and mature into one of the best in the business. ~ Michael G. Nastos this trio was formed during a tour of Spain in 1997 - guitarist Johnston, Hammond B-3 player Joey DeFrancesco, drummer Idris Muhammad, as well as special guest saxophonist Johnny Griffin, swing from start to finish Randy Johnston Trio: Randy Johnston (guitar); Joey DeFrancesco (organ); Idris Muhammad (drums). http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1184800&style=music&fulldesc=T

Recording information: Nola Recording Studio (04/30/1998).  Additional personnel: Johnny Griffin (saxophone). 

Riding the Curve

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Joey Defrancesco - The Champ: Dedicated to Jimmy Smith

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:36
Size: 116,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:52)  1. The Champ
(3:37)  2. Mack the Knife
(7:23)  3. When Johnnie Comes Marchin' Home
(7:59)  4. Lover Man
(2:56)  5. Organ Grinder's Swing
(6:27)  6. O.G.D. (Road Song)
(5:50)  7. The Preacher
(5:33)  8. Walk on the Wild Side
(4:56)  9. The Cat

In a way, Joey DeFrancesco's entire career has been devoted to Jimmy Smith. Ever since he arrived in the late '80s, DeFrancesco was known for his dexterous assimilation of Smith's tasteful soul-jazz, and he expanded on that basic sound as the '90s progressed. It was likely just a matter of time before he sat down and recorded a full-fledged tribute to the Master of the Jazz Organ which is exactly what he did with Champ: Dedicated to Jimmy Smith. Working with bassist Randy Johnston and drummer Billy Hart, DeFrancesco keeps the spirit of Smith's classic Blue Note sessions alive, and Champ is indeed an expert emulation of that clean yet funky sound so much so that certain listeners may wonder what the point is and why not just listen to Smith's own albums. That's a valid complaint, since DeFrancesco rarely finds a voice of his own on this record, but the album itself is a good listen for that very reason. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-champ-mw0000667045

Personnel: Joey DeFrancesco (Hammond B-3 organ); Randy Johnston (guitar); Billy Hart (drums).

The Champ: Dedicated to Jimmy Smith

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Randy Johnston 3 - Shockwave

Size: 108,7 MB
Time: 46:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Soul, Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Shockwave (8:28)
02. Misty Roses (4:21)
03. On The Town In Old New York (5:31)
04. The Hat Man (6:31)
05. Things We Said Today (5:01)
06. Is It You (6:44)
07. Hop A-Long (6:56)
08. Out Of Nowhere (3:20)

Personnel:
Randy Johnston: Guitar, Vocals
Jonah Kane-West: Organ
John Hanks: Drums
Bobby Read: Sax, Vocals

Original combination of Jazz, Soul, Rock, Blues, and Funk. Four vocal and four instrumental tracks with great sound quality. infectious foot patting rhythm, great guitar, organ, and saxophone solos, and heartfelt emotion.

Shockwave

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The Randy Johnston Trio - Riding The Curve

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:15
Size: 133.3 MB
Styles: Swing, Guitar jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[ 6:16] 1. The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)
[ 8:30] 2. All Through The Night
[ 6:15] 3. I Get Along Without You Very Well
[ 8:26] 4. High-Heel Sneakers
[10:04] 5. You've Never Been There!
[ 5:12] 6. The Park
[ 8:09] 7. Wives And Lovers
[ 5:19] 8. For Thomas

Trio was formed during a tour of Spain in 1997 - guitarist Johnston, Hammond B-3 player Joey DeFrancesco, drummer Idris Muhammad, as well as special guest saxophonist Johnny Griffin, swing from start to finish.

Riding The Curve

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Randy Johnston 3 - Shockwave

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:02
Size: 107.7 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[8:28] 1. Shockwave
[4:22] 2. Misty Roses
[5:31] 3. On The Town In Old New York
[6:31] 4. The Hat Man
[5:01] 5. Things We Said Today
[6:45] 6. Is It You
[7:00] 7. Hop A-Long
[3:20] 8. Out Of Nowhere

Randy Johnston is one of the most widely recorded and prolific guitarists of his generation. He has released 12 albums as a leader for the Muse, Highnote, J Curve, Mel Bay, and Random Act labels and has appeared on dozens of recordings with other top recording artists. In addition to his recording career, Randy has toured and played with some of the most acclaimed names in jazz, including Lionel Hampton, Houston Person and Etta Jones, Lonnie Smith, and has played for 17 years as a regular member of the Lou Donaldson Quartet. He has traveled the world concertizing, both as a bandleader and side musician, performing at the top clubs and festivals all over the United States, Europe, Japan, Thailand, and South America.

Already recognized the world over for his guitaristic prowess, Randy's live performances and last two recordings feature him as a vocalist as well, singing his original songs as well as standards and blues standards. His vocals have been favorably compared to those of Ray Charles, and the combination of instrumental and vocal performances make for an extremely varied and entertaining live set. Both his vocal and substantial catalogue of instrumental compositions enjoy frequent airplay, both in the traditional and internet radio formats. Randy has also taught music at New York University, the Hartt School of Music in Hartford Connecticut, the University of Miami in Coral Gables Florida, and several other major American universities of note, in addition to conducting master classes in such diverse locations as Wales UK and Helsinki Finland.

