Sunday, November 23, 2008

"Discovered…At Last" by Helen "Redd" Vizard (Jazz Artist from Florida(FL))

Up and coming jazz artist Helen "Redd" Vizard delivers a truly awe inspiring jazz CD with her recently released "Discovered…At Last." The vocals are outstanding and sung with such pure passionate emotion. You'll hear standard jazz covers on this CD but Redd puts her own artistic, flavorful twist to these great jazz classics. The backing musicians, The Guffman Trio, lend a stunning musical performance enhancing the lead vocals of Redd. "At Last" is a wonderful rendition of the Etta James hit with stunning and exceptional vocals. "My Funny Valentine" is so sophisticated with vocals pouring out emotional feelings and the piano enhancing the ambience of the song. Sit back and listen to an upright bass sauntering through a bass solo or a piano strolling through a bluesy chord progression. "Discovered…At Last." is definitely a relaxing compilation of familiar jazz standards with a fresh balance of jazz swing and blues.
-Diane and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
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Saturday, November 15, 2008

"Spirit Groove" by Jason Hatfield (Spiritual/Soul Artist from Miami, Florida (FL))

Pastor Jason Hatfield has broken the mold of conventional praise and worship with his impressive release "Spirit Groove." As the title suggests, Hatfield's vision is to uplift the spirit with a musical groove. "Rain" is a tastefully funky opener, setting the tone for an energetic listening experience. The production is clean and professional, characterized by wonderfully layered vocals over a rhythmic backdrop provided by fantastic musicians on live instruments. The aptly titled "Party," is also a lively track filled with emotional vocals and spirited musical performances. The feisty "Rise Up" employs a horn section, playful bass line and silky drum groove to provide yet another enjoyable funky track. There are tender moments as well, such as the gently flowing "Break My Heart," the smooth "I Belong to You," and the graceful "Be My Refuge." The group of musicians Hatfield has assembled for this project is extremely talented, each musician shining throughout this release both individually and collectively. Jason Hatfield's "Spirit Groove" is a very inspirational and impressive release that can be enjoyed by fans of many musical eras and genres including Christian, R&B, Funk, Disco, and Motown.
-Rodney and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
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Monday, November 10, 2008

"Dedicated" by David Cahalan (Pop Artist from Tampa, Florida (FL))

With the fittingly titled "Dedicated," David Cahalan pays tribute to the music of The Carpenters, for whom he is a former background singer. He modernizes each tune with his melodic, individual style, breathing new life into the original while making it his own. He opens the set with the familiar "Hurting Each Other," updating the standard tune with his modern style of pop. He gives the classic "Close To You" a contemporary flair with a bright, bouncing groove, and smooth lead and background vocals. His version of "For All We Know" is a touching ballad, featuring soulful vocals by Cahalan and a shimmering soprano sax melody. His rendition of "Superstar" features a great horn section and a brilliant string arrangement. "Bless the Beasts and the Children" is a wonderful duet, with Cahalan and his female counterpart in fine form. With "Dedicated," David Cahalan pays a suitable and proper tribute to truly great songs that were sung by Karen Carpenter. This is surely an album that all Carpenters' fans will appreciate.
-Rodney and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
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"Singing the Great American Songbook" by Ron Kaplan (Easy Listening/Jazz Artist from California (CA))

"Singing the Great American Songbook" by jazz vocalist Ron Kaplan (for the American Songbook Preservation Society) is a live CD capturing the performance of a benefit concert given by Mr. Kaplan at The Kuumbwa Jazz Center on January 25, 2007. Kaplan is joined by the stellar musicians Marshall Otwell on the piano and Stan Poplin on bass. This release captures the sound and spirit of this live show beautifully, with each musician shining both individually and collectively. Kaplan has a gentle, swinging style of phrasing and his sidemen provide wonderful support and solos throughout. They begin the set with spirited interpretations of Duke Ellington's "Drop Me Off in Harlem" and "Solitude," with Kaplan in fine form. Otwell provides intelligent figures and swinging solos over Poplin's steady bass. Also included is a great rendition of Cole Porter's "I Get a Kick Out of You," with Kaplan's vocals dancing on top of the rhythmic piano of Otwell, anchored by the solid bass lines of Poplin. Another highlight is an enchanting version of Harold Arlen & Johnny Mercer's "Out of This World," with soaring vocals from Kaplan and fiery solos by both Otwell & Poplin. A touching interpretation of the jazz ballad "Willow Weep for Me" showcases the trio's sensitivity. The trio closes the night with a playful performance of George & Ira Gershwin's "Love Is Here to Stay," with lively vocals from Kaplan and splashy solos contributed from both Otwell and Poplin. This concert and album is a great example of timeless material performed by three extremely talented musicians; a wonderful contribution to the Great American Songbook. Fans of male jazz vocals in the style of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett will want to check "Singing the Great American Songbook" out.
-Rodney and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Ron Kaplan 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites