Carmen Lundy - Jazz and the New Songbook: Live at the Madrid CD

Jazz and the New Songbook: Live at the Madrid CD music McCoy Tyner's work with the John Coltrane Quartet is well documented, and this CD marks a welcome return to that format. Recorded live at Yoshi's in Oakland, CA, over New Year's, Joe Lovano does the honors in the tenor sax chair, while bassist Christian McBride and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts hold the rhythm section together with honor, passion, and drive. The world-class bassist and drummer, usually known for their overt showmanship and over the top chops, show remarkable restraint and sensitivity throughout. Tyner and friends play several of his original compositions, well-known and revered over the years. Lovano sounds, eerily enough, like Pharoah Sanders, employing a slightly staggered expansive vibrato on "Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit," while using a more haunting stance à la Coltrane for "Mellow Minor," a new modern mainstream tune. Sounding more like himself, Lovano and the group join a loping desert caravan for the beautiful "Sama Layuca," with Lovano playing the part originally written for flute. They rip through "Passion Dance" and melt abject militarism during the poignant ballad "Search for Peace." Tyner, in character, utilizes a minimalist palette to extrapolate on improvisationally during his solos. After reported health problems, it is good to hear he is sounding quite inspired and energetic during the entire date. The happy song "Blues on the Corner" further cements his upbeat demeanor, while the finale/solo standard "For All We Know" is truly the real McCoy, replete with the many flourishes, dynamism, and harmonic colorations that distinguish him from all others. In many ways this is a remarkable date, a well-paced program with all the pieces (save "For All We Know") timed at around ten minutes, proof positive that Tyner's game is still very much on, and hovering at a very high level. ...

Jazz and the New Songbook: Live at the Madrid album for sale Over the dozen years since his debut recording as a leader, Eric Alexander has developed into one of the most important tenor saxophonists of his generation. Joined once again by one of his favorite pianists, Harold Mabern, along with bassist Nat Reeves and drummer Joe Farnsworth, Alexander kicks off this studio affair with a gritty hard bop treatment of "Where or When." "It's All in the Game" dates from the early part of the 20th century (written by future Vice President Charles Dawes), yet this is hardly a dated melody, as Alexander gives his best with a lush ballad treatment, while Mabern (who suggested the tune) incorporates subtle hints of gospel into his provocative solo. Thelonious Monk's "Ruby, My Dear" is revamped with a delightful brisk setting, while a Latin-flavored arrangement of the R&B hit "Where Is the Love" also transforms it into something new. Alexander's originals are equally enjoyable. "Typhoon 11" mixes a samba flavor with post-bop, with Mabern sounding at times like McCoy Tyner, while the tense blues "Open and Shut" would have been a perfect contribution to the repertoire of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Eric Alexander is a clear winner with It's All in the Game. ~ Ken Dryden Liner Note Author: Ted Panken. Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (07/29/2005). Personnel: Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone); Eric Alexander ; Nat Reeves (electric bass); Harold Mabern (piano); Joe Farnsworth (drums). Audio Mixer: Rudy Van Gelder.

