"Listen Here" reissues Roseanna Vitro's 1984 album that launched her remarkable recording career. Vitro has been one of the most notable jazz vocalists in her over a 35-year career with dynamism in her performances. Her clear diction, pitch, the dynamics of her horn-like phrasing, and expressiveness have engrossed audiences over this time. On this recording, Vitro was handsomely backed by a superb rhythm section; pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Buster Williams, and drummer Ben Riley. Arnett Cobb adds his tenor sax on three selections, Bliss Rodriguez replaces Barron on one track, Scot Hardy is on guitar for one selection, and Duduka Fonseca adds percussion for two.
This was a remarkable session starting with the sterling opening rendition of the Bossa Nova standard "No More Blues." She captures the listener immediately. On an album of exquisitely rendered classic songs, a few tracks stand out, such as her rendition of Ellington's "Love You Madly." Her horn-like singing and scatting are matched by Cobb's tenor sax and Barron's superlative solo. "Centerpiece," with just Rodriguez and Cobb accompanying her, also stands out with Cobb's outstanding tenor sax complementing her superb singing. Then there is the supple support of the longing she expresses in "A Time For Love." This song is followed by the joyfulness exhibited on "This Happy Madness," the reflective performance of the title track, and the jubilant swing of "It Could Happen to You," with yet another stellar Cobb solo.
Steve Allen wrote the liner notes that are reprinted on this reissue. "Is Roseanna Vitro a jazz singer? Yes, but no means only that. Her voice, the basic sound, is lovely, her diction clean. Though she sings and phrases with experienced authority, there is something charmingly girlish and feminine in the sound, long may it wave." Allen's 35-year old words ring true still today as she continues to enthrall us with her live performances and recordings. Thirty-five years after its initial release, "Listen Here" sounds fresh and vital, and its rerelease is most welcome.
I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a recent video of Roseanna Vitro performing.
Warren Wolf and Joe Locke will be featured at a Vibes Summit on Saturday night February 17.
Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Returns to Rockville MD, President's Day
Weekend, February 16-18, 2018. Presented by the Jazz Academy of Music to
support and spotlight Jazz Education as well as present a range of
top-notch Jazz performances, this year's Festival will be highlighted by
a Jazz Vibes summit, and several stellar Jazz Vocalists. Headline
performers include Warren Wolf, Jazzmeia Horn, Buster Williams, Joe
Locke, Paul Carr, Carmen Bradford, Wycliffe Gordon, Eric Byrd Trio,
Matthew Whittaker, Craig Handy and Carmen Lundy It takes place at the
Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel Executive Meeting Center, 1750
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
The Festival is held in various stages at the Hotel. The main stage is the Ronnie Wells Main Stage, and on Friday Night will have performances by Warren Wolf and the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate All Stars featuring the Baltimore, Maryland native who is a great vibraphone player, and currently a member of the San Francisco Jazz Ensemble. He played several years with Christian McBride as well as led his own groups. He will be followed by vocalist Jazzmeia Horn (seen in the video above), winner of the 2015 Thelonious Monk International Vocal Competition and who has worked with such artists as Winard Harper (with whom she has appeared at a prior MAJF), Junior Mance, Billy Harper, Delfeayo Marsalis, Mike LeDonne, Peter Bernstein, Johnny O’Neal, Vincent Herring, Kirk Lightsey, Frank Wess, and Ellis Marsalis. She thrilled audiences at the Kennedy Center last season and will be joined by saxophonist Joel Frahm for her performance here. Closing out the Friday Night performances will be the great Buster Williams and Something More. Williams, one of the great jazz bassists of all time has worked with a who's who of modern jazz including Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, Ron Carter, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughan, Benny Golson, Mary Lou Williams, Hank Jones, and so many more.
