Sharel Cassity & Elektra - Evolve

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@128K/s
Time: 43:35
Size: 40,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:44) 1. Evolve
(5:35) 2. New Day
(6:24) 3. All Is Full of Love
(0:40) 4. Be the Change (Intro)
(5:26) 5. Be the Change
(3:52) 6. Wishing Star
(5:11) 7. The Here, the Now
(5:59) 8. Echoes of Home
(4:40) 9. Outlier

"With its R&B and funk grooves and rock and hip-hop energy, Evolve seems to wear its title as an imperative. Certainly it’s a long stride from alto saxophonist Sharel Cassity’s prior three records of straight-ahead swing. Yet it works; in fact, it triumphs....With any luck, Evolve will establish her as a household name among jazz audiences" Michael J. West, Jazz Times

Sharel Cassity explores new directions with her funky new project, "Elektra." A blend of soul, jazz, rock, gospel, hip hop & electronica, Elektra's mission is to create groove based and creative music that appeals to a general audience as well as the avid jazz listener. Cassity's writing for this project spans from originals to arrangements of popular songs by Bjork and Alicia Keys. Elektra is comprised of some of the most renowned musicians in the industry today. https://www.sharelcassity.com/product-page/autographed-copy-of-evolve

Personnel: Sharel Cassity - Saxes; Mark Whitfield - guitar; Miki Hayama - Keys; Linda Oh - bass; Jonathan Barber & Lucianna Padmore - drums; Ingrid Jensen, Marcus Printup, Freddie Hendrix - trumpet; Riza Printup - harp

Evolve

---

Sharel Cassity - Relentless

Styles: Flute And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:27
Size: 108,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:01)  1. Say What!?
(6:24)  2. Still
(7:10)  3. Relentless
(4:36)  4. Call to Order
(5:20)  5. Love's Lament
(5:37)  6. Song of Those Who Seek
(5:36)  7. No Turning Back
(8:39)  8. On the Nile

Sharel Cassity's second release as a leader gives the alto saxophonist a bit more opportunity to show off her chops, as she adds both soprano sax and flute, while she also focuses extensively on her own compositions, something she omitted from her debut CD, Just for You. Though very youthful in appearance, she's a seasoned musician who started playing young, then detoured from her initial plan to finish her music education at Berklee by opting to play in New York City, where she earned a bachelor's degree at the New School and a master's degree at Juilliard. She has also toured with the all-female Diva big band and Jimmy Heath's big band. Old friend Michael Dease is once again on hand playing trombone, while trumpeter Jeremy Pelt appears on several tracks, with a top-notch rhythm section consisting of veteran pianist Orrin Evans, bassist Dwayne Burno, and drummer E.J. Strickland. Cassity begins on soprano with her delightful brisk blues "Say What?," an intricate number that inspires stimulated improvising all around. Dease, who wrote several numbers for the leader's debut date, penned the warm bossa nova"Relentless," which includes an expanded group with the leader on flute, guests Don Braden on alto flute, flügelhornist Thomas Barber (who also appeared on Just for You), and tenor saxophonist Andres Boyarsky. Cassity's emotional alto sax fits the mood of her bittersweet ballad "Love's Lament," with lush backing by Evans. Cassity doubles on soprano sax and flute (the latter only in the introduction) in Charles Tolliver's enticing, exotic "On the Nile," a harmonically rich arrangement that recalls the power of driving post-bop of the mid-'60s. This is a fine effort by Sharel Cassity, who is clearly one to watch. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/relentless-mw0000824850

Personnel: Sharel Cassity (flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Don Braden (alto flute); Andres Boyarsky, Andres Boiarsky (tenor saxophone); Jeremy Pelt (trumpet); Thomas Barber (flugelhorn); Michael Dease (trombone); Orrin Evans (piano); E.J. Strickland (drums).

Relentless

---

Sharel Cassity - Fearless

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:57
Size: 101,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:54) 1. Whimsy
(5:26) 2. Fearless
(4:19) 3. North Street
(5:09) 4. Road to Dukhan
(5:39) 5. Surrender
(4:51) 6. Ballad for Roy
(4:35) 7. The Very Thought of You
(3:41) 8. Not a Samba
(5:18) 9. Last Minute

Offering her fifth album as leader, saxophonist Sharel Cassity unveils an aptly titled collection of originals and a couple of standards in an album of special significance and meaning in her life, as she confronted a personal health issue that threatened to silence her musical voice forever. This project is not only about producing a delicious bebop sound one will not soon forget but, it is also a testament to her faith and courage in confronting an illness she refused to fear, and finally defeated. Except for Ray Noble's classic standard "The Very Thought of You," and pianist Richard Johnson's finale tune "Last Minute," Cassity presents seven new originals she penned for this recording while battling Post Lyme Disease. Besides piano man Johnson, also accompanying the saxophonist on this musical journey are Alexander Claffy on bass and Mark Whitfield Jr. rounding out the quartet on the drums.

Holding nothing back, Cassity and crew open up with the rapid-tempo up beat burner "Whimsy" which, adequately describes the fanciful and playful performance of the leader and band on an explosive starter. The title track is no less fearsome just a tad more serious as the saxophonist wields her instrument with force. The bebop sound is in full swing on "North Street," as the mood shifts to a Middle Eastern style reflective of the time the leader lived in Qatar which inspired "Road to Dukhan. The music takes a softer turn on "Surrender" which highlights bassist Claffy and the pianist on marvelous solo moments.

The gentle side of the set continues on the "Ballad for Roy," followed by Cassity's unique version of "The Very Thought of You," and though composed as a ballad, there's plenty of fire from the leader and band on this one. The brief but moving "Not a Samba" contains slight elements of the Afro-Cuban flavor with the leader on soprano and drummer Whitfield Jr. driving the percussive flair of the piece. Taking to the tenor on the finale ("Last Minute") the saxophonist and cast deliver another blistering performance bookending the session with a lot of heat. Loaded with exceptional solo moments from everyone in the quartet, Fearless is an exciting, swinging and vibrant documentation of bebop at its best. Sharel Cassity provides a heart-felt performance drawing from her inner strength and will in conquering a personal obstacle with a musical sword and an intrepid assurance.~ Edward Blanco https://www.allaboutjazz.com/fearless-sharel-cassity-relsha-music

Personnel: Sharel Cassity: saxophone; Richard Johnson: piano; Alexander Claffy: saxophone, tenor; Mark Whitfield Jr.: drums.

Fearless

---

Diva Jazz - A Swingin' Life

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:46
Size: 127,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:53)  1. What The World Needs Now Is Love Sweet Love
(6:32)  2. Nothin'
(5:03)  3. All My Tommorrows
(2:45)  4. All Of Me
(6:09)  5. The Very Thought Of You
(4:38)  6. Pennies From Heaven
(4:17)  7. Blues Medley [Goin' To Chicago Blues; Kansas City; Every Day I Have The Blues]
(5:15)  8. Blackberry Winter
(2:58)  9. Wonder Why
(6:38) 10. Nocturne #6 Opus 9, Number 2
(5:34) 11. Blues For Hamp

What do you get when you have fifteen talented and swinging female jazz musicians in an orchestral setting? The answer, drummer Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra offering A Swingin' Life as proof that hard-charging big band music is not the exclusivity of the male gender. Building upon the work of more than a dozen previous albums, DIVA presents music from the Great American Songbook and more, capturing eleven audacious tracks recorded live by Jazz at Lincoln Center at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola in New York and, at the renowned Manchester Craftsman's Guild in Pittsburgh.  Adding to the experience of these live performances are two very special guests, two giants of the business, two vocalists who have left their mark on the jazz world. Legendary singers Marlena Shaw and Nancy Wilson lend their vocal charm on five beautiful charts and while some are certainly swinging tracks for sure, there are a couple of ballads that take your breath away. Wilson takes the Van Heusen/Sammy Cahn standard "All My Tomorrows," to another level expressing heart-felt emotion as the band plays humbly. Vocalist Shaw lays down a warm and gentle performance delivering a fantastic interpretation of Alec Wilder's "Blackberry Winter" for the two soft spots of the album.  However, the limited tender material here is the exception and not the rule as the swinging times obviously carry the date. Opening up with a rousing rendition of Burt Bacharach's "What The World Need Now Is Love," the DIVA's announce their intentions with a full blast of the brass and reeds capped off by a solo from tenor saxophonist Janelle Reichman. 

Appearing once again as one of the main soloist, Reichman, this time on the clarinet, joins trumpeter Jami Dauber on the Stanley Kay piece "Nothin,'" another perky burner showcasing the band. On another of the few light tunes, Nadje Noordhuis on the flugelhorn is simply enchanting on the time-honored Ray Noble classic "The Very Thought of You" as Maricle is heard on the soft brushes making this number, one to remember. The group gets back to some hard-driving sounds on the swinging version of "Pennies from Heaven." Maricle and the girls get real bluesy on "Blues Medley," a fusion of "Going to Chicago Blues," "Kansas City," and "Every Day I have the Blues," featuring singer Shaw. 

The DIVAs show their powerful instrumental voices on the last three tunes showcasing their reach on "Wonder Why," "Nocturne #6 Opus 9, Number 2," and the Terry Gibbs arranged finale "Blues For Harp," demonstrating quite ably why this orchestra is regarded as one of the best jazz bands in the business. Kudos to Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra as they roar through a splendid repertoire of big band jazz on A Swingin' Life, combining instrumental muscle with the elegant vocals in a live setting that is thankfully, documented well here. ~ Edward Blanco https://www.allaboutjazz.com/a-swingin-life-diva-jazz-mcg-review-by-edward-blanco.php

Personnel: Sherrie Maricle: drums; Sharel Cassity: alto saxophone, flute; Karoline Strassmayer: alto saxophone (3, 4); Leigh Pilzer: alto saxophone, flute, baritone saxophone (3, 4); Kristy Norter: alto saxophone (3, 4); Janelle Reichman: clarinet, tenor saxophone (3, 4); Anat Cohen: clarinet, tenor saxophone (3, 4); Roxy Coss: tenor saxophone; Scheila Gonzalez: tenor saxophone (3, 4); Lisa Parrott: baritone saxophone; Tanya Darby: lead trumpet, Flugelhorn; Liesl Whitaker: lead trumpet (3, 4); Jami Dauber: trumpet , Flugelhorn; Barbara Laronga: trumpet (3, 4); Carol Morgan: trumpet, Flugelhorn; Nadje Noordhuis: trumpet, Flugelhorn; Deborah Weisz: trombone; Jennifer Krupa: trombone; Lori Stuntz: trombone (3, 4); Leslie Havens: bass trombone; Tomoko Ohno: piano; Chihiro Yamanaka: piano (3, 4); Noriko Ueda: bass; Nancy Wilson: vocals (3, 4); Marlena Shaw: vocals (7, 8, 9).

Swingin' Life

---

Sherrie Maricle & The Diva Jazz Orchestra - Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2008
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 65:22
Size: 120,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:12)  1. I Love Being Here With You
(6:25)  2. Andalucia
(6:36)  3. Stars Fell On Alabama
(2:31)4. Sweet Georgia Brown (feat. Carmen Bradford)
(2:21)  5. This Can't be Love (feat. Carmen Bradford)
(3:02)  6. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water (feat. Carmen Bradford)
(5:58)  7. Rachel's Dream
(5:16)  8. Put a Little Love In Your Heart
(6:19)  9. Happy Talk
(5:22) 10. How Do You Keep The Music Playing (feat. Carmen Bradford)
(2:38) 11. All of Me (feat. Carmen Bradford)
(7:05) 12. TPN Blues
(6:31) 13. America

Diva's latest Cd was recorded over two nights last September at Dizzy's Club in Lincoln Center. The band devours John McNeil's swinging chart of Peggy Lee's "I Love Being Here With You," featuring Janelle Reichman's powerful tenor sax and Dauber's delicious muted trumpet. Tenorist Leigh Pilzer and flugelhornist Nadje Noordhuis share the spotlight in Scott Whitfield's lush setting of "Stars Fell on Alabama." The band adds some punch in their swaggering rendition of the pop song "Put a Little Love in Your Heart," hardly a standard, but it fits in just fine. Vocalist Carmen Bradford is added for four selections, highlighted by her soulful takes of "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "This Can't Be Love." 

