COVER -> POWERSSOUND
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Sure, I thought as I unwrapped the first release by Michael, a Michigan native who grew up in London before moving California.
In this album, "Inhale" (Beyond Music) Michael demonstrates that he's listened carefully to the icons of rock, then went into the studio and created some great music.
Today's music scene, pop/rock category especially, has been stagnant for years. Today's favorites aim their music straight at the middle and high school masses, the young people who for the most part wouldn't recognize good music if it ran over them.
James Michael, I'm happy to state, goes against the grain in coming up with a tasty and heartfelt group of tunes which proudly can be called rock. His voice, gravelly around the edges, can be categorized in the general area of Tom Petty, a breakthrough musician who influenced Michael years ago.
"Inhale" gives a generous dose of the work of Michael, who produced, engineered and mixed the album. All the songs, save Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going," were written by Michael. The intoxicating title song gets the album off to a terrific start, and Michael has the opportunity in these dozen songs to show various sides of his talent.
Michael is an exceptional talent, writes songs with a definite commercial bend, yet likely to attract those who don't want to be within 100 miles of a top 40 mentality. James Michael, with luck (it always takes luck) has produced an album that should attract large audiences wherever it's heard.
A Salute to a Master
His name can't be included in the masters of modern jazz, but someday Joe Henderson must surely be ranked among the best at compositition and performance. To hear Henderson laying down notes in precise but emotional ways on his tenor saxophone must be ranked as one of the supreme moments in jazz over the past few decades.Henderson, 63 this year, has written some of the more memorable tunes that have become jazz standards. The new CD, "Thank You, Joe" (Arkadia Jazz) contains a bumper crop of Henderson classics, performed by some of jazzland's better exponents. The first track on the album is Henderson's bountiful classic, "Mamacita," led by pianist Eric Reed, who lays down some dandy gospel riffs. Next is the tranquil and lovely "Isfahan," a song written by Billy Strayhorn. Trumpeter Terrell Stafford and vibist Steve Nelson are the stars here.
The Joanne Brackeen Quartet tackles an odd-metered "Gazelle," which alternates from 7/8 to the straight-ahead 4/4. Henderson has always be enamored of the hard bop sound, which is assessed nicely in "The Kicker," which features the delightful trumpet of Randy Brecker in a cutting session with Stafford. Delicious!
For the Kiddies
There aren't many CDs aimed at children, so it's a real treat to listen to "Being a Bear -- Jazz for the Whole Family" (Arbors Records). Dan Barrett, leader, trombonist and vocalists leads his Jazz Bears and charming vocalist Rebecca Kilgore in a session that contains plenty of jazz which should make a hit with the younger crowd.I played the CD for our five-year-old great-grandson and he danced around my office, particularly on the title tune, as well as "The Music Goes Round and Round" and "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby."
The seven members of the Barrett aggregation acquit themselves in fine fashion. Kilgore's wonderfully smoky voice always delights and I keep hoping she'll make a solo album.
Piano Solo Charms
There can't be too much of Joanne Brackeen, so her new solo album comes as a distinctive collection from one of the neglected performers of the age."Popsicle Illusion" (Arkadia Records) gives Brackeen a chance to show her mesmerizing talent at the keyboard. When Nat Hentoff, one of jazz's writing straight shooters writes the album notes, you know that the music must contain some special moments. And you'd be absolutely correct.
Brackeen can do it all, running through a difficult up-tempo thriller and lazing back into a mesmerizing ballad. She achieves something special several times during the 70-plus minutes of this delightful excursion. Hentoff points out that an advantage to hearing Brackeen on an album rather than in a nightclub setting is that"you can hear the music again and again. And with her, that means you keep discovering new dimensions of feeling, time and fun."
The album has a wide-ranging group of songs, including "If I Were a Bell," John Lennon's "Michelle" and the old Nat King Cole hit, "Nature Boy." There's also an unusual five-minute interview with Ms. Brackeen.
Daryl & Dave: Magic
The idea was a simple one. Stick Daryl Sherman, singer extraordinaire, and Dave McKenna, pianist with a long list of achievements, into the same recording studio. The result is "Jubilee" (Arbors Records) and it's magic time.
Along for the ride as guitarist Joe Cohn, bass player Frank Tate, and drummer Terry Clarke. The album contains 17 songs, some old familiars, some lesser known gems. All are wisely chosen and fit snugly for Ms. Sherman's voice, which ranges from cabaret singer to jazz sensation. McKenna's piano work will convince any critic to place him on that short list of big talents. There are plenty of highs and nary a single low in this classic album,, which will get serious duty on your CD player.
