The Whole Music Experience

I cut my CDs in half this year to concentrate on writing "Whole Music" (the book).  World Music recordings made up the bulk of reviews in 2012, while jazz and classical lingered more in the background.  Still, the 7 recordings below are phenomenal. 1. Fred Hersch Trio, Alive at the Vanguard, Palmetto 2. Jeff Hamilton Trio, Red Sparkle, Capri Records 3. Marshall Gilkes, Sound Stories, Alternate Side Records 4. Roberta Donnay, A Little Sugar, Motema 5. Gregory Porter, Be Good, Motema 6. Ahmad Jamal, Blue Moon, Jazz Village (Harmonia Mundi) 7. The Jens Wendelboe Big Band, Fresh Heat, Rosa Records Honorable Mention: Lisa Dillan, Love Me Tender, Kirkelig Kulturverksted Best book on music: Music Medicine by Christine Stevens (Sounds True)

Roberta Donnay & The Prohibition Mob Band A Little Sugar Motema American jazz chanteuse Roberta Donnay takes a journey through jazz history on her juicy CD, A Little Sugar .   The songs range from 1897 to present day while showing off blues, Dixieland, and swing roots.   Donnay immerses herself in the feminist sentiments of Roaring twenties and Depression Era women jazz singers, and Donnay’s softer vocals take on a gritty edge even with songs by Irving Berlin and Hoagy Carmichael. Woman empowerment, though tongue and cheek on songs such as One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show come into play.   Playful is the right word to describe this recording a nd if you want sexy innuendos listen to (Tropical) Heatwave or (I Want a Little) Sugar in My Bowl .   If you look for clever lyrics, you’ll find plenty here and you’ll chuckle at the witty one-liners too.  After listening to this CD, I feel like watching Hollywood classics, even Silent Era mov...