Carla Cook - Simply Natural (2002)

"Simply Natural." The song's title describes what Carla Cook is all about and what makes her such a thrilling vocalist. She's genuine. Both her scat singing and her lyric interpretations result in a relaxed atmosphere where everyone can sit back and enjoy being a part of it. Accompanists Bruce Barth and Cyrus Chestnut are in fine form. The program's song selection offers a wide variety that allows Cook's natural beauty to shine through. She's crossed generations by combining classics such as "Tulip or Turnip" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" with "Scarborough Fair," "Watermelon Man" and Oscar Brown Jr.'s "Strong Man." The combination of scat singing with soulful lyric interpretations makes Cook's natural delivery take control. I find this album atop my ten-best list for the year. Must a jazz singer scat? I think so. It's like asking, "Should a jazz singer use E-flat, E, F, F-sharp and G?" Carla Cook sings accurately, with a natural swing, and creatively. What places her session above most others, is the natural manner she brings to the performance. This is straight-ahead jazz that everyone can turn to when they need to hear a friendly smile. ~ by Jim Santella, AAJ. 

MAXJAZZ, MXJ 115, 2002
Recorded 20th & 21st June, 2002 at Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Carla Cook - Vocals
Cyrus Chestnut - Piano (#1,3,6,7,9,11), Fender Rhodes (#2,4,9,10)
Bruce Barth - Piano (#2,5,8)
Kenny Davis - Acoustic Bass (#1-3,5-9,11), Electric Bass (#4,10)
Billy Kilson - Drums
Steve Kroon - Percussion (#1,4,7) 

Tracks:
01. Simply Natural {Carla Cook} (4:53)
02. Tulip Or Turnip {Duke Ellington, Don George} (4:55)
03. Weak For The Man {Jeanne Burns} (7:02)
04. Watermelon Man {Herbie Hancock, Gloria Lynne} (6:27)
05. Strong Man {Oscar Brown Jr.} (4:37)
06. Something 'Bout Believing {Duke Ellington} (5:25)
07. Scarborough Fair {Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel} (5:20)
08. Are You With Me {Herb Levin, Des Robinson} (3:55)
09. Summer [Estaté] {Bruno Brighetti, Bruno Martino, Joel E. Siegel} (5:15)
10. Still Gotta Thing For You {Carla Cook} (6:00)
11. I Can't Give You Anything But Love {Dorothy fields, Jimmy McHugh} (4:57) 

Total Time: 58:50 

Credits
Producer - Bruce Barth, Carla Cook
Recording & Mastering Engineer - Katsuhiko Naito
Engineer [Assistant] - Max Ross
Design & Art Direction - Pressley Jacobs
Photography - Jimmy & Dena Katz
Liner Notes - Mary Ellen Sullivan

Terence Blanchard - Simply Stated (1992)

Terence Blanchard is in top form throughout this highly enjoyable outing. The trumpeter is most memorable on "Dear Old Stockholm" (a song from the 1950's that he helped revive), an emotional "When It's Sleepy Time Down South" and a medley of his "Glass J," the theme from "Mo' Better Blues" and Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman." Blanchard, who also plays "Detour Ahead" and four of his originals, is joined by tenor-saxophonist Sam Newsome, pianist Bruce Barth, bassist Rodney Whitaker, either Troy Davis or Billy Kilson on drums and (on "Dear Old Stockholm") the up-and-coming altoist Antonio Hart. The music is tied to the hard bop tradition yet is quite fresh and open to more modern influences. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Columbia Records, CK 48903, 1992
Recorded 1992 at BMG Studios, New York, New York 

Personnel:
Terence Blanchard - Trumpet, Piano [Solo] (#5)
Antonio Hart - Alto Saxophone (#4)
Sam Newsome - Tenor Saxophone
Bruce Barth - Piano
Rodney Whitaker - Bass
Billy Kilson - Drums (#7)
Troy Davis - Drums, Cymbals 

Tracks:
1. Lil' Fawdy {Terence Blanchard} (5:23)
2. Central Focus {Terence Blanchard} (4:38)
3. Simply Stated {Terence Blanchard} (8:24)
4. Dear Old Stockholm {Traditional} (10:03)
5. Little Miss Olivia Ray {Terence Blanchard} (2:32)
6. Glass J {Terence Blanchard} / Mo' Better Blues {Bill Lee}
/ Lonely Woman {Ornette Coleman} (11:25)
7. Detour Ahead {Lou Carter, Herb Ellis, John Freigo} (11:41)
8. When It's Sleepy Time Down South {Clarence Muse, Otis & Leon René} (8:34) 

Total Time: 62:44

Credits:
Producer - Terence Blanchard
Executive Producer - Dr. George Butler
Recording, Mixing & Mastering - James P. Nichols
Studio Technician - Marian Conaty, Major Little
Art Direction, Design - Joel Zimmerman
Photography - Jim Galante

Charles Fambrough - Upright Citizen (1997)

