New Releases Spotlight: Week of April 3, 2017

This week in the Music Lounge, our music director Paul Abella reviews three new discs, all from the Midwest!

So, this week let’s spend some time with a couple of great singers and songwriters from right here in Chicago, and the third is not so far away in Michigan!

Vocalist Typhanie Monique has done some interesting projects over the years, but her latest, Call It Magic, might just be her most interesting and musically satisfying one yet.  Joined by a cast of characters that includes organist Tony Monaco, guitarist Neal Alger, pianist Ben Lewis, bassist Josh Ramos and others, this disc spans a huge chunk of territory, from Duke Ellington’s "Don’t Get Around Much Anymore" to Coldplay’s "Magic."  In between, Typhanie writes her own tunes, puts her spin on music from Dinah Washington and a song from Oliver, and she even includes a Don Henley tune.  I’ve been having a lot of fun playing this one, and I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing it too!

Words & Music by Jeannie Tanner is Jeannie’s latest, and it’s a really unique concept for a CD: get 12 vocalists from around Chicago, write a bunch of tunes (a few with the specific vocalists in mind) and sit back and watch the magic happen.  Jeannie herself appears on the trumpet in spots here and there, but for the most part, this is a showcase for, amongst others, Tammy McCann, Rose Colella, Paul Marinaro, Elaine Dame, Alyssa Allgood and Kimberly Gordon – a group that would be in any Chicago Jazz fan’s “A” list.  Enjoy!

Finally this week, Organissimo, a fantastic organ trio out of Lansing, Michigan has come out with a new release, B3tles: A Soulful Tribute to the Fab Four.  If you were around for the WDCB concert last summer at the MAC, you heard these guys bust out a few of these Beatles chestnuts.  Jim Alfredson (organ), Lawrence Barris (guitar) and Randy Marsh (drums) put together some great grooves on "Come Together," "Taxman," "All You Need Is Love" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." If, like me, you’re a big Beatles fan, there’s a lot to love here.  And if you weren’t familiar with Organissimo, this disc is a great way to get acquainted.

Next week, we’ll look at new music from vocalists Eliane Elias and Carmen Lundy, as well as checking out a brand new big band album paying tribute to Cedar Walton! ‘Til then, keep your ears open!