The Michael Treni Big Band - Boy's Night Out

When it comes to Jazz my favourite style is big band and I take Count Basie's band as my benchmark. I think I have now found a new benchmark in The Michael Treni Big Band and their new album Boy's Night Out. This album punches its way out of the speakers full of bravado and a startlingly high amount of energy. And more importantly, this band swing high and mighty, strutting their stuff like a classic period Basie band. Trombonist Michael Treni formed the band several years and I think this may be their fourth recording, but I could be wrong there. However, the eight tracks are a mix of original tracks written by Mr Treni and a selection of covers of music by Leonard Bernstein, Geoerge Shearing, Clare Fisher, Jimmy VanHusen and Billy Strayhorn. The eight tracks are: Something's Coming, Boy's Night Out, Lullaby Of Birdland, Strayhorn, In My Quiet Time, What Is The World Coming To?, U.M.M.G., Here's That Rainy Day. You can take it on the nod that Mr Treni's music matches the covers in quality and listening pleasure. The band is an eighteen piece and far too many superb musicians to list here, but one listen to the opening track, Something's Coming and you will know this is a bloody good band. The Michael Treni Big Band should be much better known, I think there is a world-wide audience looking to listen to a great big band and this could be the contender for that crown. Highly recommended.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.bellproductionco.com

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Darlene Koldenhoven - Solitary Treasures
(TimeArt Recordings)

The barriers between classical and pop music have been eroding for quite some time, with many artists singing repertoire from both types of music with success. Soprano Darlene Koldenhoven has a few extra skills to add to her sensational voice. She plays keyboards on her new album Solitary Treasures, and she also composed a couple of the songs and arranged and orchestrated every one of the dozen tracks. You have to admit that cuts down on the budget... The album opens with Puccini's Nessun Dorma, an operatic favourite here in the UK since Pavarotti sang it at a football match. Instead of a tenor showcase, Ms Koldenhoven turns it into one for a soprano, and reaches for the stratosphere. While there are one or two more pieces where she sings as a classical soprano, most of the album is spent with her lovely voice pitched lower, and in a more intimate setting. This is a big production album, with a large number of instrumentalists and choir involved [too many list here]. But some of the settings are just Ms Koldenhoven and an orchestral synth pad and her voice. The twelve tracks are: Nessun Dorma, Lo Specchio, Claire De Lune, Bella's Lullaby from Twilight, Kiss From A Rose, All I Am, Ay Carino, A Celtic American Treasury, Lucid See, The Last Words You Said, Remember Me, The Prayer from Quest For Camelot. Solitary Treasures is a fine showcase for Darlene Koldenhoven - both as vocalist and as musician - and it does make you wonder why one of the major record labels hasn't discovered her and helped her become an international star. For British readers: if you like Katherine Jenkins then you are so going to love Darlene Koldenhoven. Highly recommended.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.darlenekoldenhoven.com

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Ann Sweeten - In The Wake
(Orange Band Records (OBR061895)

There are times, gentle readers, when the rock and roll of the Ramones just won't do - your nerves are so frazzled that the soul needs something calm and nurturing, something to gently reset the core of your being. Well, I have the antidote to a riotous life, or perhaps normal life just getting too much. It is the sweet sounding piano of Ann Sweeten. This composer/musician has the gift of making albums of melodic peace and calm that will wrap around you like that favourite duvet and give you a hug. In The Wake is her latest album, a collection of eleven tracks of very pleasant instrumentals - mainly just her Steinway piano but with occasional instrumental accompaniment by guest musicians. These include William Akkerman on guitar and production, Trisha Craig on flute, Akane Setiwan on oboe and English horn, Andrew Eng on viola and violin, and Liz Ehrman on cello. There is a strong sense of the arcadian to the tunes, making you think of being out in the countryside or perhaps looking out to sea. In The Wake is certainly an album to relax to. The eleven tracks are: Was It Yesterday?, Falling Leaves, Metamorphosis, Love Remembered, A Chance For Goodbye, In The Wake, On Wings Of Light, Out Of Embers, The Abyss, October Sky, Now And Again. You will find this album in speciality and New Age shops or online at Amazon.com, CDBaby.com, CDUniverse.com, and for download from iTunes, Rhapsody and Spotify.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.annsweeten.com

