Mon David & Josh Nelson DNA

Mon David & Josh Nelson
DNA
Dash Hoffman Records

Filipino-American vocalist Mon David teams up with pianist Josh Nelson on an album on American songbook classics and lesser-known songs. He started playing drums and guitar at 15, and he was singing pop tunes and musical theater songs when a friend gave him a copy of a Mark Murphy album that led him to his current path as a jazz singer. In 2006 David won the London International Jazz Vocal Competition and recorded his first album. He moved to the United States and currently resides in the Los Angeles area. This album of duets is his fourth US release.

Listening to Mon David, one appreciates his timing, phrasing, and vocal dynamics. There are hints of his background singing musical theater songs, and one can imagine him on the stage or at a cabaret. At the same time, he certainly shows off himself as a jazz interpreter of songs of a high order. There is an element of Johnny Hartman in his rendition of "Lush Life," as well as a bit of Kurt Elling with Nelson providing light and sophisticated backing,

There are some gems on this recording, including a lesser-known song, "Did I Ever Really Live." This song was written by Albert Sprague and Allan Sherman for a failed musical. There are several medleys on this CD, including one of "Straight No Chaser" with "Billie's Bounce." The performance displays David's considerable scatting skills, along with some original Filipino lyrics. Nelson's accompaniment and soloing merits praise here. There is also a tribute to Bill Evans, "In Praise of Bill Evans: I Remember Bill/ Very Early/ Waltz For Debby." David's interpretation of "Here's To Life" might rank just below Shirley Horn's timeless rendition. Equally stunning is a version of John Lennon's "Imagine," that starts with David unaccompanied before Nelson adds understated piano and atmospheric electric keyboards.

"DNA" was for this writer a marvelous introduction to Mon David's heartfelt and accomplished singing. The spare, elegant backing lets his considerable vocal talent shine on this exceptional recording.

 I received my review copy from a publicist. while not from this recording, here is Mon David singing "Here's To Life" in 2016.

Mayita Dinos The Garden Is My Stage

Mayita Dinos
The Garden Is My Stage
Dash Hoffman Records

A landscape designer and artist, as well as one who has performed in jazz venues over the years, Mayita Dinos is able to combine her passions in this debut recording. She has brought together a fine group of musicians for her studio ensemble. The musicians include Bill Cantos or Rick Eames on piano; Gabe Davis on acoustic bass; Hussain Jeffry on electric bass; Dori Amarilio on guitar; Michael Hunter on trumpet & flugelhorn; Alex Budman on flute, clarinet & soprano sax; Steve Hass on drums; and Tiki Pasillas on drums & percussion.

Dinos has worked as a designer specializing in sustainable landscape design. Landscape design requires more than just a knowledge of horticulture because a beautiful garden is like a lush symphony composed of colors, shapes, and textures. Dinos was singing in various venues around Los Angeles, including at jam sessions hosted by Cathy Segal-Garcia, the prolific singer, recording artist, and impresario, when Dan Davilla, a local patron of the arts, approached Dinos with an offer to executive produce a CD for her. Segal-Garcia became her producer and brought on board guitarist Dori Amarilio as a co-producer and primary arranger. Dinos relates, "We spent hours before the actual recording process talking about my musical influences. I had painted illustrations, which I included in the CD package, that really helped Dori understand what each song meant to me. As a result, I feel that each song, as well as the CD as a whole, carries my DNA! I hear tinges of flamenco, birdsong, rain, and the longing for reconciliation with nature in Dori's instrumentation, pulse, and harmonic choices." The publicity for this recording observes that "Each of the songs that Dinos chose relates to the natural world and the music she hears in it."

The title of this album echoes lyrics in Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" about returning to the garden. This is one of several songs Dinos sings with a clear, soft sweet-sounding voice. Her phrasing flows like a cool stream while she cleanly delivers the lyrics. In addition to playing guitar, Amarilio provided the arrangements for these dreamy, breezy performances. His arrangements complement the warmth of her singing, with Hunter's brass and Budman's reeds accenting these lovely performances such as for Billy Strayhorn's "A Flower is a Lonesome Thing," and Thelonious Monk's "Pannonica." On the Monk tune, Jon Hendricks' lyrics are lovingly rendered. Amarilio transforms Charlie Parker's "Ornithology" into a Brazilian bossa nova with Dinos adding lyrics about birds soaring and nesting. She provides a fresh romantic take on Ben E. King's classic "Spanish Harlem," with Amarilio adding some flamenco touches with his guitar.

Other songs derive from such sources as Freddie Hubbard, Stevie Wonder, and Antonio Carlos Jobim with her delightful rendition of "Aqua de Beber," providing a coda to a thoroughly captivating recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist. From this CD,  Mayita Dinos sings "A Flower is a Lonesome Thing."