The Library CD Music Shelf
The Color of Sunshine
Lawrence Blatt
William Ackerman, producer
LMB Music
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$15.00 www.myspace.com/creativeservicecompany
The Color of Sunshine is the third instrumental guitar album on CD by
performer Lawrence Blatt, produced by Grammy winner and founder of
Windham Hill Records William Ackerman. Blatt's finger-picking style is
highlighted by a beautiful flow of sound meant to acoustically
represent colors of the rainbow. The inspirations for each color range
from the wondrous deep red sands of the Moorish desert for the song
connected to red, to the difficult ordeal of people afflicted with
jaundice for the song connected to yellow, to happy memories of
growing up in agricultural Indiana for the song connected to green. An
emotionally enthralling music album that guitar lovers are sure to
enjoy. The tracks include Looking to the Sun (1:34); The Color of
Sunshine (4:13); Gray Salt Marsh (4:33); Infrared: The Abyss (3:18);
Alhambra (The Red) (3:41); Orange Blossom Honey (3:32); Jaune (Yellow)
(5:09); Green Corn and Spring (3:23); Mar Azul (3:39); Violet Blue
(3:56); UV Radiations (4:26); Black Rock Beach (2:28); White Light
(2:45); and Reach for the Rainbow (3:11). Highly recommended.
European Playground
Putumayo Kids
c/o Beth Blenz-Clucas Publicity
5505 SW Illinois Street, Portland, OR 97221
$15.98 www.putumayokids.com
European Playground is a delightful, family-friendly music CD of fun
songs, each by a different artist with roots in nations all over
Europe. Liner notes in English, Spanish, French and German round out
this playful, multicultural music adventure, enthusiastically
recommended for public library children's collections. Highly
recommended; adults are sure to enjoy the catchy, cheerful themes too!
The nations represented by each track are Finland/Sweden (2:16);
Belgium (2:17); England (3:29); Denmark (2:15); Hungary (1:20); France
(2:29); Greece (2:12); Portugal (2:23); Germany (2:43); Scotland
(2:25); Netherlands (2:13); Spain (1:44); Switzerland (2:28); Italy
(1:53) and Ireland (2:07).
A Song of You
Irene and Her Latin Jazz Band
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$16.99 www.irenesings.com www.cdbaby.com
The second music CD album by Irene and Her Latin Jazz Band, A Song of
You presents fourteen love songs that blend the vibrant musical
culture of Southern California with that of Brazil, enhanced by South
American rhythms. A dash of rhythmic influences from the Caribbean,
Polynesia, Spain and France further broaden this exciting Latin jazz
celebration. Irene's enthralling lyrics distinguish this captivating
and invigorating album, which makes a perfect gift for any loved one
who enjoys the spice of Latin jazz. Highly recommended. The tracks are
"Dance With Me", "The Waiting Song", "A Song of You", "Triste",
"Tintim Por Tintim", "Change the World", "South Seas Samba",
"S'Wonderful", "Fragililidad", "Like a Lover", "It's Too Darn Hot",
"Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars", "Bim Bom", and "La Foule".
The Elk Dreamers
Elk Soldier
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
$15.98 www.canyonrecords.com 1-800-268-1141
The Elk Dreamers is a music CD rendering the tradition of the Native
American Pow-Wow circle. As the Pow-Wow group sings, dancers move with
the rhythm and Elk Soldier prays for blessings to all Native peoples,
with humble respect extended to their ancestors and the traditions of
the drum. An unforgettably powerful audio experience, The Elk Dreamers
is the next best thing to the honor of being permitted to experience a
Pow-Wow firsthand. The tracks are "Butters" (4:21), "For the
Elders" (3:06), "The Drum Hopper" (3:41), "The Perfect Storm" (3:02),
"Rezmerized" (3:51), "Heya" (3:05), "Pow-Wow Inc." (3:25), "The Show
(3:21), "Speedway" (3:14), "Ace (3:28), "Dancing Drum" (3:41), "Elk
Medicine" (3:05), and "The Wakeman Experience" (5:02). 47 minutes 13
seconds. Also highly recommended are two other Native American music
CD releases from Canyon Records, "Love, Lies & Lullabies: Round Dance
Songs" by Sullivan & Day ($15.98) and "Awakening of Life" by Cheevers
Toppah and Kevin Yazzie ($15.98).
