Marica Hiraga: Close to Bacharach (2006)

Marica Hiraga is a leading vocalist in Tokyo jazz scene and in demand vocalist.  Her professional career began when she won at “Asia Music Award” in Hong Kong.  She released two albums from Victor JCB.  After the release she studied abroad to New York City then released standard jazz vocal album “My Shining Hour” in 2001, which was welcomed as "well made standard jazz album" to both critiques and jazz listeners.  She just walked up.  Next album "Faith"(2006) was "stepped ahead" album made with Harold Mabern and Eric Alexander.  "My Favorite Things" arranged in Latin Jazz gets high reputation at any live performance.

In 2007 her next craft “Close to Bacharach” was with legendary jazz combo "Manhattan Jazz Quintet".  David Matthews arrangement turned all Bacharach song revived Bacharach to the 21th century.  This album was received "Swing Journal’s award for “Best Jazz Vocalist” 2007).   In 2008 her next craft "more Romance" was with Rob Mounsey and Gerald Clayton.  Then her next theme was Bossa Nova and Brazilian music.  Encompassed flavor of sound and unique arrangement by Gil Goldstein, this album grabbed all those who love music itself and was again awarded at "Swing Journal’s award for “Best Jazz Vocalist” 2008  for her refined singing style and incredible sound creation.  In 2009 She released "Sing Once More ~Dear Carpenters~".  It was dedicated to great pop duo “The Carpenters” had debut 40 years anniversary this year.  Marica recorded their big hit tunes and was received "Swing Journal’s award for “Best Jazz Vocalist” 2009.

Personnel:
Marica Hiraga (vc)
Manhattan Jazz Quintet
David Matthews (arr.pf)
Lew Soloff (tp)
Andy Snittzer (ts)
Charnet Moffett (b)
Victor Lewis (ds)
Tracklist:
01  Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
02  Do You Know The Way To San Jose
03  Alfie
04  The Look Of Love
05  What The World Needs Now Is Love
06  (They Long To Be) Close To You
07  Wives And Lovers
08  A House Is Not A Home Flash
09  Arthur's Theme (The Best You Can Do)
10  God Give Me Strength
11  I'll Never Fall in Love Again
12  This Guy's In Love With You
13  That's What Friends Are For
Close to Bacharach
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David Sanborn: Promise Me The Moon (1977)

David Sanborn's third album as a leader has him steering away from the N.Y.C. neo-bop, skunk funk, Seventh Avenue style he helped co-found with the Brecker Brothers band. That it is recorded in Miami speaks volumes about the sunny attitude and less jazz-oriented music he is fomenting. Guitarist/vocalist Hiram Bullock and emerging electric bass guitar star Mark Egan have something to do with this, but the extraordinary drummer Victor Lewis is the one who gives this music an R&B heft while also adding Latin flavors, like boogaloo on growth hormones. Keyboardist Rosalinda DeLeon, percussionist Jumma Santos, and four female vocalists help with the sexy Afro-Caribbean underpinning, while Sanborn plays his trusty St. Louis soul vibrato-drenched alto sax, and also experiments with sopranino sax and the lyricon. The album yields mixed results -- including some spectacular, fervent music, with the tamer sounds more likely to appeal to crossover or pop audiences. Clearly James Taylor is an influence on this music, as his guitarist Danny Kortchmar contributes tunes like the forgettable pop-funk of the title track with Bullock's vocals; "Stranger's Arms," where Sanborn painfully takes a shot at singing; and the band's not bad, slow, loping, Latin-tinged instrumental version of Taylor's "Benjamin." Bullock's two compositions are "We Fool Ourselves," reverting to the chunky, funky street-smart samba beat with Sanborn's rambling alto, though the singing is not helpful, and "The Rev," a slowed soul song more suited to the R&B aspect of the combo's demeanor. Then to the good stuff, as Egan's "Heart Lake" is a road song with Sanborn's sopranino paving the way via Egan's ostinato line after a spacy free intro. DeLeon's "Morning Salsa" is early tropicalia at its best, a fun tune that moves along briskly, but makes you wonder why the keyboardist was never heard from after this date -- maybe just a fling? Then there's "The Legend of Cheops," a stunning piece penned by Lewis that also showed up in the repertoire of Woody Shaw during the drummer's tenure with the trumpeter. Here it's charged with electricity from the wafting keyboardist and punchy, hip bassist, as Sanborn's swirling sopranino provides all the dynamism and depth he is capable of, while also negotiating some tricky key and time changes -- a memorable track for sure. While not as much a breakthrough as the two previous albums, Taking Off and Sanborn, Promise Me the Moon laid the groundwork for Sanborn to become a successful commercial money-maker and reliable production musician or soloist instead of the creative -- and at times innovative -- player hinted at in many instances here during the turning point of his career. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

Tracklist:
1. Promise Me the Moon Kortchmar 04:01
2. Benjamin Taylor 01:33
3. Stranger's Arms Kortchmar 04:21
4. Heart Lake Egan 05:21
5. The Rev. Bullock 03:56
6. We Fool Ourselves Bullock 05:14
7. Morning Salsa Bushler, de Leon, DeLeon 06:06
8. The Legend of Cheops Lewis 06:36
Personnel:
Bass - Mark Egan
Drums - Victor Lewis
Guitar - Hiram Bullock
Keyboards - Rosalinda De Leon*
Percussion - Jumma Santos
Saxophone [Alto, Sopranino], Lyricon - David Sanborn
Vocals [Guest Artists] - Christine Faith , Hamish Stuart , Kat McCord* , Lani Groves
Promise Me the Moon
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