Carol Saboya, Antonio Adolfo, Hendrik Meurkens: “Copa Village” (2015) CD Review

Copa Village, the new CD from Carol Saboya, Antonio Adolfo and Hendrik Meurkens, explores the music of bossa nova, covering some tunes from Antonio Carlos Jobim, one of the musical genre’s greatest composers, while also adding their own compositions to the mix. Carol Saboya provides the vocals, with Antonio Adolfo (Carol’s father) on piano and Hendrik Meurkens on harmonica and vibraphone. Joining them are Adriano Santos on drums, Itaiguara Brandão on bass, Claudio Spiewak on guitar and André Siqueira on percussion.

They kick off the album with one of the most famous bossa nova compositions, “The Girl From Ipanema,” written by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with lyrics by Vinicius De Moraes and Norman Gimbel. I love the addition of harmonica, which is featured briefly before Carol’s vocals come in, and then throughout the song. This is a sweet, easy-going rendition, with Carol’s vocals coming in like a beautiful summer breeze. She first delivers the English lyrics, and then the Portuguese.

That’s followed by “Copa Village,” the CD’s title track, an original tune composed by Antonio Adolfo and Hendrik Meurkens. The song is named for that famous sector of Rio de Janeiro where bossa nova first took hold, combined with a section of New York that is also known for music. This is a playful and smooth track, with a catchy hook and some nice work on guitar. “Show De Bola” is a wonderful tune composed by Hendrik Meurkens, with Portuguese lyrics by Paulo Sergio Valle. I really like the percussion and the vibraphone on this track.

“Como Se Fosse” features some more wonderful and sweet work on harmonica, particularly in the instrumental section, and also some really nice work on piano. This track was composed by Hendrik Meurkens, with lyrics by Ana Terra. Carol Saboya’s vocals have a pretty and friendly vibe. Hendrik Meurkens and Ana Terra also wrote “Nosso Mundo.”

“Pretty World,” a happy-sounding song written by Antonio Adolfo, Tiberio Gaspar, Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman, is delivered in English. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Take me in your arms, and our little world will be the place of places/Nothing else to make but breakfast and love/We’ll hang a little sign that just says ‘Paradise, Population two’/I know together we can make a pretty world, for me and for you.”

Antonio Carolos Jobim’s “Two Kites” is likewise in English. Carol Saboya, Antonio Adolfo and Hendrik Meurkens also cover Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “O Boto,” “Agua De Beber,” and “Pois É.”  “Agua De Beber” is a tune from Jobim’s first album, released in 1963. Carol Saboya, Antonio Adolfo and Hendrik Meurkens do a totally delicious and lively rendition of this composition. This is one of my personal favorite tracks from this release, partly because of the percussion and partly because of Carol Saboya’s absolutely beautiful vocals. And her delivery of “Pois É” is just this side of enchanting, while Hendrik Meurkens’ work on harmonica is excellent, making that another highlight of this CD.

Copa Village concludes with “Visão,” probably the album's most beautiful track. It was composed by Antonio Adolfo and Tiberio Gaspar, and features some gorgeous vocal work by Carol Saboya. I love the mellow vibe of this track, and I particularly enjoy Antonio Adolfo's work on piano.

CD Track List

1. The Girl From Ipanema/Garota De Ipanema
2. Copa Village
3. Show De Bola
4. O Boto
5. Como Se Fosse
6. Agua De Beber
7. Pois É 
8. Pretty World
9. Two Kites
10. Nosso Mundo
11. Visão 

Copa Village is scheduled to be released on February 10, 2015.

Bombadil: “Hold On” (2015) CD Review

I first heard Bombadil two years ago when the group released Metrics Of Affection, an album that ended up on my list of the ten best CDs of 2013 (I listed it as #3 of the year, and its track “Thank You” was one of the best songs of that year). Then in 2014 Bombadil re-released its 2009 CD, Tarpits And Canyonlands, and I became an even bigger fan of this band. So I was incredibly excited to hear the group’s new release, Hold On, which is scheduled for a March 24th release.

