JOHN BASILE - PENNY LANE - 2015

When asked about his most important influences, the first two names he mentions are not other guitar players; Frank Sinatra heads the list and then Bill Evans. Perhaps this explains why John Basile is one of a select group of jazz instrumentalists who doesn’t sound like everyone else. He particularly likes to play in the duo and trio formats to exploit the intimacy those settings present for both player and listener.

Musically, his guitar style utilizes a finger-style technique that approaches the guitar like a piano. For John, the challenge of comping harmonic chord fragments and playing melodies simultaneously provides a backdrop for a more open style of playing and improvising.

His labels, Underhill Jazz and now StringTime Jazz, have produced five innovative and critically distinguished releases: "Amplitudes" - solo guitar improvisations; "No Apologies" - featuring Pat Bianchi on organ and Carmen Intorre on drums for a soulful organ trio with a modern approach to unique standards; "Time Will Reveal" - featuring Joe Locke on vibes and Bassist David Finck showcasing a modern jazz guitar approach to pop tunes;  "Animations" – with John Ambercrombie in duo with Basile exploring the essence of string improvisations of standards and originals; and "It Was A Very Good Year" – an eclectic exploration of jazz, folk, and pop tunes featuring two trios.

Summer 2015 saw the release of "Penny Lane" a jazz guitar collection of Beatles tunes on StringTime Jazz and John's latest is a collection of eclectic originals entitled "Outside/In" available now on iTunes and CD Baby.

Guitar icon Jim Hall said “John Basile’s playing has the essence of great jazz guitar: beautiful tone, marvelous swing, terrific technique, and excellent phrasing.

You can’t ask for more!” Legendary guitarist, John Abercrombie when referring to John's "No Apologies" organ trio project exclaimed, “John’s new CD has one of the most appropriate titles! Great Playing, Great Tunes, Great Sound…"No Apologies" needed!”

John Basile is a formidable, sought after educator and clinician, offering a variety of educational outreach programs to colleges and universities here and around the world. He also works in the field of radiology and manages a large Medical Group in the NY area and is professional boxing judge with the NYS Athletic Commision. John has judged championship fights at Madison Square Garden, the Barclay center in NY, and in Mexico.

DISCOGRAPHY:

•  Very Early (Seabreeze 2024) w/ Eddie Gomez.
•  Quiet Passage (ProJazz 627) w/ Tom Harrel, Joey Barron, George Mraz.
•  Sunnyside Up (ProJazz 641) w/ Terry Clarke, Paul Socolow, Tom Harrell, Byron Olsen.
•  John Basile/Brad Terry Duo (Musicmasters 51244A)
•  For All Time (Philology 214W103-2) w/ David Finck, Peter Grant.
•  Frankly Speaking: A Jazz Portrait of Sinatra (King Records - Japan) w/ Michael Brecker, John Abercrombie, Grady Tate.
• The Desmond Project (Chesky 165) A tribute to the music and legacy of saxophonist Paul Desmond.
•  It Was A Very Good Year (UnderhillJazz 001)  Trios.
• Animations (UnderhillJazz 002) w/ John Abercrombie.  Jazz Guitar Duets.
•  Time Will Reveal (UnderhillJazz 003) w/ David Finck, Clint de Ganon , Joe Locke, Roger Squitero.
•  No Apologies (Stringtime Jazz 001) w/ Pat Bianchi , Carmen Intorre.
•  Amplitudes (Stringtime Jazz 002) Solo Guitar Conversations.
•  Undercover (Stringtime Jazz 003) Pop/Jazz from the 80's.
•  Penny Lane (Stringtime Jazz 004) A jazz guitar Beatles collection.
•  Outside/In (Stringtime Jazz 005) An eclectic collection of original compositions.

The album this posting was launched in United States in 2015. 

TRACK LIST:

1. Eleanor rigby;

2. A fool on the hill;

3. Penny lane;

4. And I love her;

5. A day in the life;

6. While my guitar gently weeps;

7. Here, there and everywhere;

8. I want to hold your hand;

9. Can't buy me love;

10. Norwegian wood;

11. In my life;

Links: 

JOHN BASILE

PENNY LANE

USA 2015

SALENA JONE - LET IT BE - 1988

A direct descendant of Crazy Horse, the Indian Sioux warrior, Joan Shaw (Salena’s birth name) was born in Newport News, Virginia, and began singing in church and school before making her debut on life’s bigger stages. 

