Time Piece

My first response when I looked at the CD cover for Morrie Louden’s Time Piece is, ‘There sure are a lot of musicians on this album.’ Counting Louden seventeen different musicians appear on Time Piece and that is not counting vocalist Gretchen Parlato. The presence of so many talented musicians contributes to the full-bodied orchestral ambience created by Louden and arranger Gil Goldstein

Inspired by the compositions of Antonio Carlos Jobin, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett and Michel Lagrand, Louden worked his magic on the charts for “Insensatez,” a distinctly Brazilian tune blessed by the emotive and ethereal high soprano vocals of Gretchen Parlato. In addition to Louden’s bass other highlights to listen for on “Insensatez,” include Alex Sipiagin’s flugelhorn and Mike Eckroth’s piano solo. The Portuguese lyrics were written by Nanny Assis. I do not understand a word of Portuguese but I do understand sensibility and both the musicians and Parlato bring a lot of that to this great song.

More than any other song on Will Call the title of the song, “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get,” defines the personality of jazz saxophonist Will Donato. There is a lot about this CD that gives the listener insight to this gifted smooth jazz musician, take for instance the back cover of the CD where the beautiful woman whom he is leaning into is his wife Diana. His conversation is peppered with glowing references to his wife and daughter.

You get an opportunity in this business to talk to all kinds of people, those who are stressed because gigs are difficult to come by, those who are intense and passionate almost over the top not about themselves but their careers, some who like a lot of artsy people are flakey, and then there is Will Donato. This is a smooth jazz cat that is comfortable in his own skin, is enjoying life and speaks enthusiastically about the part of the country that he lives in, “I absolutely love where I live (Palm Springs) and I feel very lucky to live here.” He speaks warmly about his friends and gratefully concerning any success that has come his way.

Breathe The Relaxing Jazz Guitar

Breathe The Relaxing Jazz Guitar is an aptly named CD from Telarc featuring some of the finest guitarists on the jazz scene. The album opens with the gorgeous “Ah Moore,” led by Joe Pass’s guitar united with the rhythm guitar of John Pisano and finely complemented by Jim Hughart’s bass. Tom Ranier’s piano chops are sparkling.

The Ray Brown Trio and Swedish guitarist Ulf Wakenius (Oscar Peterson Quartet) hook up for “My Funny Valentine,” the kind of a song that you can enjoy with your feet up and a nice glass of chardonnay. Alternatively, this might be the song to which you can dim the lights and have a candle lit dinner.

Francis Jacob: Side-By-Side

The inspiration behind the recording of both electric and acoustic guitar versions for most of the songs originated with the fact Jacob is part of an electric quartet in New York City, and also performs numerous gigs with African bands. Jacob says, “The African people have never seen me playing a nylon string guitar and the other people have never seen me playing electric. They are totally different scenes. At first I thought I would to the acoustic version, and then I thought I would do it (as an electric) CD, but then I (concluded) I will do it both ways.”

Veneration

At a considerably young age as jazz musicians go, Wayne Escoffery has established himself as a premier tenor and soprano sax player. Born in London England, Escoffery emigrated to New Haven, Connecticut as a boy and now makes his home in the Big Apple. His new release, Veneration, is his third solo project and first live CD.

The approach that Escoffery took with Veneration was to pay homage to some of the great musicians of the past, artists whom he says people often consider as great improvisers but overlook as contributors to original compositions. On the new CD, Escoffery recorded Memphian Booker Little’s “Bee Vamp” and “Looking Ahead,” while the beautiful “I Waited For You” sprang from the creative imaginations of Walter Fuller and Dizzy Gillespie. The closing track, “Melody For Melonae,” was written by alto saxophonist Jackie McLean in the early sixties.