Mark Winkler & David Benoit Old Friends

Mark Winkler & David Benoit
Old Friends
Cafe Pacific Records

"Old Friends" brings together vocalist (and lyricist) Winkler with keyboardist David Benoit for a set of straight-forward jazz vocals. Benoit is likely the best known of the two as a producer as well as performer. Winkler has had a productive recording career as well. On six of the thirteen tunes on this album, the two are joined by bassist Gabe Davis, drummer Clayton Cameron, and guitarist Pat Kelley. Cellist Stefanie Fife appears on three tunes, and percussionist Kevin Winard is on one.

There is an eloquence to the program here with Benoit's accompaniment and Winkler's nuanced phrasing, clear diction, and delightful conversational approach. The selections with the rhythm trio add additional variety to this mix of standards and originals. Bob Dorough's effervescent "I've Got Just About Everything" is the first selection with a lively backing, including Cameron's adept use of brushes and Kelley's nimble guitar. Then there is a duet rendition of Dave Frishberg's "Sweet Kentucky Ham" with Benoit's exquisite accompaniment of Winkler's delivery about a lazy city where the sidewalks close up early. Pat Kelley's guitar opens an endearing interpretation of "The Shadow of Your Smile." Another duet is a thoughtful rendition of Mancini-Bricusse penned "Two For the Road."

The cello of Stefanie Fife joins Benoit in a thoughtful performance of Paul Simon's "Old Friends/Bookends." She also adds instrumental color to Randy Newman's "I Think It's Going To Rain Today." Winkler gives an appropriate moody treatment to "When This Love Affair is Over." Benoit is heard on the organ as well as piano, while Kelley adds some incisive guitar commentary. There is clarity in the manner Winkler sings, which brings the words of the songs to the listener. This is also evident in the original that he and Benoit collaborated on, such as "In a Quiet Place (Kei's Song)" and "Dragonfly," a beautiful song of hope for love. Then there is a Benoit melody to which lyrics were added, "Thirty Years (Only Sunshine Days)," which is dedicated to the memory of jazz journalist Christopher Louden.

The closing track is "Some Other Time," one of the songs from the Leonard Bernstein's "On the Town." It is a nostalgic song about the parting of someone close, and Winkler's heartfelt singing gives the lyrics their proper weight, with Benoit graceful playing. Benoit and Winkler have been friends for some 37 years, and the marvelous vocal performances on "Old Friends" display a musical closeness to match their personal friendship.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is "I Think It's Going To Rain Today."

Judy Wexler - Back to the Garden

Judy Wexler - Back to the Garden -Jewel City Jazz

While vocalist Judy Wexler's prior album, "Crowded Heart," was Judy's effort to present "jazz standards for the 21st century," "Back to the Garden" has her reimagining songs from the 1960s of Love, Hope, and Change. Wexler co-produced this with Jeff Colella, who plays keyboards (and melodica on one track). Others on this recording include Larry Koonse on guitar, Gabe Davis on bass, and Steve Hass on drums. Others heard on some of this recording are Bob Thiele, Jr. on guitar, Danny Janklow on alto sax, Jay Jennings on trumpet, and Hendrik Meurkens on harmonica. There are strings present on three tracks.

Reviewing "Crowded Heart," I wrote, "Wexler has a delightful, sometimes dreamy voice that conveys joy and heartbreak with her swing, phrasing, clear diction, and sweet tone." With her excellent command of pitch and her storytelling singing these songs, "Back to the Garden" is a delightful, sophisticated jazz-pop recording. Things kick off with her revival of the Youngbloods' appeal for peace and brotherhood, "Get Together," although the moody backing has it come across more like a plea. There is plenty of charm to her relaxed reworking of The Drifters' hit (by Gerry Goffin and Carole King) "Up on the Roof." Kudos for her rendition of Paul Simon's "American Tune," with a strings section enhancing her plaintive vocal. Koonse takes a short acoustic guitar solo here. The strings also add atmosphere to the optimism expressed in her performance of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young."

Colella plays melodica (and solos) on the rendition of Dylan's protest anthem, "The Times They Are A-Changin'." It is another performance the showcases her skill in highlighting the lyrics. Cotella adds a stark arrangement for the cover of the Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth. It is one of several songs for which Erin Bentlage sang background vocals. One of her top vocals here is of Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'." Hendrik Meurkens contributes an enchanting solo to add to the low-key, rather reflective quality of this performance. Jay Jennings trumpet adds to a nostalgic rendition of Sandy Denny's "Who Knows Where The Time Goes." 

Judy Wexler has produced a most agreeable recording with her appealing, heartfelt vocals and solid, understated backing.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is Judy Wexler performing "Up On the Roof" from 2018.

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."