Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra - Bernstein Reimagined

Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra - Bernstein Reimagined - MCG Jazz

"Bernstein Reimagined" is the result of a concert the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra (SJMO) performed in 2018, the year of the Bernstein centenary. SJMO Artist Director and conductor Charlie Young noted discussions among directors of various artistic programs to honor Bernstein that year. "I imagined the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra presenting a grand concert of Bernstein's music … "Re-imagining Leonard Bernstein for this occasion required examining some of his compositions rarely associated with jazz. The resulting concert was a blast!" 

The re-imagination avoids the usual suspects such as the oft-explored West Side Story songs or those songs that have become jazz standards. Instead, the project's five arrangers – Jay Ashby, Darryl Brenzel, Scott Silbert, Mike Tomaro, and Steve Williams – tackle lesser-known corners of Bernstein's output such as symphonic works, spiritual music, operas, and his sole film score, "On the Waterfront." 

The album opens with "Times Square Ballet," one of three pieces from the Broadway show "On the Town." "On the Town" was Bernstein's first Broadway show, although part of Bernstein's music was dropped from the film adaptation that many are familiar with. Scott Silbert wrote the arrangement of this suite that includes "New York, New York." Silbert's clarinet and Steve Williams alto sax stand out here. Also from "On the Town" is Mike Tomaro's arrangement of "The Great Lover," on which Silbert's tenor saxophone is among those showcased. Darryl Brenzel provides a reflective mood to the arrangement of "Lonely Town," with Tom Williams' blues-inflected trumpet.

Charlie Young takes a rhapsodic solo on "Dream For Me," which was incidental music for the play "Peter Pan." Jay Ashby's arrangement makes use of flutes, clarinet, and bass clarinet to surround the melody. Among the most imaginative arrangements is Steve Williams' one for "Waltz." This is based on a movement from Bernstein's 'Divertimento For Orchestra", in which the groove is transformed into a reggae one with steel pans used to state the melody. Victor Prevost is the marvelous steel pan player here. Darryl Brenzel's arrangement for "Chichester Psalms I" provides a high-spirited setting with an outstanding Luis Hernandez's tenor sax solo.

Leonard Bernstein was not a jazz composer, although there is a jazzy quality to much of his compositions that have been developed in many memorable jazz performances. SMJO has added to the body of jazz performance and recording of Bernstein's music in this enlightening and engaging album.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here the Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra performs Times Square Ballet." 

Gloria Reuben & Marty Ashby For All We Know

Gloria Reuben & Marty Ashby
For All We Know
MCG Jazz

Vocalist Reuben and guitarist Ashby have provided us with a delectable album of songs dealing with the beauty, pain, and unexpected twists of love and relationships. Reuben's first album on MCG Jazz, "Perchance to Dream," ended with a duo the hat sparked the present recording. Inspiration was found not merely from the connection they experienced, but also the duet albums by Sammy Davis, Jr. with Mundell Lowe and Laurindo Almeida, and by Ella Fitzgerald with Joe Pass. Reuben has a career as an actress and singer with credits spanning television, film, theater, and concert halls. Among these credits, she sang backup for Tina Turner on tour and received Emmy nominations for her acting on ER. Guitarist Ashby is also the executive producer of MCG Jazz, which he started in 1987.

Listeners will be charmed by Reuben and Ashby's intimate and romantic renditions of the ten songs about love and people. Reuben has a soft, melodious voice, and delivers the lyrics with clarity and a soothing feel. Ashby's accompaniment provides a foundation for her vocals with his mix of chords and single-note runs that also embellish these performances. The songs include such songs as 'Time After Time," "I'll Close My Eyes," "A Time for Love," "I'll Get Along Without You Very Well," and "How High the Moon," and Reuben enchants the listeners with her singing.

While the renditions are straight-forward, the warmth and clarity of her singing backed by Ashby's lean, sympathy backing make for delightful listening. This is a perfect album to listen to while having a candlelight dinner.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the March-April 2020 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 389). Here is Gloria Ruben performing "I'll Close My Eyes."

The DIVA Jazz Orchestra & the Boys

The DIVA Jazz Orchestra
DIVA & the Boys
MCG Jazz

This latest album by The DIVA Jazz Orchestra is part of a celebration of 3 years of MCG Jazz, a label with which they have been associated with for over 25 years. This recording memorializes performances by the DIVA Jazz Orchestra at the Manchester Craftsman's Guild on March 10 and 11, 2017. These evenings they were joined by special guests clarinetist, Ken Peplowski, trumpeter Claudio Rodoti, trombonist Jay Ashby and guitarist Marty Ashby. Under the leadership of drummer Sherrie Maricle, the members of the Orchestra were Alexa Tarantino- alto sax, soprano sax, flute, and clarinet; Scheila Gonzales - alto sax, flute, and clarinet; Janelle Reichman tenor sax and clarinet; Roxy Cross, tenor sax, flute, and clarinet; Leigh Pilzer - baritone sax and bass clarinet; Tanya Darby - lead trumpet & flugelhorn; Jami Dauber - trumpet & flugelhorn; Rachel Therrien - trumpet & flugelhorn; Barbara Laronga- trumpet & flugelhorn; Jennifer Krupa - lead trombone; Linda Landis - trombone; Leslie Havens - bass trombone; Tomoko Ohno - piano; and Noriko Ueda - bass.

About the Diva Jazz Orchestra I commented in a review of their last CD, "25th Anniversary Project," that "Certain things should be taken for granted about this recording including the excellent playing, ensemble work, and a first-rate rhythm section, along with marvelous arrangements and orchestrations resulting in a terrific modern big band recording." The same applies here to the eight compositions, and their solos are of equal quality to their famous guests. This is evident during the first selection, Noriko Ueda's arrangement of Benny Goodman's "Slipped Disc," which features Ken Peplowski and Janelle Reichman on clarinet. The two who swap lines while the rhythm section briskly propels them, and the full band joins in, and the orchestra trades four with Marcie before the tempo rockets to the close. Jobim's "A Felicidade" is one of three bossa nova compositions heard here. Besides Rodoti's mellifluous trumpet, Roxy Cross's lyrical tenor saxophone is spotlighted along with bassist Ueda. Jay Ashby contributed "Deference to Diz," a relaxed big band bop-flavored number that incorporates phrases from some Gillespie classics. Peplowski, Roditi, and Jay Ashby solo along with pianist Ohno with the full band riffing in support.

Jay Ashby also arranged the Ivan Lins-Vitor Martins' composition "Noturna" with Jay's melodic trombone in focus while Marty Ashby plays chords on acoustic guitar. It is a beautiful performance. Peplowski opens "The One I Love Belongs to Someone Else." Trumpeter Jamie Dauber is showcased playing with a mute and pianist Ohno displaying her fluid approach while the arrangement allows the intensity to build to an explosive close. Roditi takes up the piccolo trumpet his "Piccolo Blues," a performance on which The DIVA Jazz Orchestra evokes the later Count Basie Band. Besides Roditi, Jennifer Krupa's trombone and Alexa Tarantino's soprano saxophone are featured on this.

Closing this recording, there is an elegant rendition of "Estate," featuring Peplowski's clarinet, and a rousing rendition of Plas Johnson's "Bucket O' Blues." The latter number showcases all the members of the saxophone section who trade fours with each other before pianist Ohno channels Junior Mance and Harold Mabern for her solo. The full band takes out "Bucket O' Blues" in a highly animated fashion. It caps another exceptional recording by The DIVA Jazz Orchestra.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a recent performance by The DIVA Jazz Orchestra.