As a kid growing up in Kansas City, Brenna Whitaker fell in
love with the music of jazz and blues singers from a long-ago era. "Ruth
Brown, Peggy Lee, Cab Calloway, Etta James - those are my people," says
the L.A.-based vocalist. "I don't even know how I ended up knowing so many
of their songs and standards from back then. It's almost like they found their way
to me, like I'm from another time." After landing her first professional
theater gig at age 11, moving to New York City on her own to study with
Broadway veterans at age 17, and spending her early 20s leading jazz bands back
home in Missouri, Whitaker headed to L.A. and started setting up a series of
residencies that eventually attracted fans like Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones,
and Michael Bublé and caught the attention of Verve Music Group chairman and
16-time Grammy Award-winner David Foster. The first new artist Foster has
agreed to develop and produce since discovering Bublé, Whitaker is now set to
release a debut album for Verve that finds her reviving a vast American jukebox
of classic songs and revealing the full force of her stunning, soulful voice. ~
Verve
GERARDO
FRISINA PRESENTS – LIVIANA FERRI AND CUBAFRO - YE MAYA E - CONFIANCE A LA MUSIQUE
Gerardo
Frisina works here with a great female singer – the lovely Liviana Ferri, who
brings in a much deeper vibe than usual to his music! Part of that quality also
comes from the Cubafro group, who work with Ferri and bring in plenty of raw
percussion – all directed by Frisina's songwriting and percussion, but in a way
that's maybe more classically-styled Latin than some of his own music. The
group's also got some wonderfully heavy acoustic bass on the leadoff cut – plus
trumpet lines and a bit of flute too – on the titles "Ye Maya E",
"Confiance A La Musique", and "Ye Maya E (Ye Maya)". ~ Dusty Groove
KENNY BURRELL - THE ROAD TO LOVE
Few can
claim the title of living legend. Kenny Burrell is just such a person. In fact
he's more he's living history, past, present and future. His credentials are
voluminous and accomplishments staggering, and he hasn't stopped. Today, he is
active recording and performing, a respected educator, and an elder statesman
of the music. His legacy is pervasive. His soulful sound and approach have
influenced virtually everyone claiming a jazz pedigree but extends to many
outside the genre, a la Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Steve Howe, Andy Summers,
and Freddie King. Here Burrell is backed by some of his favorite West Cost
colleagues in a varied program of standards and few originals by the leader
himself, including one brand new composition. Also on hand is the exuberant
voice of Barbara Morrison who brings her tremendous talent and personality to
three tracks.~ Amazon
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