Obits

Natalie Cole

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Natalie ColeNatalie Cole, whose battles with health and substance abuse issues were well-documented over the years, has died at 65.

Once called “the new Aretha Franklin” in the 1970s, her first recordings were on the Capitol Label; she picked up nine grammys through 2009.

The music website Discogs notes, “Among her many hits, highlights include “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”, “I’ve Got Love On My Mind”, “Our Love”, her duet with Ray Parker Jr., “Over you”, her duet with Freddie Jackson, “I Do”, her duets album with Peabo Bryson and the “virtual” duets albums with her late father Nat King Cole.”

natalie

Ms. Cole died last evening at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles due to “ongoing health issues,” according to a family spokesperson. She openly talked about her early-80s drug addiction, but was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 2008, and had canceled many recent scheduled appearances – citing a “medical procedure” and hospital stay.

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Susie Arioli – Spring

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Susie Arioli - SpringSusie Arioli – Spring
(Spectra Musique)
Released – October 6, 2015

I’ve gone too long without writing much about Susie Arioli, but then again, she’s gone too long without an album. She shows up here for the first outing since 2012’s “All The Way.” Along the way, she’s lost longtime collaborator Jordan Officer on guitar, but picks up a horn section, arrangements, vibes and piano from Don Thompson, direction from Grammy winner (with Etta James)John Snyder, and four originals.

The opening track is one of those originals – “Loverboy,” a tune I was sure I’d heard before, always the sign of work with the potential to become a classic. She readily concedes that the original tunes center on that “man-woman love thing,” telling one interviewer, “You write what you know.”

Susie Arioli

The other originals are “Can’t Say No,” along with “Someone Else,” and the title track, “Spring.”

My other favorites are 1929’s “Mean To Me,” and Johnny Mercer’s “Travelin’ Light.”

The change of scenery serves Ms. Arioli well – her playful alto is in the sweet spot here, with gently swingy material, evoking music from some less complicated earlier time. The backing from a much-larger than usual (for Ms. Arioli) bunch of Montreal’s best is long overdue for this three-time Juno nominated songstress, overlooked for too long by all of us south of the border.

That band features Terry Clarke on drums, Neil Swainson on bass, Reg Schwager on guitar, and horns from Phil Dwyer (tenor sax), Andy Ballantyne (alto sax), Shirantha Beddage (baritone sax), Kelsey Grant on trombone, and Kevin Turcotte on trumpet.

Some of the best masterpieces come in small and quiet frames.

Highest recommendation for this one.

Highlighted tracks will be added to the playlist at 62ndStreet.com radio.

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Kim Nazarian – Some Morning

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Kim Nazarian - Some MorningKim Nazarian – Some Morning
Released – October 16, 2015

Recorded at sessions streatching from 2008 to 2014 – literally years in the making – this is Kim Nazarian’s first solo outing.  She breaks away from singing soprano as one of the founding members of New York Voices, that tight harmony group critic Scott Yanow calls “One of the best (and only) jazz vocal groups of the 1990s…”

The only question would be – what took so long? Riding the line between songbook, vaguely familiar, and original material, Trombonist (and husband) Jay Ashby masterfully arranges the album, recorded in so many places and at so many times, into a set that hangs together nicely.

Make no mistake, though – it’s Ms. Nazarian who’s inside that frame, and stunning, whether handling the sweet “Que Sera Sera,” a call/answer (with guitarist/vocalist) John Pizzarelli on Sunny Skylar’s “Gotta Be This Or That,” the poignant “What’ll I Do,” or intricate vocalese on Mr. Ashby’s original (and set closer), the great-big band “Road To Kursk.”

Kim Nazarian

“Que Sera Sera” was a family affair, featuring Greg Nazarian, Ms. Nazarian’s father, on saxophone.  Adding vocals is Ian Ashby, her son.  Brother-in-law, guitarist Marty Ashby, is featured on several tracks, with a nice solo on Cole Porter’s “So In Love.”

