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Archive for the ‘Jazz Music’ Category

Speak Like A Child is the latest Jazz CD put out by the richly talented Herbie Hancock who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I’m confident Herbie Hancock fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one.

Unfortunately, it’s not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Speak Like A Child. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

One of the nicer things about a CD like this is when the talent is this rich even if Jazz isn’t your favorite style you still can’t help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.

If you’re even mildly into Jazz music you’ll enjoy this album. Overall Speak Like A Child is an a great release. I give it my double thumbs up. You will not be disappointed with one single track.

While this entire album is really very good the truly standout tunes are track 5 – Goodbye To Childhood, track 2 – Speak Like A Child, and track 9 – Goodbye To Childhood.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – Riot. Good stuff!

Speak Like A Child Release Notes:

Herbie Hancock originally released Speak Like A Child on March 1, 2005 on the Blue Note Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Riot 2. Speak Like A Child 3. First Trip 4. Toys 5. Goodbye To Childhood 6. Sorcerer, The 7. Riot – (first alternate take) 8. Riot – (second alternate take) 9. Goodbye To Childhood – (alternate take)

Personnel: Herbie Hancock (piano); Jerry Dodgion (alto flute); Thad Jones (flugelhorn); Peter Philips (bass trombone); Ron Carter (double bass); Mickey Roker (drums).

Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (03/06/1968 – 03/09/1968).

Brazil, the fifth largest country in South America , is a land rich in history, mystique and exceptions to the rule. Founded as a Portuguese colony in 1500 that was later known as the Empire of Brazil, it became a republic in 1889 and is now known as the Federative Republic of Brazil. Its official language is Portuguese, which is spoken by nearly the entire population – and the only Portuguese-speaking nation in Latin America – making its natural and cultural identity very distinct from its Spanish-speaking neighbors. Brazilian Portuguese is also different from that spoken in Portugal . It is fitting that the Museum of the Portuguese Language in Brazil ’s capital São Paulo is the first language museum in the world.

One of the founding members of the United Nations, Brazil is the world’s tenth largest economy and boasts a natural environment of unparalleled diversity and breathtaking geographic beauty, making it a great draw for international tourists seeking sun and beach and adventure forays into the Amazon Rainforest. But where Brazil really stands out in terms of its natural resources and cultural contribution to the world is music, specifically jazz. Although it can claim many fine classical composers, Brazil is where the great rhythm-and-beat styles of the samba, bossa nova, pagoda, frevo and many others found life.

“Watercolor of Brazil” (known in most English-speaking countries as simply “Brazil”), written in 1939 by politically militant composer Ary Barroso, became one of the most popular songs of all times and was the birth of the samba. Since then it has enjoyed innumerable recordings from Brazilian native musical artists like Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto, but internationally as well by such legends as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney to still more recent versions by Placido Domingo, Dionne Warwick and the Ritchie Family. With the ballroom dancing craze fuelled by popular TV shows like “Dancing With the Stars,” the song ” Brazil ” and the samba have found a fresh generation of eager fans.

Arguably one of the most beloved and respected musicians of the 20/21st century is Brazil’s João Gilberto who rose to fame in the late 1950s when he slowed down the samba to work with his syncopated acoustic guitar. His cool, hip way of whispering lyrics made him an idol of U.S. beatniks and jazz artists alike, and he continues to inspire a new generation of pop artists like Gilberto Gil,Caetano Veloso and his own daughter Bebel Gilberto, now a star in her own right. But Gilberto’s place on the world jazz map was firmly stamped when a collaboration with songwriter Jobim, a fellow Brazilian, led them to record “Chega de Saudade” and create the bossa nova.

The bossa nova quickly became a craze in the United States and spread through the world after American jazz saxophone legend Stan Getz discovered the sound and recorded, amongst others, “The Girl From Ipanema” with Gilberto and his wife Astrud. Bossa nova-style jazz remained Getz’s icon sound until he died. Gilberto remains a superstar in Brazil and one of its greatest natural resources.

For more information on Brazil, visit http://www.brazilmicroblog.com and http://www.latinamicroblog.com.

Very talented Jazz artist Rick Braun has released him latest album titled RNR and Wow! It’s good.

It’s a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I’m more than happy to announce that’s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply is NOT a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it’s own.

RNR is a pleasantly varied, mix of 12 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly gifted artist. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Clearly drawing from what I can only imagine are him own personal experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions like love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. They’re all here.

Overall RNR is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Jazz collection. Truly an outstanding Jazz CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

While the entire CD is outstanding the truly standout tunes are track 2 – Sweet Somethin’, track 8 – Down And Dirty, and track 12 – Sao Paulo.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 9 – Two Heart Tango. Good stuff!