With Hold On, Bombadil continues to go in interesting directions and try new things. Bombadil really is one of the most interesting bands out there these days. They are sometimes quirky without ever being gimmicky or silly. Their songwriting is excellent, and their harmonies are often beautiful. All of the songs on Hold On are originals, written and produced by the band’s three members – Daniel Michalak, James Phillips and Stuart Robinson. And on this release they are joined by Bryan Rahija on guitar and ukulele, Josh Starmer on cello, Michael Stipe on trumpet, and Sally Mullikan on viola and violin.

The album kicks off with “Coughing On The F Train,” a bright-sounding pop tune, whose lyrics create a vivid snapshot of a moment of a reunion of sorts. This one contains a surprising little nod to Led Zeppelin’s “Heartbreaker” on piano at the beginning. This track also reminds me a bit of Peter Gabriel, in its vocal approach and tone. Here is a bit of the lyrics: “I wonder why I bought a ticket to this game/Can you give me a glass of water/Do you have some medicine/You still have that picture of him/Has it really been four years.”

That’s followed by “Amy’s Friend,” a totally catchy and sweet tune. Is it a folk song with pop sensibilities, or a pop song with folk sensibilities? Either way, the song totally works. Again, these guys are able to create clear images and scenes, in part because of the precise details they include, as do the best short story writers. He asks about Amy’s man’s “shark skin boots” and mentions Amy’s mascara running down her face. And I really like these lines: “Amy, can you play me a song I don’t know/Fill it with your voice so soft and low/I can listen with my ear against the floor/Float upon the waves and washed to shore.” “Amy’s Friend” was released as the first single from this CD, so you don’t have to wait until March to hear this one. You can check it out on You Tube.

There is also something really catchy about “Bill You For Your Trash,” and lyrics I totally appreciate. There are also some gorgeous vocals at those moments when the song builds: “Save me from the bigger rain cloud/Who’s calling all the shots now/It’s too late to figure out/Did I really cry out loud.”

“I Can’t Believe In Myself And Love You Too” has my favorite title on this release, and some excellent lyrics. Here is a taste: “You tell me that you need me/Is that the worst lie you can feed me/Even if I believed it/I’d still be hungry/You tell me that it’s easy/Is that a truth you think will please me.” There is a gentle beauty to this song as well, then it builds to something quite moving.

As good as that song is, the following track, “Sunny December” is even better. I love the urgent vocal delivery, like a street poet needing to hold a crowd’s attention, or a man desperate to get everything off his chest to someone who might at any moment interrupt or otherwise stop listening. “And love is cruel and unforgiving/And love is usually unwilling to give you back what you’ve been building/It will scorch the earth just ‘cause you’re tilling it.” That delivery makes the line “Because love will break you apart” even more affecting and arresting, for the way it’s drawn out. The silences within that line are part of what grabs you.

Another favorite of mine is “Framboise.” This is a completely delightful track that makes me smile every time I listen to it, even though it does twice use that tired rhyme of “self” with “shelf” (that rhyme is also used in “Love You Too Much”). I love the vocals of this song. Parts of this one are sung in French. “Love You Too Much” is a really good mature love song. Check out these lines: “And I slowly start to think/That my love for you has disappeared/But when in the morning I am dreaming/It’s your face I see/And they’re your tears I’m drying/As you pull your body close to me.”

Hold On concludes with “Love Is Simply,” a sweet and pretty song aided by the addition of strings. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Love is never/One thing forever/Better tend your garden/Kick the frost, pick the peppers/The ground dries and hardens/Winter can't last forever.” Nice, eh? I love this album, and I hope I get the chance to see this group in concert this year.

