Monday, August 13, 2018

BLUJAZZ New Releases - Joey Morant "Forever Sanctified", Ernest McCarty Jr and Theresa Davis "I Remember Love", Western Michigan Univ Jazz Orchestra "Turkish Delight", Two Quintets - Roger Neumann and Doug MacDonald



Joey Morant “Forever Sanctified”

with

Joey Morant, Horns & Congos/ Mike LeDonne, Organ/ Mark Whitfield, Guitar/ Amadeus Morant, Drums

“Where Have You Been All My Life”  Frank Foster

One of the most exciting and dynamic trumpeters on the current New York City scene Joey Morant has worked at every major venue. Joey has had a regular spot at both the Blue Note and BB King’s Lucille’s with his packed house brunch gigs as well as being featured at the Blue Note Jazz Festival. Joey Morant works as a soloist, in duet and trio settings, and as a part of larger bands and orchestras. He electrifies audiences with his dazzling horn technique, skillful scat singing, and humorous dialogue. His Louis Armstrong interpretations, both playing and singing, are perfect, and his admiration for Louis is deep and genuine.



Ernest McCarty Jr and Theresa Davis “I Remember Love”

Ernest McCarty, piano and composer & Theresa Davis, vocals

Ernest McCarty Jr has achieved excellence in the fields of writing, composing, orchestration, and producing. His experience includes performing as bassist with noted jazz pianist Erroll Garner (1970-75) appearing on Garner’s “Gemini” recording for London Records. He has recorded with Sonny Stitt, Dakota Staton, Eddie Harris, Oscar Brown Jr., and Richard Otto to name a few.  Ernest travelled extensively as music director Gloria Gaynor, Odetta, and Noel Harrison, and has written 10 musicals and many songs, including “It’s Been Raining” for Buddy Greco.  His score for the “Martin Luther King Suite” won NBC TV an Emmy.

Theresa Davis, “Tee” to all in the business – is a former member of the Emotions.  Her other recordings on Stax show her diversity of style, as does her last CD, “Love Take A Walk”, commercial jingles, and vocals on motion picture tracks. Tee sang the theme song of NBC-TV’s Chicago talk show Black Life.  It has been said Tee is the quintessential singer’s singer and a songwriter’s dream. Smooth and tender, Tee’s voice has been likened to “water, for its purity, clarity, and tranquilizing effect”.  Tee’s extensive performance experience includes touring the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan with Otis Clay, Ramsey Lewis, Percy Sledge, Dennis Edwards (Temptations).  She also toured Sue Conway and the famed gospel group, The Victory Singers.  Tee is also currently performing with the West Coast group “Tour de 4Force”.



Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra “Turkish Delight”

Western Michigan University’s award-winning  Jazz Orchestra is directed by Scott Cowan. This ensemble has received  international acclaim for its high performance standards and creative approach to big band jazz. Recognitions include four-time winners in the college big band category of the Down Beat Magazine annual DB student music awards, a heralded performance in New York City’s Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center-Allen Room, Midwest Clinic in Chicago, The Detroit International Jazz Festival, Over 30 Outstanding Band recognitions at the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival, featured performances for the International Association for Jazz Education Conferences in Los Angeles and Atlanta and the JEN Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

The ensemble’s CDs, Spritely Overdue, Disposable Income, Blue Miles, Sweet Tango, Cosmosis, Boogaloo Land, and Travel Notes have received rave reviews in DownBeat magazine, JazzTimes Magazine, the IAJE Journal, Cadence Magazine and numerous other noted publications. There recordings are found on Sea Breeze Vista Recordings and Blujazz Records and are available online and through the jazz studies program. The band has performed with Joe Lovano, Tim Hagans, New York Voices, Tom Harrell, Bob Brookmeyer,  Bob Berg,  Rob McConnell, Billy Hart, John Clayton, Randy Brecker, Kenny Werner, Conrad Herwig, Bob Mintzer, Miguel Zenon, Michael Philip Mossman, George Garzone, Billy Drewes, Peter Erskine, John Fedchock, Stefon Harris, Kurt Elling and many others.



Jazz Marathon 3 - Two Quintets

The Roger Neumann Quintet and The Doug MacDonald Quintet

Produced by Doug MacDonald Co-Produced by Don Thompson

The “Jazz Marathon” is the concept of university professor, professor emeritus and jazz aficionado Don Thomson. A resident of Hawaii, he enjoyed hiring two rhythm sections and several horn players for performances that had continuous music for hours. In Los Angeles in 2014, Thomson asked guitarist Doug MacDonald to be the musical director for a recording (Just For Fun ) that would feature some of Southern California’s finest jazz musicians. The success of that double-CD led to a follow-up (Salute To The Jazz Composers – Jazz Marathon 2) and now the current package. 

Jazz Marathon 3 changes the concept a bit in that it puts the spotlight on two separate and equally exciting all-star groups that alternated sets at Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City.