As a very young girl, Joan Shaw`s career began in New York at Manhattan clubs and going on to Harlem’s Apollo Theater, when she won the amateur night singing “September Song”. 

Joan grew up in New York in the company of musicians who would become the legends: Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzie Gillespie, Bud Powell, Wes Montgomery, Chico Hamilton and Stan Getz, she met all these people, jamming with some of them and began making demonstration records for artists like Peggy Lee, Brenda Lee and Lena Horne, before getting her own recording contract.

Based in New York, with her own “Blues Express Orchestra”, Joan toured widely across the US with “King” Curtis in her band (whom she named), also working with Johnnie Ray, Laverne Baker, Arthur Prysock, and Frankie Lyman. 

This rhythm ‘n’ blues period was the forerunner to rock ‘n’ roll and it is evident that Joan Shaw is revered today by afficionados of that important era, making 15 singles by the time she was fifteen years old (the first being released at the age of eleven), many can be heard today through You Tube by the wonder of the Internet). 

Joan then worked regularly at the famous venues of the Village Vanguard, Minton’s Playhouse and Wells Supper Club. Leonard Feather, the noted jazz critic for “Downbeat” magazine, named Joan Shaw as one of his choices as “most promising newcomers”, together with “Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Torme”.

Glamorous and beautiful, with her distinctive voice and relaxed style, by then she had met and sung with a array of great jazz names. Her photo album shows her arm in arm with everyone from Betty Carter to Cab Calloway, Billy Eckstine, Vic Damone and Lena Horne. 

However, wanting to expand her horizons, and concerned at racism in her native country, Joan Shaw bought a one way ticket to Madrid where, having sung one song at the “Whiskey and Jazz Club”, on the same night as her arrival in Spain, she was immediately engaged to sing nightly with Dexter Gordon. But London called, and arriving in 1965, her management recommended a name-change and Salena Jones was born!

She was soon booked to appear for the first time at Ronnie Scott`s for two weeks but, such was the audience reaction that she was held over for another week, and then another: eventually appearing for seven consecutive weeks – still a record after all this time for one of the most famous clubs in the world. 

Salena opened her own jazz club in London in 2001. Over the last five decades, Salena Jones has been a central figure on the British jazz scene and from her base here she has conquered the world. Salena has played everywhere, from Canada, throughout Europe, South Africa, South America, to the US and Asia, where she is a well-loved artiste (and has appeared in Japan at least annually since 1978).

Salena has sung with Louis Armstrong, Hank Jones, Ray Brown, Sarah Vaughan, Maynard Ferguson, Mark Murphy, Lionel Hampton, Kenny Burrell, Dudley Moore, Roy Budd, and Toots Thielemans, Tom Jones, Antonio Carlos Jobim, the BBC Big Band and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Salena’s recording career has reflected her ability to choose both varied repertoire and also to move beyond jazz boundaries. She has made 43 solo albums and 22 singles over a period of 50 years in the business.

The Lp album this posting was launched in Japan in 1988 by JVC Records.

TRACK LIST:

1. Let it be;

2. Norwegian wood;

3. Here comes the sun;

4. The long and winding road;

5. Got to get you into my life;

6. If a fell;

7. Something;

8. Get back;

9. Hey Jude;

10.Don't let me down;

11. The fool on the hill;

12. Here, there and everywhere.

Links:

SALENA JONES

LET IT BE

JVC - JAPAN 1988

THE TORERO BAND - LENNON & McCARTNEY TIJUANA STYLE - 1969

In this post, we present the album The Torero Band - Lennon & McCartney Tijuana Style, released in England in 1969, by the label MFP, EMI Records.

Unfortunately, there is little information about this group. The songs on the disc are as follows:

1. Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da;

2. Yesterday;

3. From me to you;

4. With A Little Help From My Friends;

5. All my loving;

6. Yellow submarine;

7. Please, please;

8. Hey Jude,

9. Can't buy me love;

10. I Want To Hold Your Hand;

11. She loves you;

12. Eleanor rigby.

Links:

THE TORERO BAND

LENNON & McCARTNEY TIJUANA STYLE

EMI RECORDS / MFP - England 1969

THE JOHNNY MAN SINGERS - BEATLE BALLADS - 1965

John Russell Mann (August 30, 1928 – June 18, 2014) was an American arranger, composer, conductor, entertainer, and recording artist.

