The Jazz Owl
  • Travis Rogers, Jr. -- The Jazz Owl
  • A Love of Music
  • Music Reviews
  • Reviews on Travis Rogers Jr.
  • Meetings with Remarkable People
  • SoulMates by Candlelight
  • Music in Portland
  • Toshi Onizuka
  • The Arts: Film, Literature and More
  • A Love of History
  • Baseball Stories
  • Personal Reflections

Sky Blossom by Alexis Cole

11/18/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
It has been humorously said that Alexis Cole maybe the most talented singer to ever hold a top secret military clearance and, even after a dozen albums of a great career, she may be the best kept secret in Jazz. I must admit that to be true for me. But, after her new album, Sky Blossom, that is no longer the case.

In 2009 she released her first albums and then joined The US army as a jazz singer. She served seven years in the army's big band but continued recording. She has recorded jazz standards, pop songs, Disney tunes, and even recorded with guitarist extraordinaire Bucky Pizzarelli. She left the military in 2016 and truly began to focus on her singing career And contributions through jazz education.

But this new album, Sky Blossom, is enough to make the jazz world sit up and take notice. From Clifford Brown tunes to Anthony Newley to the Gershwins to Miles Davis to Thelonious Monk And more, she shows her jazz mastery of interpretation and performance. She is extraordinary. She is joined by a phenomenal big band under the musical direction of Scott Arcangel. 

The album is kicked off by Clifford Brown’s Joy Spring. The lyrics are by Jezra Kaye and Alexis takes complete ownership of the piece. John Castleman contributes a terrific trumpet solo and the band is on fire from the start in this Scott Arcangel arrangement.

Anthony Newley’s Pure Imagination is a supremely well-known song that was featured in the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. “I love the message of this song, that the only limitation to your reality is your ability to imagine it,” said Alexis in the liner notes of her album. Bob Sheppard gives a remarkable solo on saxophone and the results are enough to make you forget any previous version you ever heard.

George and Ira Gershwin’s How Long Has This Been Going on follows Ann must surely be considered one of the highlights of the album. Rich and sultry are only two of the definitive phrases to describe Alexis’ rendering of this song. It is worth hearing over and over again. And then comes All Blues by Miles Davis and Oscar Brown, Jr. The vocal range is staggering in itself and the Scott Arcangel arrangement contains wonderful surprises. Listen for the alto sax solo from Derrick James of the West Point Band.

The Gershwins are represented again in the classic Our Love Is Here to Stay. The big band delivery adds punch and power that we didn't know was missing. This one deserves repeated listening, as well.

John Lennon's Across the Universe is probably my favorite Beatles song of all time and Alexis takes the music to heart and interprets it with an application to herself. Again, the Arcangel arrangement is superb, giving hints of both gospel and guru. Limitless, undying love which shines across me like a million suns it calls me on and on across the universe is my favorite lyric ever written and Alexis just owns it. Only the piano and cymbals accompany her on the line and the purely vocal delivery is marvelous.

Thelonious Monk’s How I Wish was given lyrics by Jon Hendricks and Alexis was given the lyric from Hendricks himself. Alexis takes these melancholy lyrics on top of the exquisite piano and the lament is palpable. It is Scott Arcangel who plays piano on this Mike Reifenberger arrangement. Gorgeous all around. Hendricks also contributed the lyrics for Gigi Grace’s Social Call. Alexis and Hendricks have a connection that begs for more performances and recordings.

Let me be honest. I'm not a Billy Joel fan. Never have been. But he does right songs that others have reimagined and reinterpreted to phenomenal results. New York State of Mind is one such song. I recall hearing Melissa Etheridge perform it at the Grammys many years ago and I thought she had offered the definitive version of the song. Until now. Alexis takes the song and takes complete possession of it. Her voice, her delivery, her interpretation of the song is something amazing.

The album wraps up with Gene Sheers’ American Anthem. This was one of the songs that concluded Alexis’ tour of duty in 2015. The lyrics of the song were quoted in President Biden's 2021 inaugural address. It is the only song on the album that is accompanied only by solo piano. That in itself gives it a warm and meaningful aspect that is only enhanced by Alexis’ vocals. What a fine way to conclude an album.

Alexis Cole’s Sky Blossom (a term used to describe and open parachute in descent) is a fabulous album. From the arrangements to the song selection, it creates the undeniably perfect platform for Alexis Cole to show her artistry and mastery. The big band sound and the gorgeous vocals are what every Jazz fan longs for. This is an album worth hearing over and over and over.

                   ~Travis Rogers, Jr. is The Jazz Owl


0 Comments

Carolyn Lee Jones' Christmas Time is Here

11/18/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Yes, it is time to start dusting off old favorite Christmas albums but also time to find some new ones. Christmas Time Is Here by Carolyn Lee Jones is bound to become one of those new favorites.

With a great but flexible core quartet, and added horns and strings, and great arrangements from Brad Williams and David Pierce, Carolyn Lee Jones has delivered just in time for the holidays. Her vocals are sweet and lush, exactly what you want to tug on the heartstrings in these Christmas classics. In her liner notes, Miss Jones rights, “Here's a Christmas album that I hope will spread holiday cheer to you and yours. It was very special and so uplifting to create this album with my wonderful musical partners. My hope is that this collection of songs for the season will be enjoyed by all for years to come.” 


