Showing posts with label jazz vocal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jazz vocal. Show all posts

Bare Bones Review

Bare Bones
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Bare Bones ReviewMadeleine's musical training came on the streets of Paris, where she started as a busker, then after a street-corner audition she got a gig singing with the Lost Wandering Blues and Jazz band, performing songs by artists such as Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Fats Waller.
Her previous albums Careless Love and Half the Perfect World sold over a million copies, earning critical-acclaim for her Jazz-Blues interpretations of works by artists such as Leonard Cohen and Edith Piath.
When she went "missing" in Britain while promoting her breakthrough album "Careless Love", her record company couldn't wait to tell the media.
How better to differentiate Maddie from the rest of the jazz-lite crew than by painting her as a wayward chanteuse? She hadn't disappeared, of course. She'd simply become bored with the promo-circus and gone back to New York. And who could blame her?
But Madeleine didn't need a vanishing act to raise her above her rivals. Her smoke-and-honey vocals, Billie Holiday phrasing, and breezily bohemian way with classy material had assured her fanbase.
They won't be disappointed by her new release, "Bare Bones", produced by Joni Mitchell's ex, Larry Klein.
She has built a career on interpreting the works of other people.
Her sensitive, exquisite voice, reminiscent of the great jazz singers of our yesterdays has added her signature 'postmodernist coolness' (LA Times) and fresh brushstrokes to the work of artists including Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Hank Williams and Serge Gainsbourg.
"Bare Bones" is her 4th solo album and her third with Rounder Records.
It's her most personal, intimate and almost confessional album: she had a hand in writing all the 11 tracks, including collaborations with producer Larry Klein, Walter Becker, Julian Coryell, Joe Henry, David Batteau and Sean Wayland : her intimate readings of original and contemporary love songs evoke emotions laid bare.
It's a daring high-wire act for the 34-year-old singer who for the first time is working without the safety net of covering songs associated with her favourite musical acts, mostly from the past.
With "Bare Bones", Maddie has crafted her best album yet, an artistic breakthrough that finds her sublime voice wrapped around a collection of soulful, silky late-night songs that she helped craft from their inception, marking her evolution as a songwriter. One song, "I Must Be Saved", was written entirely by Peyroux.
While the surface of the songs she sings has an easy-listening quality, there are chasms of emotional turmoil lurking beneath.
She says the album builds from wariness, to loss, to acceptance, and finally to hope.
"I'm really happy that I got to write", she adds, "It feels like a new segment, and it's great work. I'm surrounded by beautiful sounds, really honest musicians, really honest playing".
In fact, the musicianship is excellent: a small group of top notch artists underscore perfectly the languid and bluesy singing of the unusual diva: organist Larry Goldings, pianist Jim Beard, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, plus producer Klein on bass, his new wife, Brazilian Luciana Souza - who, by the way, is a guest on all Larry Klein produced albums - on bckgr vocals, Dean Parks on guitar, and Carla Kihlstedt on violin.
"It's an exhilarating mixture of fear and self-confidence, in a way...And, obviously, because I am a very new writer, I'm kind of discovering myself by watching audiences' takes on this stuff".
She will always be a busker. Her bohemian upbringing ensures it. Her eschewing of the trappings of celebrity proves it.
And maybe this time around as well, sometimes soon she will vanish just to resurface some days later in another corner of her world.
"Peyroux's soul and melting voice stands out, ways out, from the pack". - TimeOut
Maddie, who said she spent time in a domestic violence shelter as a child, is donating $1 from every ticket sold on her current tour to local charities affiliated with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
My favourite tracks: "Instead", "River of Tears", "You Can't Do Me", "Love and Treachery" and "Something Grand", which she wrote "in support of the new era with Barack Obama".
Oceana
Update.
The album debuts at # 1 of Billboard Top Jazz Album.
Issue date: 2009-03-28Bare Bones Overview

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When I Look in Your Eyes Review

