Traditional
| Performance (3/5) |
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| Sound (3/5) |
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Bennett, Sylvia
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Sonr”e
| Review Date: | 02-19-2012 |
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| Category | Ballads, Blues |
| Label | Out of Sight |
| Producer | Batt, Hal S. |
| Instrumental | Female Vocals |
O's Notes: Sylvia takes a turn on the Latin side with a dozen retooled classics sung in Spanish. Sonr’e (Smile) is a collection of songs we know, but infused with flavors of bossa novas, boleros and meringue. Highlights are "Sonr’e", "QuiŽn Ser‡", and "La Sombra de Tu Amor". The mood is light and festive.
| Performance (3/5) |
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| Sound (4/5) |
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Garcia, Rob
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The Drop and The Ocean
| Review Date: | 02-19-2012 |
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| Category | Bebop |
| Label | Bju |
| Producer | |
| Instrumental | Drums |
O's Notes: Drummer Rob Garcia leads a quartet with Noah Preminger (sax), John Hebert (b) and Dan Tepfer (p). This is a strong team that shines on the program of modern jazz across a variety of tempos. We preferred the upbeat tunes like "Will" and "Crash" along with the drums only "Flash #1". Garcia wrote all of the music and places the drums in the middle of the mix complimenting the melodies and anchoring the rhythms. At times they drift into free space but the collective effort is well done.
| Performance (4/5) |
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| Sound (3/5) |
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Longo, Mike
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To My Surprise
| Review Date: | 02-19-2012 |
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| Category | Swing |
| Label | CAP |
| Producer | |
| Instrumental | Piano |
O's Notes: Mike teams up with Bob Cranshaw (b), Lewis Nash (d), Jimmy Owens (t) and Lance Bryant (sax) for To My Surprise. The music is mostly modern jazz with a strong blues bent. Longo composed five of the twelve songs. "Alone Again" is among his best, a cool mid tempo cut with the brass featured on solos. Owens wrote "Magic Bluze" and the balance are covers. This is a happy team and we felt that spirit in the music.
| Performance (4/5) |
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| Sound (4/5) |
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Marie, RenŽ
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Black Lace Freudian Slip
| Review Date: | 02-19-2012 |
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| Category | Ballads, Blues |
| Label | MotŽma |
| Producer | Marie, RenŽ and Bruce Barth |
| Instrumental | Female Vocals |
O's Notes: Rene has a warm voice that invites the listener into the performance. She is on her game for Black Lace Freudian Slip, a collection of thirteen mostly original songs. Among the many good songs are "Fallin' Off A Log", the soulful blues and harmonization on "Deep In The Mountains", her scatting on "This For Joe" and "Tired". Marie is up close and personal with spot on tone and lots of inner spirit. This is one to plug in sit back and enjoy repeatedly!
| Performance (4/5) |
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| Sound (4/5) |
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Mendoza, Vince
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NIGHTS ON EARTH
| Review Date: | 02-19-2012 |
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| Category | Latin |
| Label | Horizontal |
| Producer | Mendoza, Vince |
| Instrumental | Instrumental |
O's Notes: Keyboardist Vince Mendoza has assembled a wealth of talent to perform on Nights On Earth. Luciana Souza (vocals), John Abercrombie (g), John Scofield (g), Joe Lovano (sax), Alex Acuna (perc), Bob Mintzer (sax), Christian McBride (b) and Luis Conte (perc) are just a few of the musicians employed along with the Metropole Orkest. They play a dozen Latin fusion originals that are arranged and conducted by Mendoza. This is a rich experience that blossoms on successive listening.