RNR Release Notes:

Rick Braun originally released RNR on August 28, 2007 on the ARTizen Music Group label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Rnr 2. Sweet Somethin’ 3. Curve Ball 4. Stranger, The 5. Da J.R. Funk 6. Que Paso 7. Better Times 8. Down And Dirty 9. Two Heart Tango 10. Q It Up 11. Sunday Night 12. Sao Paulo

Personnel: Rick Braun (flugelhorn); Richard Elliot (tenor saxophone); Chris Standring, Dwight Sills, Randy Jacobs, John Pondell (guitar); Nick Lane (trombone); Phillipe Saisse, Gregg Karukas, Jeff Lorber, Rex Rideout (keyboards); Nate Phillips (bass guitar); Ricky Lawson, Sergio Gonzalez (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion).

I can describe the latest release from Jazz sensation Steve Cole for you with just one word… Outstanding!

Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Jazz music fans will recognize some of the well known guests that have been assembled to play along with Cole on several of the tracks. Artists like Lenny Castro and Will Lee just to name a couple.

Listen to Ny La and I believe you’ll find there’s not much to dis-like about it. The songs are inspired, the production is simply outstanding, and Steve Cole is clearly in top form. So much so that if you’re even mildly into Jazz music you’ll enjoy this CD.

While this entire CD is outstanding some of my favorites are track 3 – Tonight It’s On, track 9 – Close Your Eyes, Free Your Mind, and track 10 – Keep It Alive

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – NY-LA. Great track!

Ny La Release Notes:

Steve Cole originally released Ny La on March 25, 2003 on the Warner Bros. Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. NY-LA 2. Everyday 3. Tonight It’s On – (featuring Mauli B./Charlean Hines) 4. Love Letter 5. Off Broadway 6. Interlude IV 7. Every Little Thing – (featuring Mauli B.) 8. Missing You 9. Close Your Eyes, Free Your Mind 10. Keep It Live – (featuring Brevi/Aloe Blacc)

Personnel: Steve Cole (soprano, alto & tenor saxophones, keyboards, synthesizer); Charlean Hines, Mauli B, Brevi (vocals); Aloe Blacc (rap vocals); David Mann (tenor saxophone, keyboards); Barry Danielian (trumpet, flugelhorn); Brian Culbertson (piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Daron Johnson (Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Otmaro Ruiz (Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards); Marquis “Hami” Dair (keyboards, guitar); Paul Jackson, Jr., Tony Maiden, Bernd Schoenhart (guitar); Alex Al, Will Lee (bass); Reggie Hamilton (upright bass); Michael White, Kahari Parker, Ralph Rolle (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Walter Lee (turntables).

Producers: Brian Culbertson, Marquis “Hami” Dair, Susan Youngblood, David Mann.

I can describe the latest release from Jazz sensation Jim Brinkman for you with just one word… Outstanding!

It’s a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I’m more than happy to announce that’s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply is NOT a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it’s own.

Jazz music fans will recognize some of the well known guests that have been assembled to play along with Brinkman on several of the tracks. Artists like Dann Huff and Dan Shea just to name a couple.

Listen to this CD and I believe you’ll find there’s not much to dis-like about it. The songs are inspired, the production is simply outstanding, and Jim Brinkman is clearly in top form. So much so that if you’re even mildly into Jazz music you’ll enjoy this CD.

While the entire CD is really very good the truly standout tunes are track 3 – Sound Of Your Voice, track 6 – You Never Know, and track 13 – Hero’s Dream.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – Dream Come True. Great track!

Picture This Release Notes:

Jim Brinkman originally released Picture This on January 28, 1997 on the Windham Hill Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Dream Come True 2. Sun, Moon & Stars 3. Sound Of Your Voice 4. Picture This 5. Edgewater 6. You Never Know 7. Coming Home 8. Frere Jacques 9. Secret Love 10. First Steps 11. Valentine 12. Sweet Dreams 13. Hero’s Dream

Personnel includes: Jim Brickman (piano); Martina McBride (vocals); Dan Huff (guitar); Martin Tillman (cello); The Nashville String Machine (strings); Boney James (soprano saxophone); Dan Shea (synthesizer, programming); Mike Brignardello (bass).

Producers: David Pringle, Jim Brickman, Dan Shea.

Engineers include: Eddie King, Leslie Mona-Mathus, Dan Shea.

Principally recorded at Megatrax Studios, North Hollywood, California from July to August 1996; The Hit Factory, New York, New York from May to June 1996; WallyWorld, San Rafael, California between August and October 1996.