Jazz and the New Songbook: Live at the Madrid buy CD music Jackie Ryan is one of the premier jazz singers in North America who the general public is unaware of. Perhaps the release of Doozy will boost her image into that of a very fine interpreter of standards and Brazilian tunes. Her flexible and perfectly pitched voice allows her to sing a wide variety of songs, and she handles them all well. Ryan recruited a fine accompanist in pianist Cyrus Chestnut for this two-CD set, alongside east coast all-stars like drummer Carl Allen and bassist Ray Drummond, lesser-known west coasters bassist Neal Smith and bassist Dezron Douglas, and sidemen like trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, and on the Brazilian tunes, guitarist Romero Lubambo. The program is very uneven in terms of upbeat numbers followed by downtempo ballads, and thus the listener experiences the jarring, immediate ups and downs. There's nothing at all wrong with the material, but it could have been lined up better. Ryan's voice goes through phases based on her many influences. She's quite fond of the Art Blakey/Jazz Messengers bluesy shuffle sound as heard on the lighter "Opportunity Please Knock" and the cuter take of "Dat Dere" where Pelt and Alexander play together quite nicely. Her homage to Betty Carter on "Do Something" starts slow, then goes crazy, while "Doozy" emphasizes a deeper toned vocalese with a fantastic solo scat à la Annie Ross. Ryan is clearly influenced by Sarah Vaughan during "Beautiful Moons Ago" where she adopts a huskier tone in a calypso stew, and cops Ernestine Anderson's persona from "Never Make Your Move Too soon" on "My How The Time goes On." The Brazilian numbers are sung in an impressively elucidated Portuguese, Benny Carter's "Summer Serenade" is tinged in bossa nova melancholy, and the ballad "Solamente Una Vez" with Lubambo is utterly gorgeous and sensual. There's a New Orleans shuffle buoying the come on flattery song "Tell Me More and More, and Then Some," while her louder, more operatic Vaughan-like vocal is pronounced on the lengthy, emotional "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most." The musicianship from all involved is beyond reproach, and Ryan sounds comfortable on all fronts being accompanied by these players, to the point where it lifts her artistry to a higher level. Chestnut is his usual tasteful and sensitive self -- check him out on the intro of "Spring" for further evidence of his virtuosic powers. While this CD is very long for any one sitting, pick out favorite tracks and see if they don't become popular replays on your iPod or such similar device. ~ Michael G. Nastos (2-CD set) Featured on NPR, Voice of America, CNN TV, Jackie Ryan is, as JazzTimes states, "one of the outstanding jazz vocalists of her generation and, quite possibly, of all time." Doozy (recorded after her Lincoln Center debut, and backed by NYC's hot Liner Note Authors: Jackie Ryan; Don Heckman. Recording information: Bay Records Recording Studios, Oakland, CA (08/20/2006-01/18/2008); Bennett Studios, Englewood, NJ (08/20/2006-01/18/2008); Entourage Studios, Hollywood, CA (08/20/2006-01/18/2008). Author: Duke Ellington. Photographers: Cyrus Chestnut; Eric Nemeyer; John Ballard. Arrangers: Liz Kinnon; Larry Dunlap; Romero Lubambo; Tamir Hendelman. Personnel: Jackie Ryan (vocals); Romero Lubambo (guitar); Eric Alexander (saxophone); Jeremy Pelt (trumpet, flugelhorn); Cyrus Chestnut (piano); Dezron Douglas, Ray Drummond (upright bass); Neal Smith , Carl Allen (drums). Audio Mixers: Dave Kowalski; Geoff Gillette; Yutaka Yokokura; Dave Kowalsky.

Jazz and the New Songbook: Live at the Madrid songs Speaking eloquently to the benefits of keeping a working band together, One For All continues to add some distinctive flair to the mainstream tradition while building a singular book of originals and uniquely arranged standards. "Blueslike," their fifth Liner Note Author: C. Andrew Hovan. Recording information: Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, NY (12/14/2003). Photographer: Gildas Boclé. One for All: Peter Washington (double bass); David Hazeltine, Eric Alexander , Jim Rotondi , Steve Davis , Joe Farnsworth. Personnel: Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone); Jim Rotondi (trumpet, flugelhorn); Steve Davis (trombone); David Hazeltine (piano); Joe Farnsworth (drums).

Jazz and the New Songbook: Live at the Madrid album for sale Recorded at Studio Victor, Montreal, Canada in July 2003. Personnel: Carmen Lundy (vocals, percussion, background vocals); Regina Carter (violin); Mark Shim (saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Anthony Wonsey (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Victor Lewis (drums); Mayra Casales (percussion, background vocals); Elisabeth Oei (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Billy Szawlowski. Recording information: Studio Victor, Montreal, Canada (07/01/2003-07/22/2003). Photographers: Elisabeth Oei; James St. Laurent. Arrangers: Curtis Lundy; Carmen Lundy. Personnel: Carmen Lundy (vocals); Mark Shim (soprano & tenor saxophones); Regina Carter (violin); Anthony Wonsey (piano); Curtis Lundy (bass); Victor Lewis (drums); Mayra Casales (percussion).

Jazz and the New Songbook: Live at the Madrid CD music Carmen Lundy's 10th CD release features 11 new and original songs and a standout arrangement of "Nature Boy". Her rock solid core band of stellar musicians features Anthony Wonsey on piano, Curtis Lundy on bass, Jason Evan Brown on drums, Mayra Casales o