JOSI DAVIS - CALLING
Josi Davis is an inventive musician whose approach to
songwriting defies expectations. Josi composes each new expression of lyric and
sound by crafting a memorable narrative and shaping its setting in a musical
style that best supports the story. “We embrace each
composition as it comes to us, understanding and honoring that we will create a
special world for that song. When “Calling” took form, we thought to craft it
in the beautiful, soulful pop style of 1970’s Northern Soul. That was our
intuition and I’m glad we did because, man, this grooves! This is a
roll-the-top-down-and-cruise kind of record!” “Calling” is the
second single to come from Davis’ collaboration with legendary producer, Louis
Anthony deLise. deLise’s credits include a Billboard Number One with Patti
LaBelle, and hits with William DeVaughn and cult dance club favorite, John
Gibbs. Josi’s rich dramatic
alto voice serves her well as she delivers each original musical micro-drama
with a respect and espressivo that is uncommon in today’s landscape of musical
predictability. “Josi Davis' voice
can exhibit Joni Mitchell’s smoky fragility, Phoebe Snow’s full bodied barroom
belt, and Ann Wilson’s rock-and-roll wail. Occasionally, they come out all at
once...” – Mary Jane Fine, Grace Magazine / “…a powerful and
distinctive vocalist and a songwriter whose appreciation for all manners of
musical styles is evident in her work. Some call Davis a practitioner of
“nouveau cabaret,” and that certainly provides a sonic indicator.” – Rick
Koster, The Day
BEHN GILLECE – WALK OF FIRE
A date that's not only a great showcase for the mighty vibes
talents of Behn Gillece, but which also has the musician working alongside some
of his best labelmats as well! We love Gillece in any setting – as his work on
vibes is some of the freshest of the past decade or so, and Behn's one of the
few artists to really bring a strong new voice to the instrument! And he's also
a vibist who seems to take off even more in the company of a horn player –
unlike some vibes musicians, who really only ever record with a piano – which
means that here, he's getting some great strengths from the talents of Michael
Dease on trombone, Walt Weiskopf on tenor, and Bruce Harris on trumpet – in a
group that also includes Adam Birnbaum on piano, Clovis Nicolas on bass, and
Jason Tiemann on drums. All tracks are originals – Behn's a hell of a writer,
too – and titles include "Fantasia Brasileira", "Walk Of Fire",
"Bag's Mood", "Break Tune", "Celestial Tidings",
and "Reflective Current". ~
Dusty Groove
GORO ITO ENSEMBLE – ARCHITECT JOBIM
A fantastic reworking of the aesthetic and compositions of
Antonio Carlos Jobim – served up here in a style that mixes guitar and piano
with a bit of light strings – with a haunting sense of sparness that really
brings new meaning to the songs! The style almost seems to link the spirit of
Jobim with the sound of Eric Satie – as the tunes have a very careful, open
vibe – with the guitar of Goro Ito echoing some slight earlier elements, next
to the piano of Eiichi Sawada, bass of Keisuke Torigoe, and work by a string
quartet! The approach is completely enchanting – really wonderful, and a
completely fresh way of presenting the genius of Jobim – on titles that include
"Chanson Pour Michelle", "Jardim Abandonado",
"Chovendo Na Roseira", "Two Kites", "Estrada Do
Sol", "Luiza", and "Arqueetura De Morar". ~ Dusty Groove
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