When I Look in Your Eyes
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When I Look in Your Eyes ReviewWhile I'm a new fan of Diana Krall, I have to say that she's such a great talent, and I'm so glad that there's an artist like her out there making music. In this day of "Mainstream Pop", hearing someone who has real musicianship is a much needed change of pace.
The first time I saw Diana was when I was watching Jazz Central on BET a few years ago, and I was truly impressed, but I never really tried to find out anything more about her, until this year. I was searching on the Internet and I found her rendition of "Christmas time is here". I was totally blown away, and I had to find more.
From the very first song, "Let's face the music and dance", with its steamy bossa nova, smokey delivery from Diana, and smooth string accompaniment, it's really hard to put this album down. All of the arrangements are extremely well done, and Diana brings out all of the emotions of each song like she's lived through them all. Especially the title track. I couldn't stop listening to it. I just hit the replay button, and fell into the lush sounds of the strings, the warm guitar, while I fell in love with Diana's soothing, comforting voice. VERY few albums have ever done that to me before, and I can't wait for her next effort so she can do it to me again.
Now I can understand that people are mad that Diana doesn't show off her great piano chops, and those who claim that she's selling out, but I have to totally disagree. Diana doesn't have to go the route of so many artists and use their albums to display how great they are; she just wants the music to show for itself. As for the selling out thing, she is more popular, yes. Being nominated for Album of the year proves that, but can't an artist be allowed to grow, and even expand out of their genre ever so slightly? This album is NOT Pop and ESPECIALLY NOT elevator music. Having strings on a jazz album is also not a sign of selling out either. While the strings were certainly not needed, as she sounds just as great with just her trio, the strings just added a whole other dimension to the songs. I'm glad that she went that route, as it made for a wonderfully splendid album.
It couldn't come any more highly recommended. Go get it now. And while you're at it, newcomers should go and get her other albums as well, so you can see that her talent isn't just a one-album affair; it's the real deal.When I Look in Your Eyes OverviewJapanese edition of the accomplished Canadian jazz pianist/ vocalist's 1999 outing with 'P.S. I Love You' added as a bonus track, for a total of 14 selections.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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The New Bossa Nova Review

The New Bossa Nova
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The New Bossa Nova ReviewThis is my first album for Luciana Souza and I am well impressed. Smooth voice; Smooth re composition for each song, James Taylor nicely adding his lovely voice on "Never die Young"; This album is a bouquet of nice songs of Sting, James Taylor, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Brazilian Bossa Nova? No.
Bossa Nova Luciana Souza's style? Absolutely.
Highly recommended for all the smooth Jazz, Smooth Rock and Bossa Nova lovers, who are into some great music, composed by all the artists I mentioned above, played, twisted and sang in an absolutely lovely and charming way.
4 stars or 5 are well deserved.
Other well recommended album of a similar great style:
Joni Mitchell: Turbulent Indigo
Joni Mitchell: Taming the Tiger
The New Bossa Nova OverviewThe New Bossa Nova finds Souza applying her interpretative skills to material drawn from a diverse array of sources, including Joni Mitchell ("Down To You"), Leonard Cohen ("Here It Is"), Sting ("When We Dance"), Elliott Smith ("Satellite"), Steely Dan ("Were You Blind That Day"), Brian Wilson ("God Only Knows"), Randy Newman ("Living Without You"), Michael McDonald ("I Can Let Go Now") and legendary bossa nova master Antonio Carlos Jobim (the standard "Waters of March"), along with a pair of memorable new songs written for the project, "You and the Girl," written by Souza and producer Larry Klein, and "Love Is for Strangers," by Klein and Steely Dan's Walter Becker.The set also features a memorable guest appearance by James Taylor, who joins Souza for a soulful duet reading of the Taylor composition "Never Die Young." The New Bossa Nova marks an exciting new chapter for the Brazilian-born vocalist and three-time Grammy® nominee, who's already widely acknowledged as one of jazz's most respected and accomplished vocalists.The 11-song album finds the artist crafting a fresh and highly personal variation on the beloved bossa nova style, matching Souza's exquisite, deeply-felt performances with spare, eloquent arrangements that place the emphasis squarely on the songs' timeless emotional truths.The album confirms Souza's reputation as both a world-class vocalist and a versatile, consistently adventurous creative force.The project is Souza's first collaboration with her husband, producer/musician Klein, whose extensive resume encompasses work with artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Peter Gabriel and Wayne Shorter.The New Bossa Nova also features a stellar cast of players including tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, guitarist Romero Lubambo, pianist Edward Simon, bassist Scott Colley, vibraphonist Matt Moran and drummer Antonio Sanchez.