Ms. Nazarian says she hopes the project introduce her abilities as a lyricist and arranger, and will allow her opportunities to tour with her family. I’m not sure she really needs to prove anything further.  This outing is stunningly spot-on not only in its technical execution, but also in her ability to deftly interpret the diverse range of material.

The credits are lengthy, as the tracks were recorded at eight locations over that six-year period. Notables sitting in for a track or two include the aforementioned Mr. Pizzarelli, reed guy (and winner of 14 Grammys) Paquito D’Rivera, Gary Burton on vibes, and Sean Jones on Trumpet.

This set is very highly recommended.

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Highlighted tracks were added to the playlist at 62ndStreet.com radio.

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Kristine Mills – BOSSAtoo

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Kristine Mills - BOSSAtooKristine Mills – BOSSAtoo
(InkWell Publishing)
Released – October 9, 2015

Singer/songwriter Kristine Mills is no stranger to latin rhythms. The title, she says, doesn’t suggest a second album of bossa beats, but rather, the range of possibilities within the genre.

An award-winning songwriter, it’s no surprise that originals dominate this set, surrounding Sting’s “It’s Probably Me,” and a pair of Jobim classics – “Meditation,” and “Inutil Paisagem,” better known by its English title, “If You Never Come To Me.”

Kristine Mills

Regarding “Meditation” – Ms. Mills says she chose to interpret the lyrics not with a departing lover, but instead, “What if the lover in ‘Meditation’ wasn’t just going away, but passed away, and the surviving lover was singing this song at (the) funeral?”

The result is a beautifully unique and haunting rendition of a lyric you’ve heard countless times before – and to my thinking, easily scores as best track of the set.

Ms. Mills collaboration with Brian Spack leads to a pair of originals that stand out – a wistful “Silhouette,” and a remake of their own “Burden Of Choice,” with a sassy Bossa beat.

Surrounded by top-notch Brazilian talent – Klaus Mueller on Piano and arrangements, Itaiguara Brandão on guitar and bass; with the beat driven by drummer Porthino and Percussionist Rafael Barata, this sixth album from Kristine Mills is her best work yet, and is highly recommended. (Photography – Moris Malakoff)

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Highlighted tracks will be added to the playlist at 62ndStreet.com radio.

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Joyce Moreno-Kenny Werner – Poesia

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Joyce Moreno-Kenny Werner - PoesiaJoyce Moreno-Kenny Werner – Poesia (Pirouet)
Released – October 9, 2015

A baker’s dozen of gentle tracks from Joyce Moreno, an icon of Brazilian music, teamed in sparse arrangements with New York Pianist Kenny Werner. Ms. Moreno says, “We decided to go for…the most beautiful songs possible…with meaningful lyrics.”

While it’s a quiet set, there’s an undercurrent of joy and optimism, even in introspective tunes like Leonard Bernstein’s “Some Other Time,” from the warmtime musical, “On The Town;” and Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile.”

It’s one of those times when I wish I spoke Portuguese, to appreciate the poetry of the lyrics.

Joyce Moreno - Photo by Leo Aversa

A gentle set for quiet times. Recommended.

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Highlighted tracks have been added to the playlist at 62ndStreet Radio.  Photo of Ms. Moreno by Leo Aversa.

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Linda Calise – La Vie~My Life

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Linda Calise - La Vie~My LifeLinda Calise – La Vie~My Life
Released – July 28, 2015

Plenty of support for Linda Calise – from a ten-strong string section, backing vocalists, and a six-piece core band – but make no mistake, they’re there to put a frame around Ms. Calise’s delightful, versatile voice.

It’s a multi-genre set, from Phoebe Snow’s “Poetry Man,” to Scottish folk song, “The Water Is Wide,” to Edith Piaf’s signature song (and the title track), “La Vie en Rose,” a tribute to Ms. Calise’s mother, who died in 2009.

Whether the sweet and simple, “Dream A Little Dream,” or the more complex duet (with Ben Albert), “I Wish You Love,” Ms. Calise makes it all seem effortless.

A big band sound backs a powerful “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” my favorite from the disc.

This album is highly recommended.

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Highlighted tracks have been added to the playlist at 62ndStreet Radio.

There’s a great video that goes with the title track: