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CD Discoveries: June 2015

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So many great albums came in over the past four weeks, I wanted to wait until month's end to get them all in. Here are 12 gems...

Charenee Wade—Offering: the Music of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson (Motema). Singer Charenee Wade brings just the right level of vocal passion, soulful seduction and sensitivity to songs by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson—a pianist, flutist and Scott-Heron's collaborator. Fabulous chill-groove arrangements frame Wade perfectly throughout.

Doug Beavers—Titanes del Trombón (Artistshare). This Latin-jazz album sizzles with taut, hypnotic rhythm and pungent trombone exchanges. Trombonist, composer and arranger Beavers has extraordinary taste and restraint, keeping the focus on beautifully arranged section work instead of percussive power. The result is absolutely hypnotic.

Rayford Griffin—Reflections of Brownie (RazorEdge). This is one of the most inventive jazz albums I've heard this year. Griffin, a nephew of trumpet great Clifford Brown, plays percussion, arranged the tracks and conducts the ensemble here that updates the Brown canon splendidly. Artists include Roy Hargrove, George Duke, Brian Bromberg, Nicholas Payton, Bobby English, Clifford Brown Jr. and Clifford Brown III. This is a fabulous example of how to update familiar music with a soul-funk feel and not lose an ounce of what made it special in the first place.

Sue Raney—Late in Life (Fresh Sound). Recorded in 2010 and released now, this album features Sue in all her easy-does-it glory, weaving through a range of regal standards like At Last, Michel Legrand and the Bergmans' On My Way to You, Leslie Bricusse's When I Look in Your Eyes and a bossa nova treatment of The Second Time Around. She's backed by Jeff Driskill on alto and tenor sax, clarinet and flute; Barry Zweig on guitar and pianist Shelly Markham, bassist Kevin Axt and drummer M.B. Gordy. Sue is and has always been one of a kind.

Terell Stafford—Brotherlee Love: Celebrating Lee Morgan (Capri). Right, why bother taking on Lee Morgan when most of Morgan's albums are available? Because Stafford brings a fresh level of intelligence to the hard-bop trumpeter's material. Stafford retains Morgan's smoldering cool and high-end snap while adding a softer inquisitiveness. He's joined by saxophonist Tim Warfield, pianist Bruce Barth, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Dana Hall. The album was produced by John Clayton. 

Deb Silver—In Spring (Debsilvermusic). Vocalist Deb Silver is an extraordinary composer and vocalist. There's a vocalese, Sade-meets-Cory Daye, hammock-singing quality about her voice that knocks me out. What's more, all of the layered accompanying vocals here are hers. This is one of those rare albums where Silver's originals are better than the two standards included. Dig her 90 in the Shade, Miho, Poor You and Love Asylum. Just remember you heard about her here first.

Omar Coleman—Born & Raised (Delmark). Chicago blues vocalist and harmonica player Omar Coleman packs quite a punch on this album, which was recorded in January. The group backing Coleman is funky and tight: Pete Galanis on guitar, Neal O'Hara on keyboards, Ari Seder on bass and Marty Binder on drums. Dig Sit Down Baby and I Know You Been Cheating.

Solitaire Miles—Susie Blue and the Lonesome Fellas (Seraphic). Vocalist Solitaire Miles comes out of the Patsy Cline tradition. She sings Western swing material with warm highs and holds her lows neatly. There's a jazziness about Miles's phrasing, but she holds fast to a sound reminiscent of roadside bars with just three people left at the pinball machine. Solid accompaniment by jazz-influenced sax, fiddle, guitar, slide guitar, piano, bass and drums. I'm a Fool to Care says it all. Same goes for I'll Never Be Free.

Brian Charette—Alphabet City (Posi-Tone). Organist Brian Charette has plenty of history in his fingers. You can tell he's done his Don Patterson and Larry Young listening. Working in a trio setting with Will Bernard on guitar and Rudy Royston on drums, Charette packs enormous spring and explosive energy on the original trakcs. Dig his technique on Not a Purist and The Vague Reply.

Lorin Cohen—Home (Origin). Lorin Cohen's bass serves as a big woody pulse on all of the tracks, which he composed and arranged. The inclusion of Joe Locke's vibes and gives the album a bright aura. Add Yvonnick Prene's harmonica and Victor Provost's steel pan, and your ear winds up having a wonderful time. What I love about Cohen's bass is the brightness, his time and patience. Dig Saudade, a masterpiece.

Perry Como—Look to Your Heart (Real Gone). When the world was coming apart in 1968, Como was doing his thing. And that thing was singing in a soothing, gentle tone for those fed up with Rat Pack shenanigans and pop singers warbling in Nehru jackets. On this expanded edition of the original album along with 12 singles and previously unreleased tracks, including an alternate version of his hit It's Impossible. Soft doesn't even come close to describing Como's voice here, and at age 56 no less.

Dusty Springfield—Faithful (Real Gone). In 1971, Dusty Springfield recorded an album's worth of songs for Atlantic that were produced by Jeff Barry. Then she left the label. Only two were released as singles. The rest remained on the shelf until a deluxe re-issue of Dusty in Memphis included them as bonus tracks. Now all of the planned masters have been gathered and released as Springfield's third ghost album for Atlantic. Many of the tracks are powerful gospel pieces, but her covers of Bread's Make It With You and Carole King's You've Got a Friend are touching.

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This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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Track Listing

Crossings; Always In My Heart; Finding Center; Anthem; The Sweetest Soul (For My Father); Saudade; The Hero's Journey; A Brighter Day.

Personnel

Additional Instrumentation

Lorin Cohen; bass; Ryan Cohan: piano, keyboards (5); Donald Edwards: drums; Joe Locke: vibraphone; Yvonnick Prene: harmonica; Victor Provost: steel pan; Samuel Torres: percussion

Album information

Title: Home | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Origin Records

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