The disc wraps with Ellen Rowe's imaginative scoring of Leonard Bernstein's "America," featuring Tomoko Ohno's driving piano, Lisa Parrott's gutsy baritone sax and Tanya Darby's sizzling trumpet. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allaboutjazz.com/sherrie-maricle-live-from-jazz-at-lincoln-center-and-what-the-world-needs-now-by-ken-dryden.php

Personnel: Sherrie Maricle: drums; Tomoko Ohno: piano; Noriko Ueda: bass; Sharel Cassity: alto sax; Erica Von Kleist: alto sax, soprano sax; Janelle Reichman: tenor sax, clarinet; Leigh Pilzer: tenor sax; Lisa Parrott: baritone sax; Tanya Darby: trumpet; Jami Dauber: trumpet, flugelhorn; Carol Morgan: trumept; Nadje Noordhuis: trumpet, flugelhorn; Deborah Weisz: trombone; Robynn Amy: trombone; Leslie Havens: bass trombone; Carmen Bradford: vocals.

Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

---

Sharel Cassity - Just for You

Styles: Saxphone Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:39
Size: 91,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:29)  1. Phibes' Revenge
(6:01)  2. Just for You
(5:57)  3. Irazu (Wish You Were Here)
(5:03)  4. Lover Man
(4:05)  5. Wow
(7:03)  6. Roditi's Dream
(5:59)  7. Cherokee

Crafting a wide range of bop-infused musical styles and playing odd-metered grooves on familiar standards to original compositions, alto saxophonist Sharel Cassity presents her recording debut as leader with a truly enticing session of jazz that is Just for You. Based in New York and an educator by profession, Cassity academically trained at both the New School and Juilliard, and is a talented woodwind specialist who also performs on all saxophones, flutes and the piccolo. On this album however, she sticks with the alto and demonstrates her searing chops on the instrument throughout. Her previous recording experience includes appearing on trombonist Michael Dease's Clarity (Blues Back Records, 2007). Here she returns the favor, with Dease performing and contributing three compositions, including the title piece. Cassity assembles a power-packed woodwind section that, besides herself and Dease, includes Tom Barber on trumpet and flugelhorn and Pete Reardon-Anderson on tenor sax. Altogether the altoist records with a seven-piece light ensemble that delivers a stellar supporting performance. Cassity kicks off the program in blistering fashion on Dease's rapid-moving opener, "Phibes' Revenge," demonstrating her fiery side. In stark contrast to the hot beginning, the music mellows out on the cushy title tune, which features Dease as well as bassist Paul Beaudry on stylish solos. It is Cassity however, who puts the exclamation point on this one with one of her better performances of the album.  

One piece not to be missed is Cassity's rendition of Roger Ramirez's classic, "Lover Man," where her soft alto tone sets the stage for pianist Adam Birnbaum's beautiful treatment of the song, ending with a high-register alto phrase. Cassity blends in and becomes one of the guys as the entire horn section kicks in with a terrific Tom Barber arrangement of Lennie Tristano's lively "Wow." She again separates herself from the group, leading the music on Dease's following "Roditi's Dream." There have been many versions of Ray Noble's jazz standard, "Cherokee," but Cassity provides a special performance here, blowing one mean sax in wicked frenzied fashion. The tune seems to fly by even though Vincent Ector weighs in with a pounding on the drums, a finale over as quickly as it began. Just for You is a highly enjoyable debuts that begs the question: where has this artist been and why has she not been heard from before? With this very impressive first offering, Sharel Cassity makes beautiful music and does it Just for You. 

~ Edward Blanco https://www.allaboutjazz.com/just-for-you-sharel-cassity-dw-review-by-edward-blanco.php

Personnel: Sharel Cassity: alto saxophone; Michael Dease: trombone; Tom Barber: trumpet, flugelhorn; Pete Reardon-Anderson: tenor saxophone; Adam Birnbaum: piano; Paul Beaudry: bass; Vincent Ector: drums.

Just for You

---