Johnny Mann and his vocal group The Johnny Mann Singers were involved in several classic rock 'n' roll and rockabilly recording sessions forJohnny Burnette (including "God, Country and My Baby"), The Crickets and several 1957–1958 sessions with Eddie Cochran, who was also signed to Liberty Records in Hollywood.

As bandleader with the Johnny Mann Singers, he and the group recorded approximately three dozen albums, hosted the TV series titled Stand Up and Cheer (1971–1974), and was the musical director for The Joey Bishop Show. He was also musical director of The Alvin Show, and was the voice of Theodore. Mann was also choral director for the NBC Comedy Hour.

The Johnny Mann Singers' instrumental "Cinnamint Shuffle (Mexican Shuffle)" hit the US Pop chart in 1966. Their next single, a cover version of "Up, Up and Away", became the hit version of the song in the UK Singles Chart, rather than the US hit version by The 5th Dimension.

The Johnny Mann Singers performed a strongly patriotic musical presentation at the 1972 Emmy Awards telecast hosted by Johnny Carson.Following their performance, Carson returned to the stage and declared "War Bonds are available in the lobby," a sarcastic comment on the group's flag-waving. The remark offended some conservative viewers around the country.

Mann wrote a number of radio jingles, the most famous being Los Angeles station 93 KHJ as well as the "Sound of the City" jingle for KSFO inSan Francisco, California. This jingle became as requested as many of the songs played by KSFO in the era of Don Sherwood, and it was adapted by Mann for other radio stations around the country which included KFRC (AM) in San Francisco and CKLW in Windsor, Ontario.

Mann was credited as "Johnnie Mann" in some of his earlier works. His group's most notable alumna was Vicki Lawrence. In 1998, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.

In 2010, Mann was awarded an honorary doctor of humanities degree from Anderson University in Anderson, SC. In April 2014 at the age of 85, he was a guest conductor of The South Carolina School of the Arts,  at Anderson University's spring gala where he led the university choir in performing the Johnny Mann Singers arrangement of "Up, Up and Away". At the song's conclusion, the audience of about 1,000 stood in Mann's honor.

On June 18, 2014, Johnny Mann died of heart failure at age 85 at his home in Anderson, South Carolina. This day, at his memorial service, Dr. Evans Whitaker, president of Anderson University (SC) announced the creation of the Johnny Mann Center for Commercial Music at Anderson University in his memory.

The Lp album this posting was launched in United States in 1965 by Liberty Records.

TRACK LIST:

1. Do You want to know a secret;

2. All my loving;

3. Things we said today;

4. She loves you;

5. This boy - Ringo's theme;

6. P.S. I love you;

7. From me to you;

8. And I love her;

9. I'm happy just to dance with you;

10. If a fell;

11. Love me do;

12. I'll be back.

Links:

THE JOHNNY MAN SINGERS

BEATLE BALLADS

LIBERTY RECORDS - 1965

IAN & THE ZODIACS - THE BEATLES BEST & MORE - 1965

Ian and the Zodiacs was an English rock and roll band formed in 1958, originally known as The Zodiacs, in Liverpool, England. Led by Ian Edwards (1943–2007), the band existed in relative obscurity until relocating to Germany in 1964 where they achieved national success. During the band's three-year stint in Germany, they released three albums under their name, exclusive to the country until their re-release. They also released two cover albums featuring material by The Beatles with the name, The Koppykats.

The band formed as a jazz group in 1958, and performed under the name, The Zodiacs. The group came together following an audition at a local venue called Savoy Hall. In the spring of 1960, Ian Edwards departed from his band, The Deltones, and joined The Zodiacs.

From that point on, the band became known as Ian and the Zodiacs, and shifted their style from jazz to rock and roll. Following several personnel changes, the lineup for the group included Edwards as lead vocalist, Pete Wallace on lead guitar, Geoff Bethell on piano, Charlie Finn on bass guitar, and Cliff Roberts on drums. The band played top venues in the area, and became the resident group for St. Lukes Hall (The Jive-Hive).

During their touring, they found their manager, Ralph Webster. On 4 January 1962, Mersey Beat released a poll citing the band was the eleventh most popular Merseyside group. The band released their first single on the Oriole label in 1963 to limited success. Edwards recalled, regarding their inability to achieve success in England, "We spent too much time at the Grapes". The Grapes being the place where bands would take breaks from performing. In May 1964, the band got rid of Bethell and auditioned Geoff Bamford to replace Roberts on drums.

