Dwight West,
"Tribute to the Jazz Masters"
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Album Release: June 1, 2008 |
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Many would agree that jazz is dominated by swinging instrumentalists playing the great jazz classics of yesterday. The degree of focus required for musicians to recapture the spirit of standard ballad and bebop classics of jazz legends commands considerable skill and practice. That being said, EDDIE JEFFERSON, OSCAR BROWN JR. and JOHN HENDRICKS, the kings of jazz vocalees and masters of adding lyrics to instrumental classics, has sparked the unique gift of hearing words to bebop and ballads, for DWIGHT WEST. This talented and unconventional club of vocalees hipped us to relevant historical background about the MASTERS that created the classics and sometimes enlightened us on what might take place tomorrow. To write and sing lyrics to the work of TRANE, MONK, ADDERLEY, and PARKER, in time, along with the melody, in key and pitch, is what EDDIE, OSCAR and JOHN did that separated these swinging singers from the rest. DWIGHT’S endeavor to join this original club with TRIBUTE TO THE JAZZ MASTERS will be measured in time. Especially when all the words that DWIGHT is hearing in his head, for so many other JAZZ MASTER CLASSICS, are recorded.
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Dwight West,
"The Time is Right"
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Album Release: Early 2006 |
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Since 1990 Armiri Baraka’s Jazz Ensemble, “Blue Ark” has had a renaissance lead vocalist, Dwight West. Dwight’s smooth and smoky jazz style has been influenced over the years, from a collaboration with jazz greats, Reggie Workman, John Hicks, Andrew Cyrille and Herbie Morgan. Dwight’s humility reminds him that he continues to be a student to the art of jazz and is a junior member of a distinguished Fraternity. Dwight would like to welcome you into his world of musical discovery and take you on a journey of the senses, with "The Time Is Right"
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Radam Schwartz,
"Conspiracy For Positivity "
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Album Release: Early 2006 |
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"Sometimes you have to conspire to be positive." That is the explanation that Radam Schwartz gives when asked about the provocative name of his band. Radam developed his organ style when Newark, New Jersey was the "home of the Hammond B3". He cut his musical teeth playing late-night jam sessions with Jimmy Anderson and Jimmy Ford. Outstanding young musicians James Gibbs II [trumpet], Irwin Hall [alto sax], Ryan Clackner [guitar], and Tyshaun Sorey, [drums], all studied and developed with Radam and are now successful creative musicians in their own right. Seasoned horn man James Stewart, while mostly associated with the tenor sax, lends the smoking sounds of his baritone sax on this recording.
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Madame Pat Tandy,
" Madame Pat Tandy Remembers Irene Reid"
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Album Release: 2009 |
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Newark, New Jersey, has always been a hotbed for the soulful touch of jazz and blues vocalists: From Newark-native,
Sarah Vaughn, to adopted daughter Irene Reid, who made the city one of her beloved stomping grounds, to Madame Pat Tandy, who has been a staple on the
Newark and New York jazz scenes for many years. Now, in a tribute to the late, great, Irene Reid, Madame Pat Tandy has reached back into her fertile soil
and brought forth a treasure chest of favorites. Ms. Reid at one time or another recorded most of the tunes on this BlueArk release. The cuts One
Eyed Man and Big Fat Daddy, both signature blues songs written by Irene, evoke the playful, yet gritty, nature of Irene's tunes. Yet Madame Pat
Tandy has added her own personal touch to the selections, giving new life to these gems. The cut Neighborhood, by B.B. King, shows off Pat's
natural ease with singing the blues.
Like Irene Reid, Pat Tandy was exposed at an early age to the complementary sounds of the church choir and the jazz choir. Singing evolved naturally
for Pat from church hymns to blues chants. Check out her fire on Lotus Blossom, or her laid back phrasing on Here's to Life
and Didn't we, her ability to sing up-tempo on Moonlight, or to swing a standard like What a Difference or Bitter Earth.
Other members of this jazz ensemble have also crossed paths with Irene. Radam Schwartz, on the Hammond B3 organ, met and worked with Irene
as part of Della Griffin's band. Radam and Madame Tandy are a team. Guitarist Rodney Jones, who worked and recorded with Irene Reid, and many others
is a master on his instrument worth of greater recognition. Drummer Gordon Lane, out of the Baton Rouge tradition, brings that natural
inherited rhythm with him. Guitarist Gerald "Twig" Smith is a stalwart, well cherished on the Philadelphia jazz scene. Trombonist
Clifford Adams has always been a favorite and, of course, Tommy Gryce on tenor saxaphone, coming out of the Philadelphia scene, has brought
that tradition to the next level. Together on this tribute CD, Pat, Radam, Gordon, Rodney, Twig, Clifford and Tommy all pay their respects the way
Irene would appreciate.
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