Sounds Of April & Randall

Reviewed: 2017-07-21
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none

Review: creative duo on vocal and trumpet create a distinct sound fusing contemporary jazz with soul, R&B, & gospel influences, enhanced by a variety of crack supporting musicians that they pull in as needed. April uses her voice as a separate instrument, jamming through song and scat with the other players. Half the songs are originals.
if You Like: Betty Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Freddie Hubbard, Flora Purim, Annie Ross
Track Review (favorite tracks designated by an *): * 1/ September In The Rain (5:17) - trumpet starts> slow opening swings to midtempo with scat singing> sweet guitar solo> swinging scat solo> quick stop *2/ Midnight Sun (4:24) - cymbals start> slow tempo song> trumpet solo & duet with vocal> crescendo vocal/trumpet end 3/ Midnight Rush (3:24) - percussion starts> midtempo jam with scat vocals> quick stop *4/ Love's Dilemma (4:02) - piano starts> swinging midtempo song> scat solo> uptempo piano solo> quick fade 5/ The Hanging Tree (2:37) bass/piano starts> slow tempo song> slow fade *6/ It's New To Me (6:21) horns start> uptempo> fast tempo trumpet solo> (brief pause)> lightning fast piano solo> drum solo> scat solo> fade *7/ Nobody Knows (5:03) bass/drums start> slow tempo song> slow fade 8/ trumpet starts> midtempo song> tasty guitar solo> slow fade on vocal 9/ sax starts> midtempo song> quick fade on vocal *10/ Party (4:36) guitar starts> midtempo song with tropical feel> scat solo> slow fade 11/ Wooden Sphere (4:29) - vocal starts. midtempo song> uptempo sax solo> trumpet solo. piano solo> fade on vocal