CD Track List

1. Coughing On The F Train
2. Amy’s Friend
3. Bill You For Your Trash
4. Forgive Me Darling
5. I Can’t Believe In Myself And Love You Too
6. Sunny December
7. Framboise
8. Love You Too Much
9. Rhapsody In Black And White
10. Honest
11. Seth (Guess I’ll Know When I Die)
12. Love Is Simply

Hold On is scheduled to be released on March 24, 2015 on Ramseur Records.

Lauren Meccia: “Inside Your Eyes” (2015) CD Review

Lauren Meccia’s new album, Inside Your Eyes, features some wonderful and interesting renditions of familiar standards, while also including original material. In addition to providing excellent jazz vocals, Lauren Meccia plays saxophone. Joining her on this release are Donald Vega on piano (whom you might know from the Ron Carter Trio) and Mike Frost on bass, both of whom contribute compositions as well. Brian Czach is on drums and percussion for all but one track on this release.

Inside Your Eyes opens with a sweet, mellow rendition of Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly,” with lyrics written by his sister, Jean Hancock. There is some really nice work by both Mike Frost on bass and Donald Vega on piano, particularly in the instrumental section partway through the track, but it is Lauren Meccia’s impressive vocals that are the focus here. She can be smooth, but also find moments to really soar. Jeremy Roberson plays drums and John Miceli plays percussion on this track.

“Butterfly” is followed by “Inside Your Eyes,” the album’s title track, an original song with lyrics by Lauren Meccia and music composed by Donald Vega. There is something really pretty about Lauren’s vocal delivery on this track. “You might think I’m not for you/Afraid of what I might do/But the truth is not disguised/Inside your eyes.” There is also a really delicious lead spot on piano. This album also features “If You Can Fly,” another original composition by Lauren Meccia and Donald Vega. I love the relaxed vibe of this track. “So come with me and take my hand/And leave illusions all behind/And if you want to find your truth/Retreat, go deep within your mind.” And then the song builds to a really good jam toward the end.

Lauren Meccia does a fun, groovy version of “How High The Moon.” And vocally she is clearly having a fantastic time, totally delighting in the scat section in particular. And for me it’s her sense of joy that makes this a stand-out track. Though this one also features some excellent work by Donald Vega and Mike Frost. “How High The Moon” was written by Morgan Lewis and Nancy Hamilton, and has been covered by Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, among others. Lauren Meccia’s version includes some added lyrics that she composed. There is also a wonderful version of Irving Berlin’s “Cheek To Cheek,” which features some excellent work by Mike Frost on bass. I also love what Lauren does vocally on Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “One Note Samba.”

Lauren Meccia gives us an interesting rendition of “What The World Needs Now,” opening it with the chorus on saxophone.  The song then takes on a Latin feel for its instrumental section at the end, and this is what makes it really interesting for me. I do I wish that section would last a bit longer. The song fades out when it feels like it’s really just getting going. Edwin Hamilton is on percussion on this track.

“Atlantis” is the one instrumental track on this release, and is also the one track composed by bassist Mike Frost. Lauren Meccia's excellent work on saxophone is at the center of this track, but the group is also joined by Sarah Land on violin and Ryan Knott on cello for this one. And Donald Vega has plenty of opportunity to shine here.

Inside Your Eyes concludes with Lauren Meccia's beautiful take on “Over The Rainbow,” her vocals accompanied by delicate and sweet work on piano by Donald Vega. This is a really good rendition.

CD Track List

1. Butterfly
2. Inside Your Eyes
3. How High The Moon
4. One Note Samba
5. If You Can Fly
6. Cheek To Cheek
7. The Look Of Love
8. What The World Needs Now Is Love
9. You Don’t Know What Love Is
10. I Can’t Make You Love Me
11. Atlantis
12. Over The Rainbow

Inside Your Eyes is scheduled to be released on January 6, 2015.

