A Great Year at JR247

    It’s been a great year here at JR247. Since Fernando Bernall gave me the green light to create articles, reviews and interviews, much of the Jazz world has opened their arms to us. And we’re just getting started!! This next year we plan to do even more.

    In the following article, I want to highlight some of my favorite recordings submitted in this last year. I also want to give-away some of the plans for articles and themes we plan to cover in 2007. And of course, plenty of more airplay and reviews of our favorite discs we receive here at the station.

Feature Articles in 2007

    We want to continue some of the State of Jazz Series through 2007. The only difference may be, that I’ll take an International musical focus. I’ve already talked to people in Scotland, Portugal England, Italy, Australia, Canada, Brazil and Greece about the idea of writing and submitting articles about jazz in their respective locales. The response so far has been encouraging. I hope that we can show how vital the music is in different parts of the world. Certainly, some great musicians reside in many different places internationally. We want to bring attention to them, the venues in which they play, and the people who listen to these fine musicians.

    Secondly, we want to have themes in Black History Month (Feb.), Women in Jazz (March) and Jazz Appreciation Month in April. Not all our bugs are worked out yet, but the plan is to have interviews of leaders in these communities to tell us the value of Jazz and the need to keep this music vital and alive.

    We also have a growing staff of writers joining JR247. We hope this trend continues. Each person I’ve selected to join us is either a musician or a professional in the music business. I also am going to ask a couple of people in the communications business, who are Jazz aficionado’s to join our staff in 2007.

    I’m also going to start some historical articles in 2007. They may be thematic or biographical. Either way, we’re going to pay tribute to some of the best in Jazz from yesteryear.

    Fernando and I strongly feel that musicians should review musicians. We do not review every disc that is submitted at JR247. We submit recordings to the staff of writers and they pick which discs they feel important to review. So what we review, we feel is some of the best recordings we had received in that month of submissions. We play everything however, and believe all the newer music should be heard for the people to decide what is valued.

Favorite Submissions

    I realize this could open a can of worms, because the quality of this year’s submissions was at a very high level. Certainly, taste is a factor in my picks, and I openly admit I have my own personal biases! With that said, it is also important to find a reviewer that has your tastes and similarities, so that you know what can be trusted in a person’s words. So here were some of my favorites in 2006!!!

Female Vocal Submissions

    So many!! Wow, it seemed I fell in love a few times a month with many of these. Here were some of my favorites:

Nancy King and Fred Hersch “Live at the Jazz Standard”-This is my number one vocal submission, male or female. Great musicianship by Nancy and Fred!!

Denise Donatelli-Beautiful stylist, great band, great arrangements by Tom Garvin.

Stevie Holland-OK, she’s not my real sister, but man, I sure love her powerful, rich voice. And she can swing!!

Stacey Kent-If you have not heard this, you’re missing one of the best out of England. Her husband, Jim Tomlinson plays a mean Stan Getz to boot, making this a wonderful listen.

Nancy Kelly-A greasy little disc, that also features Houston Pearson. Nice feel, great vocal stylings, and entertaining listen.

Karen Blixt-She is a nice jazz singer. Great feel, nice scats, great band headed by Joey de Fransico.

Gladys Knight-That’s right!! Check out her and the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra. She sings beautifully, swings, and is soulful beyond belief. Clayton’s contributions do not go unnoticed either!! Outstanding production!!

Male Vocal Submissions:

Jamie Davis-With many of the members of the Count Basie Band. It is soulful, honest and swinging!!

John Pizzarelli-With the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra-Seems like everything Clayton touches is gold!! John sings a variety of Sinatra classics with fresh new arrangements. Band is killer and so is John!!

Combo Recordings

Ted Nash “In The Loop”-great group dynamic. Nash shows why he’s been a major force in NYC for some time now.

Jerry Bregonzi “Tenor of the Times”-Are you kidding, is anyone out there any better than Jerry? Check out this disc!!!

Human Motion “Human Motion”-Bassist Jeff Greene has a marvelous group out of Chicago. They play great as a group, and beautiful compositions.

Steve Cardenas “Panoramic”-Another nice group CD, Cardenas and Mallby play great!!

Tim Coffman “Crossroads”-Great trombonist from the Chicago area. Great taste and musical sensiblilities!

Dave Bixler -If you do not know him, you’ll enjoy his compositions and playing.

Planet Jazz “In Orbit”-Spike Wilner’s beautiful compositions played by an all-star group from NYC. You can catch them on Sunday nights in Manhattan!! Highly recommended!!

Steve Davis “Update”-Davis once again reminds us he’s one of the best post-bop composers and trombonists in a long, long time.

