Steve Million

Air Date: 11/14/2021

It is not often that we get two CDs released at about the same time, from one artist. Such is the case with pianist and composer Steve Million. His two new CDs are chock full of original tunes.

First up we have What I Meant to Say. This project is a true labor of love. The songs, some new, and some written back in the '70s and '80s, all sound fresh. This is a quartet - or if you prefer, it is a piano trio with guitar, played by Steve Cardenas. 

Having a guitar in the band was clearly on Mr. Million's mind when he named the tune Waltz for Mr. Abercrombie, dedicating it to the late guitarist John Abercrombie (December 16, 1944 – August 22, 2017). 

Also featured on the CD are John Sims on bass and Ron Vincent on drums.

At the end of the first hour, we'll hear Open the Book, written in 1981 upon the birth of his daughter, Peige. Originally titled Open the Book to Page One, the song promotes the idea of starting something new, much like Joe Henderson's debut album. I love having this kind of background, so that when I listen to a song like this I can get an idea where the composer is coming from. Now that I know this, I understand the sense of wonder and mystery that Mr. Million imparts through this song.

Sarah Marie Young (Sean Forrest/Form Chicago)
Next we have Mr. Million's self-produced CD JazzWords, featuring the young vocalist Sarah Marie Young. She is very good, and I include Ms. Young in a crop of young female vocalists that is making a mark on the jazz world. (I plan to devote a show to this topic in the near future.)

Also featured on the CD is Jim Gailloreto on sax and flute.

When I get a new CD, typically I'll play a little bit of each song, just to get a feel for the release. When I did that with this release, my ears wouldn't allow me to stop listening to the song The Way Home. This song has leaps and bounds that tickle my 'excellent song detector,' and so I have been playing it for you during the past few weeks. 

About this song, Mr. Million says it "has a circular construction that folds in on itself – kinda like life. It’s about hopes, dreams and the beauty that is everywhere." Nice.

In this show you'll hear the ballad Hymnal, a song that will be quite at home in the Church of Jazz. The song was originally composed as an instrumental after the World Trade Center attack on 9/11.

These two releases have everything required of superior jazz music in 2021: Original songs, written with honesty from the heart, played and sung to perfection. Bravo!

More Interesting Stuff

I'm still digging the release from Susan Krebs, Daybreak. We'll hear a Dave Frishberg tune Listen Here. You must listen to the charming lyrics, about the 'little voice inside.'

A bit later in the show, during Brazil/World hour, we'll have a cinema tribute mostly to The Godfather. I was inspired to do this by two recent releases, one from Mafalda Minnozzi, and the other from Cory Weeds.

The quality of jazz coming out of today's artists is very high, and you can hear this by tuning in to the Sunday Jazz Brunch. Thank you for that!

Enjoy your autumn days. Best,

Marty


HOUR ONE: Contemplative Morning

Pasquale Grasso-Pasquale Plays Duke 2021-06 Warm Valley
George Cables-Too Close for Comfort 2021-10 A Valentine for You
Alan Broadbent-Broadbent Plays Brubeck 2021 - The Duke
Dave Shelton Trio Feat Beth Kuhn-Drift 2021-06 You're Here
Falkner Evans-Invisible Words 2021-08 Invisible Words For Linda
Lauren Henderson-Musa 2021-01 I Concentrate on You (Featuring Paco Soto, Sullivan Fortner, Eric Wheeler & Joe Dyson)
David Finck\BASSic Instinct 2021\Seascape
Susan Krebs With Mixed Remotions-Daybreak 2021-06 Listen Here
Royce Campbell-Cool School 2021-08 Amber
Steve Million\JazzWords 2021\Hymnal Feat Sarah Marie Young
Steve Million\What I Meant to Say 2021\Open the Book

HOUR TWO: New For You

Alexis Cole\Sky Blossom - Songs From My Tour of Duty 2021\Across the Universe
Alex Sipiagin-Upstream 2021-06 Rain
Nicole Henry\TIME TO LOVE AGAIN. 2021\Midnight at the Oasis
Troy Roberts and Tim Jago Best Buddies 2021  04 - Zeena
Jenny Klukken-Color in Motion 2021-02 Chapters
Gemma Sherry-Music to Dream To 2021-07 The Telephone Song
Steve Tyrell-Shades of Ray 2021-10 Am I Blue
Alexander McCabe-Body And Soul 2021-04 Body And Soul
Mark Zaleski\Reimagining Dave Brubeck 2021\Fujyama
Nnenna Freelon\Time Traveler 2021\You Make Me Feel Brand New
Nicole Henry\TIME TO LOVE AGAIN. 2021\Is It a Crime

HOUR THREE: Brazil/World

Brent Jensen\More Sounds of a Dry Martini 2021\Bossa Antigua
Alexis Cole\Sky Blossom - Songs From My Tour of Duty 2021\Triste
Antonio Carlos Jobim-Stone Flower 1970-09 Sabia
Antonio Adolfo - Bruma 2020 - Celebrating Milton Nascimento - 04 - Cancao do Sal (Salt Song)
Jenny Klukken-Color in Motion 2021-03 Cafe Marcel
Mafalda Minozzi-CinemaCity 2021-08 E La Chiamano Estate
Paul Jost Quartet-While We Were Gone 2021-06 Gentle Rain
Carlos Barbosa Lima-Johannes Tonio Kreusch\Manisero 2021\09 Danza Criolla I
Andrea Bocelli-Cinema-11 Brucia la terra (from ''The Godfather'') 2015
Cory Weeds-O Sole Mio! 2021-03 Speak Softly Love (Theme from ''The Godfather'')
Mafalda Minozzi-CinemaCity 2021-13 Deborahs Theme (One Upon a Time in America)

HOUR FOUR: Groove, Baby

David Garfield-Streching Outside the Box D2 2021-12 Remembering Carlos Vega
Nicole Henry\TIME TO LOVE AGAIN. 2021\2. Midnight at the Oasis
Joey DeFrancesco-Never Can Say Goodbye- The Music of Michael Jackson-05 Rock With You 2010
Pieces of a Dream\Fired Up 2021\In Too Deep
Marion Meadows-Twice As Nice 2021-05 Yesterday Is Gone
Vincent Ingala\Fire And Desire 2021\Could This Be Real
Count Basic-Life Think It Over-04 Jazz In The House 1995
Gerry Gibbs-We're Back-11 Brazilian Rhyme 2014
Brian Simpson\All That Matters 2021\So Many Ways
Richard Elliot\Authentic Life 2021\Elegant People
Ray Obiedo\Latin Jazz Project Vol 2 2021\Belafonte
Bruce Brown\Death of Expertise 2021\Find Three Things to Be Grateful For


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