Etta James – gone at 73 today.
“And here we are, in heaven…”
So long, Etta. Not sure there will be another like you.
Etta James – gone at 73 today.
“And here we are, in heaven…”
So long, Etta. Not sure there will be another like you.
Happy new year!
I was home…well, hometown – Detroit area – for the holidays. A kiss from Mom and the relatives, a little hockey (watched, not played), and a trip to my favorite record shop on the planet led to a dozen discs to fill out the collection.
But let’s talk about some new music, first.
Christine Rosholt – Pazz (NB Productions)
Released – December 1, 2011
Christine Rosholt, whose website sports a “Jazz Standards” banner, goes off-road in this effort, which she says was several years in the making with British pop-rock songwriter Kevin Hall.
All of the tunes are original. Ms. Rosholt says, “With jazz standards, I can go to iTunes and listen to a hundred versions of ‘Cheek to Cheek’ if I want inspiration.” She says the work of putting her mark on original material leaves her feeling “exposed.”
No worries, there.
Personality is Ms. Rosholt’s strong suit, and by the time we’re a couple of tracks in, she’s not only checked that box with the ethereal “Midnight Moon,” she’s also showing off her theatre background, hitting the balcony with a feisty “No Pleasing You,” and into an earthy ballad with “Better Off Alone.”
A large group joins on several of the tracks. The Hornheads, part of Prince’s backing band in the early 90s, are on for four tracks; Lucia Newell adds plenty to my favorite cut, “Midnight Moon,” and Sophia Shorai, Katie Gearty, and Rachel Holder round out backing vocals on three others. Some of Ms. Rosholt’s regular pals – Graydon Peterson on Bass, and percussionist Mac Santiago join; Mr. Hall provides piano support backing vocals and a snappy duet with “So Not Over You.”
Ms. Rosholt has been one of Minneapolis-St. Paul’s hardest working singers for a while,
but that’s a pretty saturated market, as the area is blessed with a number of quality performers. This work takes her out of that crowded box, and puts her in a place where there are fewer peers and an ability to stretch out a little.
Doing something other than witty banter and smart interpretations of the usual suspects from the songbook could be a high risk move.
But high reward, too. There’s a jackpot, here. This disc is very highly recommended.
Website – Facebook – MySpace – Mr. Hall’s Website
One of the discs I found in the “used” bins over the holiday was a reissue of 1959′s “The Charming Miss Edie Adams.” Miss Adams, who joined the heavenly choir in 2008 at 81, was best known as the wife of television funny guy Ernie Kovacs.
But she was also an award-winning Broadway performer, a talented impressionist and comedienne, as well as TV pitchwoman (for Muriel Cigars); all professions she needed in order to pay off Mr. Kovacs’ sizable debts.
I’ll consider the disc quite a find at $4.98, even in the era of instant Amazon/eBay gratification. Here’s a clip of Miss Adams on “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour,” from 1960. It was the final episode of the show – and as the “YouTube” poster points out – the final show with Lucy and Desi together, as they were already in the middle of their divorce.
And do you think Ethel is really playing the piano?
No, really. This is the last Christmas album review this year.
I mean it.
Charlotte Clare – An Island Christmas
(Natural Jazz)
Released – December 12, 2011
The publicist writes to me in an instant message on Facebook this past weekend. Says, “…I know how much you love good vocalists, and I wanted to share one with you. Charlotte has an amazing voice.”
It could be the first time ever that a publicist can be accused of an understatement. From Australia’s Gold Coast, Charlotte Clare (Looker) is blessed with a soaring, sumptuous voice, and more than a touch of that spiritual Northern Soul sound.
This recording is a delicious holiday offering, that leaves me asking, “Where has this woman been hiding?” The answer is that she’s been touring with her band, “Natural Jazz,” for the past several years – all over Australia and the South Pacific.
She stopped moving long enough to connect with guitarist Louie Shelton as a producer for this disc – Mr. Shelton is a session player – also from Australia – whose work, the publicity says, has been on “…more hit records than any other session guitarist in history,” including Boz Scaggs’ “Low Down”, Lionel Richie’s “Hello”, Neil Diamond’s “Play Me”, The Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back”, “ABC” and “I’ll Be There, and The Monkees’ “Last Train To Clarksville.”
But it’s Ms. Clare’s voice that’s out front here, and it’s her name on the cover. “Oh Holy Night” is an island-infused gem. Not a single track disappoints, and a couple of the tracks (“Jingle Bell Rock” and “White Christmas”) are different enough interpretations that left me wanting to play them over and over. So I did. And I am.
Yeah, they’re that intoxicating.
Husband Samuel Appapoulay handles percussion and arrangements; Scott Brown joins with horn support.
It’ll have to be a digital download (all the usual places) if you’re looking for this one in time to play before the holiday. Another solo release featuring Ms. Clare is promised for 2012.
I can’t wait. The guys in the band are outstanding, but she’s something else, again.
Highest recommendation.
Here’s the video from Ms. Clare’s “Oh Holy Night.” I’ll stop gushing. Just watch.
I keep meaning to get on a plane some day, and burn off some of those frequent flier miles on a trip to the Twin Cities. Either they’ve got more good female vocalists per capita than anywhere else in the world, or…they’ve got my number.
Maybe a little of both.
Lee Engele – A Hot Christmas
Released – December 12, 2011
It came late. I’d already written, “…here’s the last of the 2011 recommendations,” regarding this year’s holiday recordings, back in mid-November.
But Lee Engele asked so nicely, and well, she is (full disclosure) a Facebook pal and all.
So I said sure, I’d take a listen.
Glad I did.
This one offers seven holiday classics – the style is gypsy jazz, with Ms. Engele’s gentle swing adding just the right luster to the finished product…it positively glows. Gary Schulte on violin and Reynold Philipsek on guitar set the right tone, with Matt Senjem on bass and Beth Varela on percussion. But it’s Ms. Engele’s interpretation of these standards that’s front and center here, and if you’re looking for something fresh for the holiday mix, this is it.
I became particularly fond of their takes on “(Everybody’s Waiting For) The Man With The Bag,” along with “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and a winsome vocal duet with Mr. Philipsek on “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”
Ms. Engele stays busy in the Minneapolis-St. Paul music scene – she’s a successful event planner and promoter – and she also heads the Twin Cities Jazz Society, which may explain why we all hear so much about that area’s music.
So this offering may come late in the season, but thanks to digital downloads, there’s still time to play the dickens out of it before Christmas, just to catch up.
That’s what I’ll be doing.
This recording is highly recommended.
Speaking of Christmas, here’s a clip from the “Ellen” program (apologies if it starts with an ad), with Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, and a little different look at “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.”