Avishai Cohen “Continuo”-Man, Cohen is good. He blends his culture, writes beautifully, oh, did I mention he’s one of the best bassists in the world today?

Roy Hargrove “Nothing Serious”-Yeah right, this is very serious. Roy’s playing better than ever.

Dr. Lonnie Smith “Jungle Soul”-Smith and Bernstein are a telling combination. Oh, and what groove!!

Bobby Watson “Horizon Reassembled”-Who said Jazz educators can’t play? Have you heard Bobby and Terrell? Whoa!!!

Trio East “Best Bets”-You can tell they’ve been together 6 years. Inventive, creative playing!!

Ben Allsion “Cowboy Justice”-Spontaneous, energetic, explorative!! Did I miss anything? I loved Allison’s creativity!! Ron Horton shines!!

Larger Ensemble-Big Bands-Etc.

Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra “The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington”-What can I say, this is done in the right spirit and I believe -Duke would love this!! My favorite Big Band submission in 2006!!

Charley Harrison “Keeping My Composure”-Great young writer out of LA-teaming with a bunch of great Jazz musicians from Chicago. Well planned, nice writing!!

Phil Kelly “My Museum”-The liners said this was a pick-up session…… Pretty *&^% good one if you ask me.

Buselli-Wallarab “Carol of the Bells”-Everything this band does, is with taste and elegance!

Jim McNeeley “Up From the Skies”-This guy is still one of the best of his generation. Nice recording!!!

Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra W/Gladys Knight-I love this disc. Gladys is superb! John’s writing is exquisite!! Band is awesome!!

Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra W/John Pizzerelli-What did I just say about the last one, diddo-Danno!! John Clayton is producing some marvelous work these days!!

Clayton-Hamilton W/Dianna Krall-This was simply well produced, arranged, and performed. What a dynamic ensemble, with a dynamic plan to bring Jazz to so many people!!!

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra “The Music of Jim McNeeley”-Another quality recording form one of NYC’s finest ensembles!

Linclon Center Jazz Orchestra “Don’t be afraid…the music of Charles Mingus.”-We we’re not afraid. We loved it! Great work again from NYC’s Lincoln Center!

Rick Holland Evan Dobbins Little Big Band-Ok, Ok…nepotism at 247. But this is really good. Check the arrangements by Bill Dobbins, Brent Wallarab, Jim Martin and Kerry Strayer. Shameless promotion, I know,  possibly my last chance!!


Latin Jazz Submissions

Brazilian---

Hendrik Meurkens “Amazon River”-I’ve read from at least one critic, that this is the finest Brazilian Jazz Recording ever released. Whether that’s true, is in the ears of the listener. This is for sure, it’s my favorite Brazilian  Jazz submission to JR247 this year!!
Sandro Albert “In the Color of Things”-It’s commercial, and very well done.

Syncopated Style-

Harvie S. “Funky Cha”-This is some of the best syncopated music I’ve heard!! Period!! Exclamation point!!!! Harvie is amazing!! And he has a great band these days!!

Ray Barretto “STANDARDS RICAN-DITIONED”-We lost a legend and a force in Latin Jazz. His energy and happiness  is heart-felt on this recording.

Piano-Guitar Jazz-Solo

Fred Hersch ‘Live at the BIMHUIS”-I’m not sure a solo album can be played any better!! This my Jazz disc of 2006!!

John Stowell “Resonance’-Great musician, sensitive and harmonically rich!! You’ll enjoy this record!!

Royce Campbell “Play’s For Lovers”-Someone told me a lot of critics did not like this? What is there not to like……beauty, swing, great harmony, great arrangements……a master guitarist. Taste in music is becoming a lost commodity!! But not with Royce!!

My 6 Favorite Discs----

This was not easy. I’m proud to be reviewing so many musical efforts. In fact, I came into this job thinking Jazz was on a slight decline. The music is as good as it has ever been. I wish more people were exposed to this great and powerful music. Here were my 6 favorites:

1)    Fred Hersch ‘Live at the BIMHUIS”

2)    Nancy King and Fred Hersch “Live at the Jazz Standard”

3)    Hendrik Meurkens “Amazon River”

4)    Dr. Lonnie Smith “Jungle Soul”

5)    Harvie S. “Funky Cha”

6)    Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra “The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington”

Final Notes

    I want to give a very special thanks to Mr. Fernando Bernall. This station is exists because of all of his efforts and sacrifice. He is a true connoisseur of the music, and loves serving this community. His web-work is exquisite!! He makes all of us look good. He allows me to use creative energy to create articles and creative projects!!

    Mr. Bernall…thank-you. Have the best of holiday’s and New Year Celebration!!