The heart of a jazz fan beats like Fambrough's bass, driving the lifeblood of warm sounds through the speakers and into the brain. Some bassists, in their own sessions, favor percussive and percolating arrangements that place the instrument in the role of soloist. Charles Fambrough actually seems to downplay the bass on Upright Citizen, ceding the spotlight to guests like Grover Washington, Jr. and Joe Ford. Fambrough's domain here is the rhythm section, adding programmed drums to his basslines in order to get the right foundation in place. As the captain of this ship, Fambrough ensures a smooth ride, absorbing the shock in Alex Bugnon's potentially bumpy "In Stride" and making sure a track like "D's Song" has the right amount of snap to it. Though Fambrough built his reputation largely on bop, Upright Citizen is more of a crossover album, lyrical and light on its feet. There are certainly stretches of substance, such as George Duke's piano solo on "It's Not Easy Havin' Fun," but even here the soprano sax washes away the intellectualism in a simple, cleansing motion. This session doesn't completely qualify as smooth jazz; there's more afoot than sweet sounds and mildly funky rhythms, yet even the most complex passages are never far removed from an ingratiating and warmly rendered melody. If you enjoy the sound of the soprano sax but find Kenny G a little light for your tastes, Upright Citizen might be right for you. The disc was reissued by Random Chance in 2002, with a different cover and slightly scrambled track order that essentially flip-flopped the opening and closing songs, among other things. The original 1997 Nu Groove recording is rich, vibrant, and clean, so you can't go wrong with either copy. ~ by Dave Connolly.

NuGroove Records, NUG-3003, 1997

Random Chance Records, RCD-7, 2002

Musicians:

Charles Fambrough - Bass (#1,2-4,6-9), Keyboards (#1), Programmed Drums (#3,4,7,8)

John Swana - Trumpet (#1), Muted Trumpet (#6,8), EUI (#6,7)

Gerald Albright - Alto Saxophone (#6)

Joe Ford - Soprano Saxophone (#1-3,5,7,8)

Grover Washington Jr. - Soprano Saxophone (#4,9)

Alex Bugnon - Piano (#1,5), Keyboards (#1,5,8)

Bruce Barth - Piano (#2), Keyboards (#2)

Mulgrew Miller - Piano (#3), Keyboards (#3,4)

George Duke - Piano [Solo] (#4), Keyboards (#4,6)

Rich Budesa - Piano [Solo] (#8)

Bill O'Connell - Piano (#9)

Nick Sistrun - Guitar (#1)

Gerald Brown - Drums (#2,9)

N'Dugu Chancelor - Drums (#4,6)

Pete Vinson - Drums, Poogie Bell-Trumpet, Programmed Drums (#5)

Marlon Simon - Percussion (#1,9)

Edson D'Silva (cafe) - Percussion (#2,9)

Munyungo Jackson - Percussion (#1,6)

Jon Lucien - Vocals (#2)

Tracks:

1. Fun City {Charles Fambrough} (4:25)

2. Bright Eyes {Charles Fambrough} (7:40)

3. D's Song {Charles Fambrough} (5:04)

4. It's Not Easy Having Fun {Charles Fambrough} (5:43)

5. In Stride {Alex Bugnon} (5:01)

6. Disguises {John Swana, Charles Fambrough} (7:59)

7. Dina {Charles Fambrough} (5:09)

8. Down The Way {Charles Fambrough} (4:17)

9. Main Street {Bill O'Connell} (4:00)

Total Time: 46:18

Credits:

Producer - Charles Fambrough, Stuart Alan Love

Executive Producer - David Chackler

Sam Newsome - The Tender Side Of Sammy Straighthorn (2000)

Picking up the soprano saxophone these days as your sole instrument can be a dangerous proposition. For one thing, the straight clarinet-like horn is notorious for going out of tune if your embouchure is not up to par. Secondly, a whole generation of Kenny G clones has left some fans thinking that the instrument is only capable of insipid and saccharine results. Venerable enough to make the soprano the focus of an entire album, Sam Newsome's The Tender Side of Sammy Straighthorn is only the second album to appear under the saxophonist's name since the start of his New York tenure in 1988. With a fondness for the soprano stylings of both Wayne Shorter and Steve Lacy, Newsome's influences can be detected in 'Victoria's Secret,' which features the saxophonist's hard biting attack in a manner that recalls Shorter's '80s work on such albums as Atlantis. Not a one-trick pony however, Newsome's fluid approach to '12 Bars From Hell' (done with just bass and drums) clearly points to Lacy.

The addition of Elisabeth Kontomanou on several cuts provides further variety, her wordless vocals acting like another solo horn. The melancholy feeling to much of the writing that features Kontomanou hints at the influence of Kenny Wheeler, who often utilizes the voice of Norma Winstone in a similar manner. Pianist Bruce Barth is also a valuable member of the crew, his complex and soulful improvisations almost stealing the show at times.

As a vehicle for allowing the soprano to restore its rightful place among the rest of the saxophone family, Newsome should be congratulated on his efforts. Furthermore, his attempt to extend the hard bop tradition beyond the established boundaries has resulted an intriguing album that will reward those looking for something just a bit left of center. ~ by C Andrew Hovan, AAJ.

SteepleChase Records, SCCD 31452, 2000

Recorded April, 1998

Musicians:

Sam Newsome - Soprano Saxophone

Bruce Barth - Piano

Ugonna Okegwo - Bass

Matt Wilson - Drums

Elisabeth Kontomanou - Vocals

Tracks:

1. Victoria's Secret {Sam Newsome} (7:46)

2. The Tender Side Of Sammy Straighthorn {Sam Newsome} (7:37)

3. Autumn Leaves {Joseph Kosma, Jacques Prévert, Johnny Mercer} (6:46)

4. 12 Bars From Hell {Sam Newsome} (6:46)

5. Lullaby Of Takeda {Traditional} (9:34)

6. The Dumpess Of Nyack {Sam Newsome} (8:10)

7. All The Things You Are {Jerome Kern} (15:45)

Credits:

Producer - Nils Winther

Engineer - Devin Emke

Photography - Fernando Natalichi

Liner Notes - Mark Gardner

Total Time: 62:24