The Jazz Project

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Some notable songs for your listening pleasure from various albums from around the world.

Mazimhaka

This worldly song is from the album, Only Elephants Know Her Name by So Long Seven. “Mazimhaka” is particularly notable for its beautifully shaped phrasing, clarity of inner detail and depth from its crisp articulation of a mix of jazz, blues, folk, and classical. A most satisfying performance of spiritual, homogeneous music from around the world. Performers include renowned tabla player Ravi Naimpally, Neil Hendry (guitar), William Lamoureux (violin), and Tim Posgate (banjo).

Guajiro

Guajiro, featuring Terri Lyne Carrington, from the album Rumba by Rafael Zaldivar. Its stiking and provocative Latin/Cuba tempo hines with life, without losing the subtlety for an intimate setting on some tropical paradise. Cuban pianist and composer Dr. Rafael Zaldivar performs his rumba with an ensemble comprised of many jazz and Afro-Cuban musicians, including Grammy winning and nominated artists Terri Lyne Carrington, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Miguel Zenon, Ingrid Jensen, and Amado Dedeu Garcias. 

Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You

Canadian jazz vocalist Deanne Matley is thoroughly idiomatic, possessed of exceptionally clean virtuosic subtleties and expressive nuances; her voice has marvelous clarity and definition as well as exemplary range. Ms. Matley’s version of “Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good to You” is bright and vivid without being artificial and the natural resonance of her voice seems hardly dated. The stylish opening suggesting a hint of melancholy is wonderfully evoked, as is its marvelous gayety with its graded diminuendos brilliantly effective away from openings of others. 

The song is from The Alberta Lounge, and includes Taurey Butler (piano), Morgan Moore (bass), Richard Irvin (drummer), and special guests Paul Shrofel (piano) and Steve Raegele (guitar).