Later in 1964, the band travelled to Hamburg, Germany for what was supposed to be a month of touring. The band would remain in the country for the next three years after gaining widespread popularity amidst their touring and television appearances. Edwards' distinctive vocals helped develop the group's reputation, and set them apart from other acts. Their act was centered on US, and UK hits along with some of their own original material.

They became promoted by Manfred Weissleder, owner of the Star-Club, who featured them in his various clubs, and were joined by drummer Joe Walsh. Following a car accident in May 1965, Wallace and Walsh departed, and were replaced by Freddie Smith and Arthur Ashton. The band released three albums, all of which charted in Germany, during their stay in the country. The albums, Star Club 7, Just Listen to Ian and the Zodiacs, and Locomotive!, were all released on the Star Club label. The material from the albums ranged from rock and roll, pop rock, and later soul influences.

Outside the band name, they released two cover albums consisting of The Beatles compositions under the name, The KoppyKats. Their biggest selling hit in the UK, 1965's double album The Beatles Beat, was recorded on a limited budget, but was still relatively successful. Another Beatles cover album, Gears Again, followed with less success. In support of the albums, they released "Nowhere Man" and "Help!" as singles. The albums sold well thanks to the lower prices in comparison to The Beatles' releases.

The band released several singles, all on different labels, to the UK and the United States, and, despite failing to chart in the UK, still managed to achieve a regional hit in the US. Their single, "The Crying Game", became a number one hit in Texas, selling 250,000 copies. The band would have toured the US, but could not as they did not have green cards.

The band continued to tour throughout Germany until July 1967. Edwards' wife had fallen ill so he disbanded the group to return to England. He reformed the band the following year with German musicians, to lesser success. Two other incarnations of the band formed, one in 2000, touring Germany until 2003, and another in 2004.

From 2004 until his death in 2007 he made a comeback in Germany, performing at festivals in Hamburg, Weimar, Berlin and Cologne, as well as in Liverpool´s Cavern Club. He was backed by the German musicians Manfred Jung (bass), Jürgen Pfingst (lead guitar), Dr.Joachim Wagner (rhythm guitar) and Raimund Jung (drums). The backing group from Cologne, Germany, still performs as Ian's Zodiacs and as The Roaring Fourties, and is also well known in Liverpool.

In the 1990s, the band's albums were re-released by the Repretoire label. Five of the group's tracks, "Beechwood", "It Ain't Necessarily So", "Secret Love", "Let's Turkey Trot", and "You Can Think Again", have also appeared on the 1989 compilation album, This Is MerseyBeat. A greatest hits album called Wade in the Water was distributed by RPM which was composed of re-mastered songs by the band.

TRACK LIST:

1. You can't do that;

2. Little child;

3. All my loving;

4. Eight days a week;

5. I'll follow the sun;

6. Long tall Sally;

7. I feel fine;

8. A hard day's night;

9. The things we said;

10. I'm loser;

11. I saw her standing there;

12. Roll over Beethoven;

13. Nowhere man;

14. Norwegian wood;

15. We can't work it out;

16. Yesterday;

17. Day tripper;

18. I'm looking throught you;

19. Help;

20. You've got to hide your love away;

21. Ticket to ride;

22. I'm down;

23. Dizzy miss Lizzy;

24. Please Mr. Postman;

25. Little child - Unreleased bonus.

Links:

IAN & THE ZODIACS - 2 IN 1

THE BEATLES BEST & MORE

AMERICAN IDOL TOP 9 - LENNON & MCCARTNEY SONGBOOK - 2010

Nesta postagem, apresentamos uma coletânea de canções de Lennon & McCartney, que foram apresentadas durante a temporada 9 do "American Idol", realizado no período de 12 de janeiro a 26 de maio de 2010.

A seguir a seleção das canções:

1. The long and winding road (Aaron Kelly);

2. Let it be (Katie Stevens);

3. Can't buy me love (Andrew Garcia);

4. Eleanor rigby (Michael Lynche);

5. Come together (Crystal Bowersox);

6. All my loving (Tim Urban);

7. Jealous guy (Casey James);

8. Across the universe (Siobhan Magnus);

9. Hey Jude (Lee Dewyze).

Links:

AMERICAN IDOL TOP 9

LENNON & MCCARTNEY SONGBOOK - 2010