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Dan Blanchard - Awakening Raga Bhairav

Music from the Indian subcontinent has always had a cachet of strangeness to it. It has continually sounded alien to western ears, its musical structure and form exotic to a high degree. But over time, and thanks to countless curry houses, takeaways [and Ravi Shankar] it has spread across the world and the sound of India has permeated into western consciousness. The music has inspired many western musicians and composers, including multi-instrumentalist Dan Blanchard who has drawn on Indian classical music to create his new album Awakening Raga Bhairav. This album contains a raga created to inspire morning meditation to focus mind and movement and create energy for the day ahead. What we have is an eight track collection of tracks where the music flows seamlessly on a magical journey. Mr Blanchard plays Santoor, Tanpura, Swarmandal and harmonium, other musicians include Sheela Bringi - bansuri flute, Brian Campbell - tabla, Gabe Marihugh - udu/djembe, Sangeet Mishra - sarangi, and Nisha Narsai - vocals. Outside of the sitar and tabla I am unfamiliar with Indian instruments, so I can't really tell you what I am listening to, but the overall sound is quite ethereal at times, and the lead instrument seems to be the Indian equivalent to the zither. A most pleasing sound, it seems far more flexible and nimble than the sitar, so the drone like sounds are minimal here. There is certainly a strong sense of timelessness throughout this lengthy album - time enough for its magic to sink into the listener's ears. I enjoyed Awakening Raga Bhairav quite a lot and I think I shall be returning for more trips to the exotic east as time passes.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.peacefulvibes.com

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Nick Moran Trio - No Time Like Now
(Manor Sound 10661-1)

It is safe to say that guitarist Nick Moran's new album, No Time Like Now, starts as it means to continue with a very muscular and exciting cover version of Cream's Strange Brew. That it is followed by nine compositions by Mr Moran is a bit of a brave thing, but his own music stands up to the comparison very well. With Brad Whitely on Hammond B3 organ and Chris Benham on drums, this is a trio to savour - the duets and solos between guitar and organ are jewels throughout the album, and the drums add the cohesion and glue everywhere. In fact, when this trio is flying you can guarantee first class performances all the way. Mr Moran's electric guitar offers a lovely sound: supple and jumpy and romantic when required. I wouldn't describe this as 'easy listening' jazz but it is very easy on the ear and I can imagine many listeners hearing a track and thinking 'this is a bit of all right'. So in that sense this is very approachable jazz that can and will find a home in many places. The ten tracks are: Strange Brew, My Beautiful, Intention, Slow Drive, Wishful Thinking, No Time Like Now, Say Hi To Paris, Natalya, The Physicist Transformed, Renewal. No Time Like Now is a very fine album and even if you think you don't like jazz you will be won over by its charms.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.nickmoranmusic.com

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Jeff Hamilton Trio - Red Sparkle
(Capri Records 74114-2)

From the number of jazz trio recordings I have received recently it seems that the format has been rejuvenated and reinvigorated. And here is further proof, Red Sparkle, by drummer Jeff Hamilton and his trio is an album that swings mightily. The album title, by the way, was inspired by the colour and finish of Mr Hamilton's first drum kit. The trio of Jeff Hamilton on drums, Christoph Luty on bass and Tamir Hendelman on piano have been together for ten years and it shows in the interaction and polish of the musicians as they perform the ten tracks on the album. A mixture of compositions by Mr Hamilton and Mr Luty, the rest are covers of songs by Thelonius Monk, Stephen Bishop, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen and Ray Brown. The one common thread throughout is the blazing musicality shining from each track - plus, I suspect the musicians' smiles in the studio during the recording sessions. The feel of the album reminds me of the great Oscar Peterson and his trio, and that can't be a bad thing. I enjoyed Red Sparkle a lot - and the Jeff Hamilton Trio is one I shall be looking out for in the future. This is a very fine album, full of wit, spark and good vibes, and in these stressful days you can't get enough of that, can you? The ten tracks are: Ain't That A Peach, Bye Ya, On And On, Hat's Dance, Too Marvelous For Words, Laura, A Sleepin' Bee, Red Sparkle, I know You Oh So Well, In An Ellingtone.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.caprirecords.com

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Steve Bowe - Soundscapes
(BoweMusic SBSC0811/1)

