The Library CD Music Shelf
Notes Home
David MacKenzie and Josh Johnston
The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
20 Euro www.davidandjosh.com
The second album of Ireland's David MacKenzie and Josh Johnston, Notes
Home is a re-imagining of classic swing jazz from 80 years ago,
enhanced with the pair's personal touch and contributions of all-
original songs. Recorded live in studio with very few retakes in order
to capture the spirit of improvisation, Notes Home is a fast-paced,
upbeat album of rollicking excitement sure to please any listener who
loves the variety and expression of jazz. A welcome addition to public
library as well as private jazz collections. The tracks are "The
Latecomer", "Cap Mortola", "Silk", "Through the Night", "Place
Carnot", "La Narbonnaise", "Minor Happiness", "Broadband Blues", "La
Plage", "Waiting", "Wistful Thinking", "Pont Neuf", and "Sliding
Scale". Also highly recommended for a joyful good time is the duo's
previous album, "A Minor Happiness."
Ring Christmas Bells
With Brian Stokes Mitchell
Mack Wilberg, conductor
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
$18.98 www.mormontabernaclechoir.org
Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell lends his talents to a
performance of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple
Square, along with bell choir of more than 100 individuals. Ring
Christmas Bells is a live recording celebrating the holiday spirit
with jubilation, featuring classic Christmas songs infused with the
love and devotion of the performers. Highly recommended especially for
holiday gift-giving to anyone who loved Christmas or bell choir music.
The tracks are "Processional on 'God Rest Ye Merry,
Gentlemen'" (5:31), "Once in Royal David's City" (4:38), "The
Christmas Song / A Crazy Christmas List (3:19), "The Friendly
Beasts" (6:36), "Through Heaven's Eyes" (3:52), "I Saw Three
Ships" (2:55), "Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing?" (4:41),
"Sleigh Ride" (3:05), "New Words" (4:21), "Jesu, Joy of Man's
Desiring" (6:29), "Grateful" (5:43), "Go, Tell It on the
Mountain" (1:56), "And the Glory of the Lord" (3:03),
"Hallelujah" (3:45), and "Angels, from the Realms of Glory" (4:35).
Sting Like a Bee
Mike Longo Trio
Consolidated Artists Productions
290 Riverside Dr., Suite 11-D, NYC 11025
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$14.97 www.jazzbeat.com
Jazz pianist Mike Longo along with Bob Cranshaw on bass and Lewis Nash
on drums present Sting Like a Bee, a music CD album of a dozen songs
recorded live in studio - nearly all of them first takes with only a
minimum of editing. A vibrant, living work brimming with the artists'
passion for their music, Sting Like a Bee is sure to excite listeners
and rekindle one's love of jazz in all its forms. The tracks are
"Speak No Evil" (7:56), "Love For Sale" (9:13), "Daahoud" (3:52),
"Tell Me a Bedtime Story" (4:49), "Someone to Love" (5:58), "Westside
Story Medley" (7:50), Dance Cadaverous (8:14), "Morning" (5:14),
"Speak Low" (6:48), "Bird Seed" (2:42), "Checked Bags" (5:33), and
"Kush" (4:22). 72 minutes, 53 seconds. Also highly recommended is the
trio's previous album, "Float Like a Butterfly."
La Part Du Feu
Le Vent du Nord
Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$17.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz
Quebec's Le Vent du Nord (The Wind of the North) presents their latest
album La Part Du Feu, the theme of which reflects its title about
individuals contributing to a shared future. The songs on La Part Du
Feu dig the foundation of Canada's history and musical roots, from
"Octobre 1837" which remembers a French uprising against British rule,
to the reconstruction of the lyrics to the song "Elise". A smoothly
presented and unforgettable taste of Canada's musical culture, highly
recommended for international music CD collections. The tracks are
Lanlaire (4:49), Octobre 1837 (4:01), La Mine (3:31), Petit Reve V
(2:04), Mamzelle Kennedy (4:03), Les Metiers (2:54), Elise (5:37), Le
Coeur en Trois (3:48), Rossignolet (3:54), Montcalm (2:42), L'attente
(4:21), Le Cavalier et la Belle (4:07), and Ecris-Moi (3:32).
Dance Mama!