Mariachi Classics
Mariachi Real de San Diego
Mardi Gras Records
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$17.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz
Mariachi Classics is a music CD album of traditional Mexican mariachi
songs, performed with gusto by Mariachi Real de San Diego. Filled with
the celebratory vibrance of a grand musical legacy, Mariachi Classics
is a delightful addition to world music collections and especially
recommended for anyone who loves the enthusiastic, life-affirming
rhythms of a joyful mariachi band. The tracks consist of a wealth of
beloved favorite songs from Old Mexico: "Las Mananitas", "San Diego",
"Bala Perdida", "El Tranchete", "Noche de Ronda", "La Malaguena", "Las
Chipanecas", "El Mariachi", "Solamente Una Vez", "Mexico Lindo Y
Querido", "La Periodista", "Quierme Mucho", "Jugueteando", "Sabor a
Mi", "Cancion Mixteca", and "Las Golondrinas".
Somethin' Like Love
Steven Pasquale
PS Classics
c/o Miller Wright & Associates, Inc. (publicity)
1650 Broadway, Suite 1210, New York, NY 10019
$17.98 www.millerwright.com
Somethin' Like Love is the debut solo jazz album by Steven Pasquale,
perhaps best known for playing the fireman "Sean Garrity" on the
popular television series "Rescue Me". A rich collection embracing the
heritage of traditional jazz, Somethin' Like Love offers magically
flowing reinterpretations of classic jazz favorites, as well as a
brand new composition in the title song. Pasquale's legato singing
resonates with the listener in this thoroughly enjoyable album
enthusiastically recommended for jazz vocal fans. The tracks are "In
the Wee Small Hours of the Morning", "On the Street Where You Live",
"Laura", "The Lady's in Love With You", "Somethin' Like Love", "Count
Your Blessings Instead of Sheep", "They All Laughed", "Summertime",
"If I Were a Bell", "My Funny Valentine", "I Wish I Didn't Love You
So", and "Maybe".
Under the Bones of the Great Blue Whale
Sarah Brooks and Graceful Soul
Whaling City Sound
1178 Tucker Road, No. Dartmouth, MA 02747
c/o Mixed Media (publicity)
mixedmediapromo@cox.net
$16.98 www.whalingcitysound.com
Recorded live in the "Whaling City" of New Bedford, Under the Bones of
the Great Blue Whale is a jazz band album featuring singer Sarah
Brooks, Bill Miele (bass), Kenny Hadley (drums)Jim Robitaille and Bob
Schlink (melody and rhythm guitar). Sarah had not met any of the
professional musicians before the night of their performance;
together, they worked to create an unforgettable outpouring of soul
music. Together they spun their own take on great pop, rock, and
rhythm & blues classics. A moment of discovery, adaptation, and sheer
musical joy preserved on audio, Under the Bones of the Great Blue
Whale is a joy to listen to. The tracks are "Bring It On Home To
Me" (5:19), "Look of Love" (6:27), "Chain of Fools" (7:26), "You Can't
Do That" (4:35), "At Last" (5:01), "Amazing Grace - Vocal
Version" (8:28), Baby I Love You" (5:21), "Since I Fell For
You" (5:56), "Fragile" (6:36), "The Chicken" (8:27), and "Amazing
Grace - Instrumental Version" (4:20). Also highly recommended is the
album "Neon" by jazz guitarist Mike Clinco.
If I Had a Key to the Dawn
Lily Storm
Songbat Records
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$16.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz
If I Had a Key to the Dawn: Love Songs and Laments from Eastern Europe
is a music CD album of intimate songs, some instrumental, some
featuring Lily Storm's haunting voice, all drawing upon the musical
and storytelling traditions of various Eastern and Central European
nations from Greece to Hungary to the Ukraine, Bulgaria, Czech
Republic, Slovakia, and more. The songs themselves range from
bittersweet love ballads to celebrations of a mother's love for her
child. If I Had a Key to the Dawn bears witness beauty and the power
of human emotion, and deserves the highest recommendation. The tracks
are "Sleep, child" (0:48), "The peony" (1:58), "One Friday" (2:39),
"Oh, stand aside" (2:36), "A bird flew to my darling's window" (2:52),
"Love, love" (2:25), "The lemon tree" (3:13), "Gulo" (6:29), "Little
turtle-dove" (4:27), "Instrumental (accordion)" (2:28), "Green leaf of
a pear tree" (3:15), "My Nightingale" (2:37), "Years, heavy
years" (3:58), "Instrumental (duduk)" (3:07), and "The swallow is
flying" (2:57). 45 minutes, 48 seconds.
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