Steve Bowe is a professional composer, producer and musician who works in that ghostly field of creating music soundtracks for the tv/movie and advertising industries. I believe Soundscapes is his second self-released album - a collection of twelve [mostly] instrumentals that can fall into many musical categories, including electronica, world music and rock, sometimes all in the same track. From the get go, the opening track Prayers, you discover two things about Mr Bowe - he can play his varied instruments like a good 'un, and he can write a tune that gets under the skin and stays there. Imagine, if you will, an amalgam of Rick Wakeman, Mike Oldfield and Tangerine Dream, and perhaps a little dash of James Last production magic on the more obviously descriptive tracks. That is a heady brew and a richly melodic one too. Of course Soundscapes also acts as a showcase for Mr Bowe's undisputed talents and is as good a calling card as any musician/composer can create. But Soundscapes also works in the mainstream as well - this a damn fine album chock full of great tunes and mind images. The dozen tracks are: Prayers, Queen Of The Nile, After The Storm, Orpheus, Ile de la Cite, The Return Of Jack Tar, Iceman, Caledonia, Sunset Highway, Rat Race, Somme, A Farewell. Back in the days when Oxygen and Tubular Bells were the benchmark for instrumental albums I could see Soundscapes being released on a major label and quite likely rocketing up the charts. I fear those days are past but if you like quality music then do make the effort to buy a copy of Soundscapes - you won't regret it. It's only the end of February and I've already found my first album of the year. Magic!

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.bowemusic.com

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Chris Bauer - In A Yuletide Groove

Apologies to Chris Bauer for the lateness of the review of his seasonal album - the postal services on both sides of the Atlantic conspired to keep In A Yuletide Groove from me until well into the new year. Well, there's always next Christmas! Anyway, Mr Bauer is a seasoned jazz harmonica player and this is his spicy and yes, groovy, collection of Christmas songs and carols, all done in a lightly jazzy and Latin way. And it is a very pleasant and welcome alternative to the usual po-faced Christmas albums that arrive here. For a start this album is fun, with many of the tracks suitable for a seasonal party playlist. Supported by a quartet, his nimble and at times flying harmonica make the album's sixty-five odd minutes speed by - the musicians are: Glenn McClelland - piano, Matthew Parrish - bass, Chris Ziemer - guitar, and Dave Mohn - drums. Needless to say these musicians provide simpatico support and add to the album's ambience immeasurably. In A Yuletide Groove contains sixteen tracks, and they are: Winter Wonderland, Feliz Navidad, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Frosty The Snowman, Christmas Time Is Here, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Home For The Holidays, We Three Kings, The Christmas Song, Let It Snow, My Favourite Things, White Christmas, O Tannenbaum, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, Ave Maria. So, all in all this is a most enjoyable album that may even make those of us who think Scrooge was just misunderstood re-evaluate Christmas. Highly recommended.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.chrisbauermusic.com

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Jackson Garrett - Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Jackson Garrett is the nom-de-plume of composer Christopher Gore and his ten piece big band. And what a band it is - a hybrid jazz and rock band, the sound is huge and beefy, with a punchy impact that will make the listener stare in surprise at his loudspeakers. In terms of style this album falls somewhere between the equally hybrid rock-jazz sound of 70s British 'superband' CCS and The Crusaders. Rock guitar solos sit alongside funky sax, backed up with punchy brass and, one has to say, rather a sexy siren vocal chorus. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie contains fourteen tracks, all written by Christopher Gore, with some co-written with members of the band, while they were all arranged by pianist Marty Steele. The other musicians on the album are: Jeff Stover - bass, Steve Neilen - drums, John Pagels - guitar, Steve Madaio - trumpet, Gary Bliss - sax, Pat Rizzo - sax, Kenny Meier - trombone, Kristi King - vocals, Laura Hagen - vocals. The fourteen tracks are:Kundalini, High Time, The Fire In Your Eyes, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, The South Side Of The City, Come With Me, Take Me Back To Heaven, You Dirty Dog, Owed To The Dan, It's You I'm Holding Now, Don't Tell Me What To Do, Happy Cat Rap, Virtual Love, The Rock Of Gibraltar. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie is an extremely sassy album, full of in your face tunes and sparkling performances from all the musicians involved. Christopher Gore writes a mean tune and knows how to get the best from both the musicians and the music - he even sings on one or two tracks. Great fun and highly recommended.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.jacksongarrett.com

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Kate Reid - The Love I'm In

The sequel to her Sentimental Mood album of 2008, pianist/vocalist Kate Reid is back with a new selection of songs from the 'Great American Songbook', The Love I'm In. As before she creates intimate magic with just her voice, piano and a quartet of musicians sympathetic to her style. The quartet are: Ernie Watts - tenor sax, Steve Reid - trumpet, Chris Connor - bass, Steve Barnes - drums, along with guest pianist Otmaro Ruiz performing on a few tracks. And the lady certainly has style, Ms Reid is a direct link back to the grand dames of jazz: Ella, Sarah and Peggy, while adding a little instrumental pizzazz. I think if you like Diana Kraal then you will really enjoy Kate Reid - for me, I find Ms Reid far more enjoyable as a performer, her approach to the songs is more direct and yes, affectionate. It is quite an interesting dip into the songbook, a mixture of golden oldies along with some rarities not so well known. Composers include: Duke Ellington, Johnny Mandel, Lew Spense, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Jerome Kern etc. The Love I'm In contains twelve tracks: Just Squeeze Me, The Lamp Is Low, Where Do You Want To Start, Nice & Easy, So In Love, I'm Through With Love, I Love You Porgy, Something Good, Portrait In Black And White, With Every Breath I Take, Close Enough For Love, Nobody Else But Me. The Love I'm In is a beautiful collection jazz classics, performed with love and integrity, and more importantly emotional warmth. Recommended to anyone who loves old school jazz vocalists.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.katereidmusic.com

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Pat Battstone & Richard Poole - Mystic Nights

Described by the musicians as 'chamber jazz', Mystic Nights is actually more about improvisation and perhaps a bit of the avant-garde. A series of conversations between Pat Battstone's piano and Richard Poole's vibraphone, each instrument is pushed technically to the limits, especially the piano where direct plucking of strings and various treated sounds offer new vistas of sound. While the album is not as incoherent as much improv music is, it is definitely 'out there' as regards melody. Inspired by the Mystic River which flows beside the recording studio, there is the leitmotiv of running water, abandoned docks and swirling skeins of the river flowing throughout this music. It is rather like an impressionistic painting where the farther back you stand the more you can discern the images in the painting. Mystic Nights contains thirteen tracks, some are rather ambient pieces while others are more active, offering bigger canvas soundscapes. The track titles are: Scottish Heather, Summer Sunset, Gin and Tonic, Something Lurking, Newsreel, Undertow, When Creatures Reigned, The Miller's Tale, Magical Morning, Life Stories, Reflections, Cross Current, Mystic Nights. I have to be honest and say that this isn't really my kind of music, but for those who enjoy the outer reaches of Jazz and improvisational music then they should check out these musicians and their album. Yes, it is outside music's normal comfort zone, and it is pushing away at the borders of what we accept as music, but they said that about Beethoven too.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.bats-tones.com

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Joanna Weinberg - The Piano Diaries

In my first listen to The Piano Diaries, by singer Joanna Weinberg, I was aware of a strong sense of theatricality with both the songs and the performance. Not surprisingly when I read the press sheet and I find that Ms Weinberg has written three musicals and nine one-woman shows in her musical career and these have been performed in as disparate countries as South Africa and Australia. The theme of the album is of a woman returning to take piano lessons after thirty years. So something of a personal storyline, and yet the album has a lot of fun tracks as the path of self-discovery ensues. The style is jazzy, with a sort of vaudeville dash to it. Ms Weinberg has one of those light and bubbly voices, very pleasant but it leaves you wondering if some helium sniffling was part of the studio regime... Surprisingly, she only plays piano on one track, leaving that job to her piano teacher and album producer, Rafael A. Nazario, who also plays all the other keyboards and other non-listed instruments. The other musicians on the album are: Kate Adams - cello, Mark Ginsburg - saxes/flute, Martijn Hadders - guitar, Jonathan Zwartz - bass, Simon Fishburn - drums, Blair Greenberg - African drums/percussion. The twelve tracks are: Freckled Angels, Innocence, Daughters of the Empire, The Artists Are Leaving, Benjamin and Penelope, The Winds Of Fear, Wide Open Eyes, Beautiful Old Man, Witness, Mama Buy Your Baby A Piano, Trophy Wife, The Piano at the Cabaret. The Piano Diaries is pretty unique, a sort of jazz cabaret cum burlesque show - it is perky and uplifting. Joanna Weinberg has a way of capturing characters and bringing them to life in her songs. This is an album that will bring much enjoyment to listeners.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.thepianodiaries.com