Christine Vaindirlis
FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$14.99 www.flipswitchPR.com www.christinevaindirlis.com
Dance Mama! is a lively music album by Christine Vaindirlis, who puts
no shortage of energy into her enthusiastic music. Her love of South
African jazz (she was raised in Johannesburg) as well as traditional
singing and dancing shines through in this vibrant and joyful album. A
high-octane treat sure to get the listener raring and ready to go! The
tracks are Home (5:38), "Call to Freedom" (6:22), "This Is My
Place" (6:51), "Fighting or Surviving (5:12), "Should I Make You
Pay" (4:18), "Dance Mama!" (7:37), "Tell Me" (9:14), "No More
Drama" (5:02), and "Making It Home Someday" (6:27).
A Still Motion
Michael Samson
The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$12.99 www.MichaelSamson.com www.StillMotion.biz
The second album by solo pianist Michael Samson, A Still Motion is an
instrumental work enhanced by brief, self-penned poems within the CD
package. An absorbing and immersing experience, A Still Motion offers
musical reflection upon the timeless interlude between moments, as
well as the layered connections between human beings. A true delight
to listen to, highly recommended for anyone who loves piano music. The
tracks are "A Still Motion"(6:29), "Dream Not of Today" (4:36),
"Beyond My Question" (5:35), "Echoes of the Stranger" (4:54), "Truth
in Beauty" (6:32), "When Light Dances" (5:05), "The Edge of
Forever" (4:25), "Where Ocean Meets Sky" (3:43), "Of Times Long
Past" (6:47), "In the Music Box" (5:39), "After the Rain" (5:02), and
"Words Left Unspoken" (7:21).
Illumination
Jamie Craig
Craig Sound Productions
PO Box 1246, Birmingham, MI 48012
CD, $TBA www.myspace.com/craigsounds
Illumination is the latest instrumental, jazz-rock album by
keyboardist and composer Jamie Craig. Composed on the piano,
Illumination reveals full-band sound through Craig's recordings on
keyboards, synthesizers, and computers - the instruments emulated
range from acoustic guitar, saxophone, flute, and organ to electric
violin, English horn, trumpet, and percussion. An inspirational and
uplifting album, perfect to listen to during one's morning routine or
commute to lend a dash of vim and vigor to the day. The tracks are
"Lost & Found" (4:47), "Midtown Saturday Night" (4:04),
"Mirage" (4:58), "Illumination I" (4:24), "Illumination II" (4:03),
"To Nola With Love" (4:43), "Reflections" (4:17), "San Juan" (4:18),
"Voyager IX" (4:27), "H2OZone" (4:58), "Guardian Angel" (4:24), and
"Sealed Fate" (4:23). 54:01 minutes.
Rain in July
Alex E. Smith, Cheevers Toppah, and Nitanis "Kit" Landry
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
$24.49 www.canyonrecords.com 1-800-268-1141
Rain in July is a wondrous audio CD collecting the choral harmonies of
three excellent Native American vocalists. The spirit of their tribal
backgrounds and their reverence for tradition reverberate in this
beautiful and moving musical anthology. Highly recommended especially
for Native American music collections, as well as anyone who enjoys
the pleasant balance of dulcet vocal tones. The tracks are "Charles
'Neka' Logan's Song" (4:27), "Baby I Know" (3:35), "Rain in
July" (7:32), "My Pow-Wow Thing" (4:07), "Swirling Smoke" (4:27),
"Indian Angel" (4:10), "In My Heart" (4:47), "Could Be Mine" (2:48),
"Just for Old Times' Sake" (3:46) and "True Melodies" (4:48). 45:08
min.
Origine Orients
Abaji
Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$12.99 www.rockpaperscissors.biz
Lebanese-born singer-songwriter Abaji presents Origine Orients, his
latest trans-Mediterranean album in which he has opted to record all
his songs in a single take, playing all the instruments himself,
without overdubs. Bringing a whole new dimension to the concept of
"one man band", Origine Orients comes to life with the amazing medley
of instruments like the bouzouki combined with a bamboo flute and a
daf drum. The music itself explores multiple cultures, from that of
Abaji's Armenian grandfather to Turkish, Armenian, and Greek. A lively
album of one man's unfettered passion for music and rhythm, Origine
Orients is highly recommended for listeners of all walks of life as
well as for community library collections.
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