The Five Stairsteps: “Our Family Portrait/Stairsteps” (2014) CD Review

The Five Stairsteps were a family group that formed in the mid-1960s, and recorded some excellent soul songs. This group wrote a lot of its own material, but also covered tunes by The Beatles and Burt Bacharach and Hal David, among others. Our Family Portrait/Stairsteps contains two complete albums, plus a few bonus tracks. It includes the group’s huge top-ten hit, “O-o-h Child,” a song I’ve loved since I first heard it as a child. This compilation also features new liner notes by Kevin Goins, including contributions from Stan Vincent, Keni Burke and Johnny Pate.

Our Family Portrait

The first record, Our Family Portrait, opens with sweet, mellow little gem titled “A Million To One,” written by Phil Medley. It’s about loving against the odds, with lines like “They’re betting everything that our love won’t survive/They’re hoping in time we’ll forget each other is alive.” Ah, those intense youthful thoughts on love. This song makes me feel like a teenager again. It was released as a single, and reached #28 on the R&B chart, and #68 on the Hot 100. “A Million To One” was recorded by several artists over the years, including Donny Osmond and Jimmy Charles And The Revelletts. “You Make Me So Mad” was released as the flip side to “A Million To One,” this one an original tune, written by Clarence Burke Jr. and Clarence Burke Sr. This is a different sort of love song, with lines like “Darling, can you explain the source of all my pain” and “It’s just that you take me through so many changes.”

A much cooler and more interesting track is “Something’s Missing,” written by Clarence Burke Jr.  This song has an intensity and a passion, and what could have easily become too big a production ends up sounding just exactly right, rather than being overdone. “Something’s Missing” was also released as a single, reaching #17 on the R&B chart and #88 on the Hot 100. Another really cool track is “Bad News,” which features some interesting changes. And again, I love the production on this track. Clarence Burke Jr., who was seventeen, arranged it, while Johnny Pate conducted. It was written by Clarence Burke Jr. and Clarence Burke Sr.

“New Dance Craze” is a bit ridiculous, due to the youngest singer in the family, Cubie, taking lead vocal duties. He couldn’t carry a tune, of course, being approximately three years old at the time. It’s cute, sort of. Fortunately, other members step in to save the tune, sort of.

Our Family Portrait concludes with a nice rendition of “I Remember You,” leaving the listener in a nostalgic mood. This is a song that has been recorded by such artists as Nat King Cole and Diana Krall.

Stairsteps

The second album, Stairsteps, begins with a couple of Beatles covers – “Getting Better” and “Dear Prudence.” Both are decent, and this group finds some interesting things to do with the songs while remaining true to the spirit and feel of the original recordings. “Dear Prudence” was released as a single, but it was its flip side that became the hit. That song, “O-o-h Child,” was then re-released as the A-side of another single. Written by Stan Vincent, “O-o-h Child” is definitely the group’s best song. This is one of those special songs that I can’t imagine not existing. It’s a song we can reach out to, like a friend. And it just doesn’t age. In case you’re not familiar with the song, here is a taste of the lyrics: “Someday we'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun/Someday when the world is much brighter/Ooh child, things are going to be easier.” By the way, the liner notes include Stan Vincent’s comments on this song.

“Sweet As A Peach” is kind of catchy and delightful. Sure, it’s a bit goofy, but it would be difficult to dislike this song. And why does no one use the expression “blow your mind” anymore? “Sweet As A Peach” was written by Clarence Burke Jr. “Vice The Lights,” also written by Clarence Burke Jr., is a fun dance number, but then with a surprising mellow section. I really like this track. Stairsteps concludes with “Who Do You Belong To,” which has the lines “He’s got two eyes, he's got a nose, he's got two lips/Two lips to kiss/But I've got them too.” Can’t argue with that.

Bonus Tracks

This CD contains three bonus tracks. The first, “Madame Mary,” was written by Curtis Mayfield and released as a single in 1969. It has a great vibe, with lyrics like “Now if all my pain and sorrow/Could leave me by tomorrow.” When he sings, “Come on now, Mary, Mary, Mary” I’m reminded of the end of the Monkees’ “Mary, Mary,” especially live versions.

