Tom Ranier   

Air Date: 11/15/2020  

Earlier this year when we received Silvio Amato's latest CD Variations of Relevance, I wondered if I was noticing a trend. Amato is known as a composer of theme songs for Italian film and television, including soap operas and news shows. Can such an artist, who writes the jingles you might hear every day on television, compose and play good jazz? In Amato's case, the answer is easily yes, given that his new CD is quite good.

Tom Ranier has worked in the studio on such television shows as Moonlighting and Star Trek: Enterprise, and for several years he was keyboardist and arranger for Dancing with the Stars. That puts him smack dab into the same category as Amato. And, like Amato, Ranier has produced a superb new CD, This Way.

My first foray into the music of This Way was a few weeks ago with Mr. Ranier's version of the Brazilian jazz standard Desafinado. As I mentioned in an earlier post, this arrangement successfully captures that early-60s feel you might achieve listening to the big hit from the Getz/Byrd collaboration Jazz Samba released in 1962.

However, there is a lot more to enjoy on this CD. Several tracks are quite mellow and fit nicely into your Contemplative hour, including Circle and Trio Vision. The title track This Way opens with an irresistible drum intro and grooves nicely from start to finish. Ranier's track Yes Kloose almost sounds like a theme song or perhaps cinematic program music, but there is something about it, something just off-center enough, to make the song really interesting. 

We'll be exploring this CD further in the coming weeks. Meantime a few words about the upcoming show. 

Opening with Helio Alves and the Brazilian Trio, Contemplative hour sets the stage with an introspective set, which includes Carol Welsman and Gregory Porter. Also featured is Dave Samuels on the vibes with the Carribbean Jazz project.

Vocalist Gretchen Parlato sings a great version of Lauryn Hill's All That I Can Say, followed by Joni Mitchell with Herbie Hancock on her original Tea Leaf Prophecy. On this Hancock tribute to Mitchell, the singer herself extends her jazz credentials going back to her 1979 collaboration with the great bassist Charles Mingus. Jack Donahue closes down the set with Robert Frost from his superb 2004 release Strange Weather.

The New Music hour features Mr. Ranier, as well as new material from a good selection of living jazz artists. The hour features a nice mix of instrumentals and vocals, as well as a high proportion of original songs. 

Brazil/World hour features a lot of new jazz, including a great number from Josie Falbo, and a few older tracks from Kenny Barron and Ed Johnson. 

Groove hour features brand new material from Jazz in Pink featuring Gail Jhonson, an all-female jazz group with a great sound; you'll hear three of their tracks during the hour. Also I have an older piece from keyboardist Mike Ricchiuti, who once played in Chuck Loeb's band. The hour ends with Night Rhythms from Lee Ritenour.

Thanks so much for tuning in! I hope you and yours are safe and healthy.

Best,

Marty

 

HOUR ONE: Contemplative Morning

  1. Brazilian Trio-Forests-09 Flying Over Rio 2008
  2. Carol Welsman-Journey-14 Twilight World 2012
  3. Caribbean Jazz Project-Afro Bop Alliance-05 Picture Frame 2008
  4. Gregory Porter-All Rise-04 If Love Is Overrated-2020
  5. Gretchen Parlato-The Lost and Found-11 All That I Can Say 2011
  6. Herbie Hancock-06 Tea Leaf Prophecy (2007) Feat Joni Mitchell
  7. Jack Donahue-Strange Weather-03 Robert Frost 2004
  8. Joe Pass-Virtuoso-03 Here's That Rainy Day 1974
  9. Kate Reid-The Heart Already Knows-10 Minds of Their Own 2018
  10. John Harrison Trio Going Places 06 When I'm with you
  11. Marilyn Scott Standard Blue 05 Day Dream

HOUR TWO: New and Newer, Plus

  1. Tom Ranier\This Way\This Way 2020
  2. Kandace Springs-The Women Who Raised Me-06 I Can't You Love Me-2020
  3. Alan Broadbent Trio-Trio In Motion-04 Struttin With Some Barbecue-2020
  4. Gregory Porter-All Rise-12 Merry Go Round-2020
  5. Adam Glaser Trio-Wide Awake-05 True to You-2020
  6. Bill Cunliffe Trio-Sunrise Over Molokai-03 Here's That Rainy Day 2019
  7. Leslie Odom Jr.-07 The Guilty Ones (2016)
  8. Billy Childs-Acceptance-06 Quiet Girl-2020
  9. Chico Pinheiro-There's A Storm Inside-03 There's A Storm Inside-2010
  10. Gregory Porter-All Rise-11 Phoenix-2020

HOUR THREE: Brazil/World

  1. Al Daniels - Brasiliana -  07 Rhapsodia 2020
  2. Tom Ranier\This Way\Desafinado 2020
  3. Diego Figueiredo-Compilation-13 Odeon-2020
  4. Miguel De Leon/Malandro/07 Reencontro 2020
  5. Dan Costa\Live in California\04 Sete Enredos 2020
  6. Josie Falbo\You Must Believe In Spring\13 Tristeza 2020
  7. Chico Pinheiro\City Of Dreams\04 Estrada Real 2020
  8. Antonio Adolfo - Bruma - Celebrating Milton Nascimento - 01 - Fe Cega Faca Amolada 2020
  9. Otmaro Ruiz, Bruno Mangueira\Essência\08 Santa Clarita 2020
  10. Kenny Barron-Sambao-01 Sambao 2008
  11. Ed Johnson-The Other Road-01 Samba 2 Tom 2007

HOUR FOUR: Groove, Baby

  1. Jazz In Pink featuring Gail Jhonson - Joy Joy! -  featuring Kim Waters 2020
  2. Norman Brown - Heart to Heart - Just Groovin' 2020
  3. Gregory Porter-02 Don’t Lose Your Steam (2016)
  4. Paradigm Shift-Shifting Times-04 Half a World Away 2004
  5. Mike Ricchiuti\The Way I See It-08 Changes (2003)
  6. Jazz In Pink featuring Gail Jhonson - Smoother 2020
  7. Take 6-So Cool-05 Wings of Your Prayer 1998
  8. Jazz In Pink featuring Gail Jhonson -  Positivity -  featuring Kim Scott
  9. Euge Groove - Sing My Song Of Course 2020
  10. Al Daniels - Brasiliana -  08 City Samba 2020
  11. Lee Ritenour-The Very Best Of Lee Ritenour-07 Night Rhythms 2003




 

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