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Live in Paris Review

Live in Paris
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Live in Paris ReviewI know diana Krall gets her share of record company hype, but in the case of the DVD and CD here, it's actually deserved -- and therefore it really isn't "hype".
"The Look of Love" from 2001, was a bad stumble, and I guess Diana and her cohorts realized it. So they set out to redeem and recapture their stature and reputations. Just for the record, they succeeded -- the recovery is magnificent. I'm not sure if this is the same band with which she toured Asia in 2001 (a stellar performance on May 7, 2001 in Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR --if anyone else reading this caught it, then you know). But the jazz musicianship here is outstanding.
The strings and studio-generated mush is gone, and so are the producer efforts to make Diana Krall sound like "[insert top pop-chick's name] for adults". There are several elements that make this a worthwhile purchase even if you own several Krall studio CD's. In the case of the DVD, there's the added bonus of the visuals, an expanded song selection, and lots of off stage and 'behind the scenes' footage. But as if to make sure that fans buy both, the CD features songs not on the DVD. THe mix is more jazz and less pop than the studio recordings. As a consequence, Diana Krall's piano playing is featured more prominently. Songs that really fell flat on "Look of Love" are also brought to life by the presence of a drummer and vibraharpist (who is curiously not credited--probably due to some matter involving lawyers).
This performance is a return to classic form for jazz fans. The arrangements are excellent, the crowd is quiet during the songs -- but clearly thrilled by the performance. But what really makes this memorable is the song selection. That is strong enought here that I think this CD will still be listened to (and selling) decades from now.
A few surprises are "Just The Way You Are", from Billy Joel's mid-1970's album "The Stranger", and "A Case Of You", an obscure Joni Mitchell song from "Blue". The jazz versions actually outdoo the originals in some respects, and suggest that great songs will be Diana Krall's main focus in future releases. That impression is reinforced by her rendition of "Fly Me To The Moon", originally a hit for Frank Sinatra.
While she missed being on the soundtrack to the movie "Space Cowboys", Krall has had other collaborations with Clint Eastwood. Eastwood (along with Willie Nelson and a few other old warhorses) seems to be looking for cool new talent and apparently Diana Krall fits that mold. So, I think we can all expect some really exceptional releases and movie soundtrack work from Diana and her fellow musicians in the next few years.
By refusing to go the pop route and doing what some brain dead VP at a record company wanted, Diana Krall has avoided the fate of Cheryl Crow and others who desparately chase celebrity and try to be part of the IN CROWD. With this release she has crossed a threshold to become one of the IN CROWD on her own terms.
This CD has the earmarks of a defining piece of work. Probably the first classic Jazz release of the 21st century.Live in Paris OverviewCanadian version of 2002 live release includes oneexclusive bonus track, 'Charmed Life' & the U.S. bonustrack, 'Just The Way You Are' (Studio Version/Billy Joelcover). The first-ever live concert recording from Grammywinning vocalist/pianist Diana Krall, recorded at the Paris Olympia Theatre winter 2002. Here finally, captured inamazing audio quality, is an album showcasing the magic ofKrall's concert performances. Krall & her band - performsome of the tunes from Krall's studio recordings, such as'East of the Sun (West of the Moon)' & 'Devil May Care'.Joined by special guests John Pisano (acoustic guitar) &Paulinho DaCosta (percussion) for several tracks, including the Gershwin's 'S'wonderful'. The Orchestre SymphoniqueEuropean, conducted by Alan Broadbent with special guestconductor Claus Ogerman, is featured on the upbeat 'Let'sFall in Love' & a haunting interpretation of 'I've Got You

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The Orchard Review

The Orchard
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The Orchard ReviewThe woman's voice is maddeningly beautiful. Heavy and sweet like molasses. And this album does it justice. Not to knock her other two albums, those were in there own right above average, but if you listened to her sing just once you knew there was something more, a fire to her voice she didn't tap into yet, but it stirred in the background.
It's on display all over this disc. It sounds as if Nina Simone made a country album, with all the trials, terrors and pain of her best work played up with fiddles, sullen choruses and just the right amount of a slow burn. Songs like "It Makes No Difference" is proof; it just breathes on its own, like a good song should.
"Song For Mia" with its guitar and piano leading into Wright's quivering voice is a soul cleansing revelation. As is "When I Fall," her delivery betraying the undercurrent of insecurity.
These songs wouldn't work so well if the voice wasn't so bonded to the music. Wright isn't striving or belting to give you angst. It's all subtle heartbreak, oozing out of that alto like smoke from a chimney in winter. I won't even get into her ripping through "I Idolize You" where she gives it a pensive, cautious warning to her lover instead of the rawness and sexy punch of Ike & Tina Turner's version -- it works.
Brilliant record.The Orchard Overview

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