“The Shadow Of Your Love” is a slower tune, and was also released as a single, this one in 1968. It’s good, but I prefer “Bad News,” which was used as its flip side. This collection ends with “America/Standing,” an interesting medley. “America” is a song by written by John Kay and Jerry Edmonton, and recorded by Steppenwolf as the third part of “Monster/Suicide/America” on their Monster album. The group then goes into “Standing,” a song written by Stan Vincent, before returning to “America.” This is an excellent track, due in large part to the passionate vocal delivery.

CD Track List

1. A Million To One
2. You Make Me So Mad
3. Something’s Missing
4. The Look Of Love
5. New Dance Craze
6. Windows Of The World
7. Bad News
8. Tell Me Who
9. Under The Spell
10. Find me
11. I Remember You
12. Getting Better
13. Dear Prudence
14. Sweet As A Peach
15. Vice The Lights
16. O-o-h Child
17. Because I Love You
18. What About Your Wife
19. Up & Down
20. Who Do You Belong To
21. Madame Mary
22. The Shadow Of Your Love
23. America/Standing 

Our Family Portrait/Stairsteps was released on December 2, 2014 through Real Gone Music.

Theodore Bikel: “Treasury Of Yiddish Folk & Theatre Songs” (2014) CD Review

Theodore Bikel is an accomplished actor, singer, musician and composer. He played Captain von Trapp in The Sound Of Music on Broadway, and has starred in films like My Fair Lady, I Bury The Living and The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming. Beginning in the 1950s he recorded several albums of Jewish folks songs. Theodore Bikel’s Treasury Of Yiddish Folk & Theatre Songs collects tracks from three different records. I don’t speak Yiddish, but the liner notes provide English translations of the lyrics, as well as phonetic Yiddish (and a pronunciation guide). The liner notes also include a piece by Theo Bikel himself.

There is certainly a sense of humor in these recordings, with material that doesn’t take itself entirely seriously. For example, there is a song titled “Bagels,” with lines like “My clothes are torn, I am unwashed/With tortured thoughts I wander about/Buy bagels/Fresh bagels/Buy quickly please/I need to sell/For I am poor and lost/And homeless in this world.” I love the serious situation followed by lines about selling bagels. What I also love is that the song features the deliciously sad sounds of a violin to help tell the tale. And at the end, the seller wanders off, calling out about his wares. And there is a track titled “In-Laws,” with the line “And here’s cousin Mindik/Have we sinned so?” Wonderful!

Some of these songs will be familiar to you, whatever your ethnic or religious background. And without understanding a word, I find these songs are still effective and completely enjoyable. I just love the sound of this music, and the passion behind it.

This collection kicks off with “A Chasene Tants,” or “Wedding Dance,” which is kind of fun and does make me wish I could speak the language. But regardless, this track makes me laugh when he lists the children toward the end. “Doina” is such a great song, and I particularly enjoy the fast pace of the vocal delivery. And then “Mayn Shtetele Belz” is sweet and moving, and puts a smile on my face. “Lomir Alle Zingen” is kind of beautiful at times.

“A Fidler” is a cute, adorable song about a kid learning to play the fiddle, and the fiddler on this track plays as if learning his instrument at the beginning. “Drei Techterlech,” or “Three Daughters,” is another that has a delightful sense of humor. It’s about a father eager to marry off his three daughters, and who, once having completed that task, is then sad. After marrying off the eldest, he sings, “Only God can know our joy/Or one who has a daughter.” And after getting rid of the second daughter, he sings, “A stone gone from my heart.”

“Dona Dona” is one that everyone likely knows, and it’s a wonderful track. I’m particularly happy to have the English translation, for though I’ve heard – and enjoyed – this song many times, I’d never known what was actually being said. I love Theodore’s delivery, with a bit of a laugh in his voice at times, as when he sings “You’re a calf but need you be?” and when he sings about the wind laughing.