Shockwave

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Randy Johnston - People Music

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:11
Size: 118,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:51)  1. Garden State
(5:22)  2. Nostalgia For What Never Was
(4:19)  3. Parchman Farm
(8:01)  4. Chavez
(5:57)  5. Everyday Heroes
(5:02)  6. Trouble
(4:58)  7. Humpty Dumpty
(6:09)  8. Passing By
(5:27)  9. Cold Duck Time

Perhaps more than any other musical instrument, the guitarists of today come drenched in the music of highly diverse musical genres. The instrument has been a fulcrum of expression, from folk, country and blues to jazz and rock with a smidgen of classical thrown into the mix as well. Thinking about it, the task of developing as a guitarist has got to be daunting, with all of those musical bases to cover.  With People Music, celebrated guitarist Randy Johnston demonstrates that not only has he been exposed deeply to these forms, but that he is truly masterful at exploiting the very best of each. The CD is a stellar showcase, generously displaying Johnston's technical and improvisational virtuosity as well as his breadth. Originally from Detroit that Midwest melting pot of musical forms Johnston grew up from age 13 in Richmond, Virginia. The Motown soul-funk-jazz juices mingled with his Southern blues experiences and the developmental result is an extraordinary talent. A vaunted sideman, he's recorded with artists including Ira Sullivan, Houston Person, Joey DeFrancesco, Etta Jones, and another speedballer, Johnny Griffin.

Johnston's jazz technique is crisp, highly direct and focused. His longer lines mesh intelligently with shorter pulse-bursts and his technique never overshadows musical content. And, when organ phenom Pat Bianchi joins in with his earthy B3 sound, the result is jazz-tinged heavy blues. The paring of Johnston with Bianchi is brilliant, as each plays off the other's significant technical chops. The timbre of Johnston's hard-picked strings with Bianchi's foot bass and blistering hands is a joy. The opening "Garden State" displays foot-pounding drive, while the shuffle blues "Nostalgia for What Never Was" advises that, at its core, Johnston's blood runs blue. The vampish "Chavez," sextuplet-metered and more cerebral than the other cuts here, allows both Johnston and Bianchi to stretch out modally. Johnston offers up two organ-supported vocals with Mose Allison's "Parchman Farm" and "Trouble." While Johnston's singing is not up to his superior guitar playing (how could it be?) these selections offer an earthy funkiness,s with Ray Charles-ian overtones. Johnston's rock-blues style embraces Wes Montgomery and George Benson with his octave work in his solos.

"Everyday Heroes" has a kick-off-the-shoes, "Sittin'-On-the-Dock-of-the-Bay" feel. Drummer Carmen Intorre, Jr. sets up Chick Corea's "Humpty Dumpty," the burner of the date, before Bianchi takes off and demonstrates he can swing and develop cogent "Giant Step-like improvisational ideas superbly. Intorre is wise enough to give support to these cookers without stepping on their toes. Eddie Harris's "Cold Duck Time," a vintage rocker for sure, gets a fun funk revisit and closes out a superior effort. People Music has a sincerity about it that's hard to top. The playing is absolutely first-rate and highly approachable. And there is a solid respect for the jazz and blues: after all, those genres developed from "people music," and the people playing here do so with respect, gusto and consummate soul. ~ Nicholas F.Mondello  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/people-music-randy-johnston-random-act-records-review-by-nicholas-f-mondello.php

Personnel: Randy Johnston: guitar, vocals (3, 6); Pat Bianchi: Hammond Organ; Carmen Intorre, Jr. drums.

People Music

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Randy Johnston - Homage

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:42
Size: 119,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:02)  1. All Or Nothing At All
(6:34)  2. Pat and Wes
(4:16)  3. The Cooker
(5:52)  4. Angel
(6:52)  5. Cedar's Place
(7:06)  6. Ruby
(5:14)  7. Lyresto
(6:08)  8. Society Red
(3:34)  9. Loco 47

Beginning with 1991’s Walk On and continuing through two more Muse dates (all of which are currently out-of-print), a few sets for High Note and then 1998’s Riding the Curve, guitarist Randy Johnston has championed his own take on the mainstream jazz guitar tradition, doing so with not much of any fanfare whatsoever. But with his second effort for Cincinnati’s J Curve label, Homage, things just might start to change for the better. Johnston believes it to be his best effort yet and I’d be hard pressed to argue. The premise here is quite simple- pick a few tunes and write a few more that have something to do with some of your influences as a player, gather a top-notch rhythm section, and then add a brassy horn section. Furthermore, hire a capable arranger in the guise of Rich Shemaria to put together the charts and you’ve got yourself a frontrunner. Johnston is, of course, the main soloist here and he carries the show with a warm and burnished tone and a coherent improvisational style that sagaciously uses space and patterns of tension and release. Also taking a few well-placed solos here and there are trumpeter Jim Rotondi, tenor man Eric Alexander, pianist Xavier Davis, and baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola.

The material is particularly strong and just a bit out of the ordinary to boot. For instance, Jimi Hendrix’s “Angel” acquires new life in a sweet version that barely resembles the original, while George Benson’s “The Cooker”, Kenny Burrell’s “Lyresto” and Dexter Gordon’s “Society Red” all benefit from the fact that they haven’t been performed to death in the past. Johnston’s own “Pat & Wes”, dedicated to Pat Martino and Wes Montgomery, features those mellow octaves endemic to both saluted players’ arsenals and “Cedar’s Place” has a beguiling structure and chord progression akin to Cedar Walton’s own aesthetic. Throughout it all however, Johnston maintains his own identity utilizing the tunes as a mere starting point. A more superior homage one couldn’t ask for, wouldn’t you say? ~ C.Andrew Hovan  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/homage-randy-johnston-j-curve-records-review-by-c-andrew-hovan.php

Personnel: Randy Johnston- guitar, Jim Rotondi- trumpet, Eric Alexander- tenor saxophone, Nick Brignola- baritone saxophone, Wayne Coniglio- trombone, Xavier Davis- piano, Nat Reeves- bass, Kenny Washington- drums

Homage

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