Nothing on the album belies that sentiment. She kicks off the album with the Robert Wells and Mel Torme classic, the Christmas Song. This is exactly how you want to start a Christmas CD. The cool piano, bass, and drums set up the song perfectly and her vocals are seamless and flawless. What follows is a song that has become a Christmas classic, Christmas Time Is Here, the title song and the hugely popular theme from A Charlie Brown Christmas. The music is, of course, by Vince Guaraldi with lyrics by Lee Mendelson. It is an amazing song with that touch of melancholy that is so attractive and has been since the cartoon came out. Again, Miss Jones just nails it.


A couple of lesser-known tunes follow. Warm in December (Sidney Russel-composer) is from a Julie London recording and Jingles the Christmas Cat by Ray Albert Parker is a fun little number and especially loved by those who love cats. Cole Porter's you'd be so nice to come home too is given a holiday treatment and beautifully transformed by Miss Jones and Company. Brad Williams contributes very nice piano solo, as well as Keith Jourdan on flugelhorn.


Another Julie London peace, written by Bobby Troup, is I'd Like You for Christmas. The original is transformed into a bit of a Jazz waltz with a fine tenor saxophone solo from Shelly Carroll. The song reflects everyone’s desire to love and be loved during the holidays. Merry Christmas Baby is given the big band or even orchestra treatment Results are satisfying.


Red Christmas is a new song and is written by Jeanie Perkins. The song is a whimsical send up of holiday shopping and is a fun and charming tune. Then Miss Jones takes on the sweet and sassy, sultry and slinky holiday classic, Santa Baby. Somewhere, Eartha Kitt is smiling. Toyland, from the Victor Herbert operetta Babes in Toyland, libretto by Glen McDonough, is a beauty. Far from the 1903 original, Miss Jones gives it a bossa nova feel and it feels good.


Irving Berlin appears twice with his classic White Christmas and Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep). Both cases, Miss Jones and the band give a 21st century rendering of the 20th century classics. The strings, sax, and B3 of the former with the swinging trio of the latter give a modern statement to the old chestnuts.


Christmas Time Is Here by Carolyn Lee Jones definitely deserves to be in somebody's Christmas stocking. But give it to them as an early Christmas present because you will want to enjoy it all season long.



~Travis Rogers, Jr. is The Jazz Owl


0 Comments

June Bisantz' 7 Shades of Snow

11/18/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture
June Bisantz has made a career of collections of original Jazz and she has been acknowledged widely because of it. Now in time for the holidays, Bisantz has put together a marvelous collection of holiday tunes from Arnold Miller and Connie Pierce, originally written for June Christy in 1961, called 7 Shades of Snow. It is wonderful.

The project was initiated in the Winter of 2020 as the pandemic closed venues and recording studios. Music and the creative force, however, will not be denied and 7 Shades of Snow is solid proof of that.

And what a discovery! That Bisantz should uncover this collection and manage to get it recorded with the Jon Burr Sextet at the height of the disaster, is extraordinary.

With bassist and bandleader Jon Burr are Mike Eckroth on piano, James Chirillo on guitar, Brandon Lee on trumpet, Marc Pfaneuf on saxophone, and Alvester Garnett on drums. John Burr did the arranging and producing.

This is not just a holiday collection—although it contains splendid examples of holiday sentiment—but a celebration of the Winter season.

The Merriest kicks off the album with its cool horn section and fantastic introduction to Bisantz’ warm vocals. Brandon Lee’s trumpet solo is short and tight but spot-on. The pairing of trumpet and Pfaneuf’s sax is excellent. Then Ring a Merry Bell carries right along and the fun continues. Again, the horns stand out but Burr’s warm bass solo is worth waiting for.

The ode to the holidays continues with Hang Them on a Tree with the lament-turned-celebration idea of getting rid of sadness and gloom by surrendering it all to the holidays. The beauty of the season is reflected in 7 Shades of Snow, the title song. A slow ballad makes this a wonderful palette for Bisantz’ vocal range and splendid artistry. She is a gem.

Sorry to See You Go is a farewell to the old year. This in itself is a harkening back to better days as no one was or is sorry to say goodbye to 2020 or 2021. In our times, Hit the Road Jack is closer to the mark. But’s remember what 1961 must have been like. And that’s the thing, too…June Bisantz lays on the nostalgia without being maudlin. It is a fond look back without the self-pity of our contemporary age.

She closes the album with Winter’s Got Spring Up Its Sleeve. This is a great tune with optimism and hope and a beautiful instrumental arrangement from Burr—as are all the tunes here. Seriously, what a great conclusion to a Winter’s reverie. It almost begs a celebration of Spring album from this crew.

​June Bisantz and the Jon Burr Sextet have given us a wonderful soundtrack for a return to holiday joys and loves. 7 Shades of Snow is the best gift we could ask to find in our stocking.


~Travis Rogers, Jr. is The Jazz Owl


2 Comments

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2017
    February 2017
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    Aaron Parks
    Akira Ishiguro
    Ches Smith
    Chuck Van Haecke
    Dewa Budjana
    George Colligan
    Goh Kurosawa
    Helen Sung
    Jack Dejohnette
    Kai Kurosawa
    Keith Jarrett
    Matt Mitchell
    Oscar Noriega
    Osmany Paredes
    Peter Erskine
    Pseudocidal
    Ruben Rodriguez
    Sharp Three
    Simakdialog
    Steven Kroon
    Susan Clynes
    Thierry Maillard
    Tim Berne
    Tim Berne's Snakeoil
    Tom Guarna

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.