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Bill Barner - Ten Tunes

Bill Barner is a clarinettist, and this is his exploration of what the clarinet can do within a jazz/worldgroove format. Yes, I know that sounds a little arty-farty, but in reality what you have when you place this CD into your CD deck is a very approachable and listenable album of small band jazz with a lively sound and something of an exotic world music vibe going on. There is certainly a bit of a Kletzmer [minus the accordion and fiddle]/Middle Eastern vibe going on throughout the album - not specific enough to be drawn from one country or another. The clarinet is one of those instruments that the term irrepressible describes ideally, and Mr Barner is most definitely an irrepressible performer. It sounds at times as if the instrument is dancing and laughing as he plays it, and you can't really call Ten Tunes a sad or emotionally down album in any way or form. The three musicians playing with Mr Barner are as equally up for it as he is, and I can only imagine that the recordings sessions were happy and fast ones. Ten Tunes is a quartet album and the musicians are: Bill Barner - clarinet, Stan Smith - guitar, Roger Hines - bass, Danny Aguiar - drums. The ten tracks are: Opening Gambit, Flying Monkeys, Charm Offensive, Wide Stance Dance, Barbaro, Squeaky Rico, Connecting Dots, Toddler Dance, A War of Words, Palmas. Ten Tunes is a great listen and great fun - the musicianship is high quality and this is an album that will make you feel good for the rest of the day. Certainly better than any chemical high you may usually take. Highly recommended.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.billbarner.com

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The Susan Krebs Band - Everything Must Change
(GreenGig Music JG-031)

On my initial listen to this album I thought that the vocalist was a male, the delivery was lower registry and husky, and while not exactly a Tom Waits growl it did make you stop and wonder. That vocalist is actress and singer Susan Krebs, and reading that she is a well established actress who has appeared in many TV shows and movies you begin to understand the overt theatricality of her vocal delivery. Supported by a quartet of fine jazz musicians her new album, Everything Must Change, is a trawl through lesser known songs from the Great American Song Book. On many of the tracks the musical accompaniment is of the 'less is more' variety, and the musicians keep the arrangements relatively simple but still give them space to play. The musicians are: Rich Eames - piano, Ryan McGillicuddy - bass, Jerry Manning - saxes, Jerry Kalaf - drums. The final tracks also features Scott Breadman - percussion, Steve Huffsteter - trumpet and Riner Scivally - guitar. Composers featured on the album include: Freddy Hubbard, Cole Porter, Billy Strayhorn, Kurt Weill and many others. Ms Krebs has a voice unlike many others, she inhabits the lyric and gives it life - it takes a little getting used to, but the rewards are high once that connection is made. The eight tracks are: Up Jumped Spring, What's This Thing Called Love? A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing, Everything Must Change, Lost In The Stars, Wheelers & Dealers, Our Love Rolls On, Are Ya Havin' Any Fun?

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.susankrebsmusic.com

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Jacob Deacon - Tribulation

The first thing you notice when this album starts is its hard-edged bop-swing, and the competitive nature of the guitar and alto sax. Led by guitarist Jacob Deacon Tribulation is a collection of six original pieces, all of which showcase the hard approach of the band to its take on jazz. The musicians on this album are: Jacob Deacon - guitar, Akeem Marable - alto sax, Nick Rosen - piano, Craig Shaw - bass, Justin Chesarck - drums. Like all the best bandleaders, Mr Deacon doesn't take all the solos for himself, they are spread evenly across the band, and you have to admit that he chose his musicians well. There is quite a creative spark going on here, with all the musicians bringing something to the table. The music is very muscular, tightly focused and with a forward thrust matching that of the original Batmobile. All five musicians form one musical creature. Tribulation has originality in spades. The six tracks are: Tribulation, Eclipse, Hoexster's Hex, Major Differences, Sharp Edges, Sketches Of Trane.

For more information about this artist, album and availability visit: www.jacoballendeacon.com

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