Ten Recordings You Should Listen To - #8

Nicole Hajj teaches piano and voice at PMAC. Her list reflects her love for jazz, especially with exquisite vocals. And the cover of album #10 shows the famous Green Mill bar in Chicago, where Al Capone once was a regular and where one of my pieces for solo oboe was once performed on a winter Sunday afternoon. Here's her list:


1) Dianne Reeves - The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughn


Most amazing, most innovative vocal album out there. Reeves is a genius and this CD also features the arrangements of one of my favorite producers, Billy Childs. Reeves sense of phrasing is perfection and her powerful vocals leave you breathless. This woman could sing the phone book and still blow me away. Be prepared to have the most thrillful listening experiences of your life!





2)Steve Stevens - Flamenco-A-Go-Go

This is a perfect example of guitar virtuosity and musical creativity at its best. Stevens completely redefines Flamenco with this CD and it will leave your jaw in your lap. The cd as a whole is definitely not background music, as it will cause you to stop whatever you are doing. If you're wondering what you get when you combine a rock/punk/new wave guitarist with latin/flamenco/world beat style, you get this: the most original and provocative ideas matched with Stevens patented playfulness and staggerinly proficient technical skill.




3) Jamie Cullum - Twentysomething


This young artist always leaves me speechless when I try to describe him. He is a jazz musician, with the energy of a rockstar, but also extremely sensitive when he needs to be. He not only breathes new life into old standards, but has some incredible original pieces as well. Although the cd is fantastic, nothing compares to seeing him live.








4) Victor Wooten - Yin-Yang


Wooten, originally from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, has got to be the best electric bass player to ever live (and yes, I know who Jaco is). This album is a very bold 2-disc project. The first disc is instrumental and it is quite amazing, realy exhibiting Victor's musical genius, technical brilliance and outstanding collaboration with many other great musicians. The second disc is a vocal set, which doesn't hold a candle to the first disc, but is worth a listen if only to see just how versatile this artist is.





5) Tom and Joy - Antigua


This album is a smooth, sophisticated mix of samba/acid jazz alternated with traditional bossa nova performed by two talented cousins from Paris, France. This cd was given to me from my father to "expand my horizons" and I have been in love with "Jazzanova" ever since. Put this cd on and be instantly swept away to the French Riviera or the Brazilian sandy beaches.







6) Frou Frou - Details


Frou Frou, now known as Imogen Heap, is best known for her song "Let Go" from the movie, Garden State. I bought this cd for this song alone but then realized that every song is obsession-worthy. It's virtually impossible to blend pop, electronica and ambient music this seamlessly. If this cd doesn't make your ears tingle, you must be deaf. Even though this disc is amazement from beginning to end, "Let Go" is by far one of the most beautifully written songs in any genre ever created.





7) David Foster - The Symphony Sessions


I've been listening to this cd since its debut over 15 years ago and it is still in my top 10 of all time. Exquisite compositions combined with genius keyboard artistry of producer/pianist David Foster. This is some of the most beautiful music ever written and truly is a collector's item.









8) Bebel Gilberto - Bebel Gilberto


This is a bossa nova lover's delight. Bebel is the daughter of latin jazz legend, Joao Gilberto. It is a very classy mix of latin jazz and electronica, performed with lots of sophistication and sexy, breathy alto vocals.










9) Raul Midon - State of Mind


Midon is an incredibly gifted guitarist/vocalist who blends soul and R&B with latin and jazz flawlessly. Midon's style, melodies and subject matter are comparable to the great Stevie Wonder, but with a more modern, urban twist. Every person for whom I have played this cd absolutely loved it and the bought it. It is a very bare bones production as to not cloud the listener's perception of the major raw talent.








10) Kurt Elling - Live in Chicago


This is an excellent jazz vocal album. His influences ranging from bop to Coltrane and beyond, Elling is versatile and technically very strong, and really hip! He has mastered the art of vocalese to a tee and this live set features his vocal improvisations at their best. In my opinion, there is nothing more exhilarating in jazz than the capture of the excitement of a live performance. Kurt Elling is taking up the torch from his mentors, Mark Murphy and Jon Hendricks, and carrying on the tradition of vocal jazz with this incredible live cd. And I always think jazz is not complete without the clinking of cocktails glasses in the background.