12/27/08
HEAD’S UP
WALTER BEASLEY/Free Your Mind: The smooth jazz sax man is feeling some relevance via his ax as he takes on the tumultuous times surrounding us at broad and macro levels. Letting his sax do the talking, except when he steps up to the mic, this is more of an energetic release than you’d expect from someone so entrenched in smooth jazz. He shakes things up nicely showing you don’t have to keep re-warming the same hash time after time to keep the fans on board. A highly engaging set that is certainly a product of it’s times and is sure to leave it’s mark.
3147
INCOGNITO/More Tales Remixed: Is this a first for the Telarc family in which a recent vintage release gets a total remix from a pack of prominent djs? Last year, Bluey and the gang made an auspicious label debut and here they turn it out and turn it loose. The original set was pretty irresistible, and if young ears took the trouble to resist, this mulligan might be what it takes to pull them into the tent. Still in the pocket throughout, this crew has long been too reliable for too long to make a misstep. Check it out.
3185
JAZZ PROMO SERVICES
GREG SKAFF/East Harlem Skyline: When a guitarist moves from Wichita to New York and brings his love of guitar/organ trios with him, that Kansas/New York nexus is sure to rear it’s head. With his second set, Skaff branches out into more originals and maintains a 60s into 00s feel where he moves the classic vibe forward in a zesty fashion. A simple but tasty outing, Skaff and his pals are on the money throughout delivering a set that anyone who ever loved Wes et al will be sure to take to heart.
200902 (Zoho)
LIZCHILDS.COM
LIZ CHILDS/Oh, You Crazy Moon: Whew, if there was ever a self-contained, raw talent that could benefit from a little career direction and a little shining up from the hands of LiPuma/Schmitt, Childs is the deserving beneficiary at the top of that short list. A most impressive DIY recording, pianist/vocalist Childs is a major talent with great instincts. On it’s face, you would pay $15 for this if you walked into a gig of hers by accident, wanting to be sure to leave with a souvenir of the event. It would not take very much to move her to the head of the class of contemporary jazz vocalists, just some money, time and distribution. Childs is the kind of cat that has it all on the ball and simply raises the bar. Hot stuff.
TELARC
TONY DESARE/Radio Show: A nice variation on the young guy doing oldies tunes; here we find DeSare adding original tunes, putting Dylan next to Ray Charles and having familiar voices between the tracks to serve as dj figures. Fun concept, nice execution. DeSare is certainly an up and coming vocalist and he gets points for trying to do something to break out of the great American song bag while still trying to fit the vocal format without sounding stale. Certainly a good bet for any 20something that has an affinity for Vegas.
83689
BOSTON BAROQUE/Four Seasons: Performed on period instruments with Christina Martinson featured on violin, warhorse repertoire is in good hands. A note perfect outing that should have any brunch eating yuppie merrily sipping his mimosa fantasizing the market hasn’t crashed, this is certainly a stellar set to chase your blues away, up market style. Simply a lovely, well played recording that shows how some old favorites don’t need embellishing so much as love from the proper hands.
80698
ZULL BAILEY/Russian Masterpieces for Cello & Orchestra: If you’ve been waiting for a new babe to replace Ofra Harnoy, your wait continues. If you’ve been waiting for a new young, whippersnapper to bring the cello front and center with new energy, style and zest, look no further. Bailey is certainly a young titan with a lot on the ball and he brings a lot of energy to bear on a pair of formidable Russian classical pieces that can easily show the range of a player in short order. Up for the task, Bailey shows himself to be a real front line player that grabs your ear and holds it. A treat classical fans should not be denied.
80724
TWO FOR THE SHOW MEDIA
LISA HEARNS/I Got it Bad & That Ain’t Good: Look out for this one, a debut that seems to travel very familiar ground but bowls you over when you least expect it. A young swinger, this jazz vocalist loves what she does and let’s that come through. Not totally staid as she mixes Ellington with Marvin Gaye, Hearns has got what it takes to make a session come alive and stay there in a lasting way. Very much what the doctor ordered for jaded ears, put this on your list for things that will chase away the seasonal blahs.
www.lisahearns.com
Volume 32/Number 57
December 27, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record