Saturday afternoon's program on the Ronnie Wells stage will include two Discovery Acts selected from performers who submitted to Paul Carr’s 2018 Discovery Act Competition. There performance will be followed by Lydia Harrell, the Boston-based winner of the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Voice competition. Saturday evening's performance starts with the Paul Carr Quartet with special guest, vocalist Carmen Bradford (Seen above with the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Orchestra at the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival). Carr is a strong, hard-bop centered saxophonist as well as educator and will have the great Ms. Bradford, formerly with Count Basie as part of his set. After his set there will be a Vibes Summit with Warren Wolf, Joe Locke and another player to be announced. The evening closes with a performance by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Orchestra.
Sunday afternoon opens with Carmen Bradford and the Jazz Academy Orchestra which is followed by the Eric Byrd Trio. The Baltimore based Byrd is a superb pianist rooted in blues and gospel as well as bop and they will celebrate their new CD release "Saints Are Still Marching." They will be followed by one of my favorite singers from the DMV area, Janine Gilbert-Carter (seen in video above from 2009 where she was backed with Eric Byrd and others) who also has a new release, "My Foolish Heart." Sunday evening opens with a fabulous young pianist, Matthew Whitaker, followed by saxophonist Craig Handy and Second Line Smith with another great vocalist, Carmen Lundy closing out the main stage.
In addition to the Main Stage, there are many performers in the more intimate MAJF Club, including saxophonists Terry Koger and Braxton Cook (seen above), and vocalists Candice Bostwick, Petra Martin, and Chad Carter. Every night the Wes Biles Trio hosts a jam session in the MAJF Club. There are also a number of High School Big Band and Ensembles that perform with the High School Band Competition Finals taking place Saturday Afternoon in the Ronnie Wells Main Stage. There are also Films show, artist interviews and workshops for young musicians offered during the Festival.
The festival is presented by the Jazz Academy of Music. The Jazz Academy of Music Inc, a non-profit 501c3 organization, established in 2002, is a manifestation of a longtime dream of Paul Carr (seen performing at the 2011 Mid-Atalntic Jazz Festival), its Music Director, to extend the music education opportunities afforded him, as an inner city youth, to others. The Jazz Academy programs draw from and build upon the disciplines of music education Paul experienced in his youth. The mission of the Academy is to advance and preserve Jazz music through education. Its website is http://www.jazzacademy.org.
For more information on the performers and the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, including artist bios (and video clips), tickets, accommodations and more, visit https://www.midatlanticjazzfestival.org/ or email inquiry@midatlanticjazzfestival.org.
"Natural Essence" is the latest recording from pianist Cyrus Chestnut, and with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White, is another reason to regard Chestnut not simply as one of the most formidable pianists in a technical sense, but one of the most imaginative and compelling jazz musicians of today. As Steve Futterman observes in the liner notes, "Chestnut has consistently shown himself as an improvisor of rare ingenuity and grace … [yet distinguished from other gifted pianists by] … the sheer pleasure that radiates from all he plays."
The ebullience that emanates from his playing is immediately evident on the opening interpretation of Joe Henderson's "Mamacita," which also displays the energy and drive offered by Williams and White and followed by a swinging reworking of "It Could Happen To You." Four of the nine performances are originals including two from the leader, and one each by Williams and White. Chestnut's "Faith Amongst The Unknown" has a spiritual underpinning anchored by Williams' ostinato, while his other original "I Remember" has a definite charm about it. White contributed a lovely ballad "Dedication," where Chestnut's impeccable touch and sense of dynamics is mesmerizing with White's use of brushes adding to the performance, while Williams' Toku-Do is a spirited, perky performance.
Chestnut, Williams and White brings a fresh approach with the lively rendition of "I Cover The Waterfront" while the extended treatment of "My Romance" that reflects attention to touch and tonal qualities and his orchestral approach to the piano on a hauntingly beautiful performance. This recording closes with the trio taking off on the Gigi Gyrce classic "Minority, a hard bop performance of irresistible drive and swing. ""Natural Essence" is a superb recording that provides more evidence of Cyrus Chestnut's stature of one of today's premier jazz pianists.
I received a review copy from the record company. This review originally appeared in the July-August 2016 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 367). Here is this master doing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."
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