“Der Rebe Elimelech” is another song I love. Music like this has always attracted me, when the pace suddenly picks up, with the feel of unbridled celebration taking over the singer and musicians. And I love the violin. This is one of my favorites of this collection. I'm also really fond of “Margaritkelech,” a pretty song telling a good tale. Another favorite is “Tumbalalayka,” which is beautiful and moving. Check out these lyrics: “It's a stone that can grow, grow without rain/It's a love that can burn for many years/And the heart can long and cry without tears.”

CD Track List

1. A Chasene Tants
2. Doina
3. Beygelach
4. Di Grine Kuzine
5. A Pintale
6. Machatonim
7. Shabes Shabes
8. Mayn Shtetele Belz
9. Hulyet, Hulyet Kinderlech
10. Lomir Alle Zingen
11. A Zemer
12. A Fidler
13. Drei Techterlech
14. Kinder Yorn
15. Dona Dona
16. Unter A Kleyn Beymele
17. Drei Yingelech
18. Az Der Rebbe Zingt
19. Der Rebe Elimelech
20. Di Younevdike Teyg
21. Kum Aher Du Filozof
22. Di Mezinke
23. Margaritkelech
24. Lomir Zich Iberbeten
25. A Chazn Oyf Shabes
26. Tumbalalayka

Theodore Bikel’s Treasury Of Yiddish Folk & Theatre Songs was released on December 2, 2014 through Real Gone Music.

Patrolled By Radar at The Silverlake Lounge, 12-29-14: Photos

"Rally"

I ended the year properly, with some seriously good live music. Last night The Sunset Drifters completed their residency at The Silverlake Lounge, and they put together a great lineup. Kicking off the night were The Evangenitals (I posted some photos from their set). The Sunset Drifters then did their show, and it was their bass player’s last gig with the band. I really enjoyed their material, especially as the pedal steel was prominent. Patrolled By Radar then went on at 10 p.m. After a very brief soundcheck, Jay Souza declared, “Good enough,” and they ripped into “Widow Next Door,” the opening track from 2011’s Be Happy. The band’s 2014 release, Cool Your Jets, is one of my favorite CDs of the year, and they played several songs from it last night, including “Lost Cause,” “Rally” (one of my personal favorites), “Died With Money” and “El Norte.”

Here are a few photos from their set:

"Widow Next Door"

"Coat Of Disappointment"

"Rally"

 

"Be Happy"

"El Norte"

The Evangenitals at The Silverlake Lounge, 12-29-14

"How Can I Choose"

Last night I saw a great lineup of bands at The Silverlake Lounge, including two bands whose 2014 releases made my list of favorite CDs of the year. Kicking off the night were The Evangenitals, whose Moby Dick; Or, The Album is on that list. They started their set with “Ahab’s Leg,” a nice slow version like that on the album, and followed that with “Just Stay Away.” Because they were a foursome last night, with Juli Crockett and Lisa Dee backed by just bass and drums, “Just Stay Away” had a more stripped down sound, with Joey Maramba’s delicious bass being very prominent. “Quee Queg” was performed with more of a funky R&B bass line and “sha-ba-dooby-doo” vocals. They also did a couple of covers:  a nice, slow version of The Dead Milkmen’s “Dean’s Dream” from the album Big Lizard In My Backyard, and an excellent rendition of “Live And Let Live,” a country song made popular by Marty Robbins. And it’s always a treat to hear the incredibly fun “How Can I Choose.”

Set List

1. Ahab's Leg
2. Just Stay Away
3. Quee Queg
4. Dean's Dream
5. Turbulent Flow
6. How Can I Choose
7. Live And Let Live
8. (I am having trouble recalling the name of this one)

Here are a few photos from their set:

"Quee Queg"

"Quee Queg"

"Dean's Dream"

"Turbulent Flow"

"Turbulent Flow"