Album review: CODA - There is a Way to Fly

LABEL Silent Recordings SIL002

Review copy supplied by Abels Music, Canberra.

Reviewed by Tony Magee

This one is brand new and delightfully different. Coda features six musicians who play a variety of instruments including Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Marimba, Djembe, Drums, Percussion, Vibes and more.

This is world music and features influences from France, Japan, South America, The Middle East and USA amongst others. Some tracks are driving, pulsating and rhythmic, whilst others are wistful, thoughtful and almost meditative.

The driving force behind most of the tracks is the string section. If you think Electric Light Orchestra without vocals, but massively updated and with a broader global approach, you would be heading in the right direction.

Another interesting feature of this album is that each track has a story to it, which is explained in the liner notes. In the music world, this is referred to as a “program”. It is very interesting to first read the story and then listen to how the music unfolds, or alternatively, listen to the music first, make your own judgements and then read the suggested story.

There are many surprises along the way too. Track 10 for example, entitled Lucky 7, offers a challenging but appropriate change of pace with driving rock grooves, which adds further to the premise that this album is certainly not predictable. If you think your patrons might like a constantly changing listening environment, then this could be a CD to check out.

First published in Restaurant and Catering Magazine, Nov 2001

Album Review: ESPIRITO DO BRASIL - CICILIA KEMEZYS, Independent, CK9901-2, Reviewed by Tony Magee

Here is a great CD featuring the music of Brazil, as played by Canberra based Lithuanian flute virtuoso Cicilia Kemezys and guests.

The album was actually recorded in Rio de Janeiro, during Carnival February 1999, and there are many Brazilian musicians featured on it.

The album opens with a beautiful and haunting flute introduction, which melds smoothly into the uplifting and awakening samba, Berimbau, with full band. What a fantastic piece this is, and so brilliantly played

Five of the tracks are originals and this is a reflection of Kemezys time in Brazil with guitarist composer Steve Scott, who has also written tunes for this CD, and the incredible influences they have absorbed and re-created. For example the Scott/Kemezys composition Bairro Peixoto (track 2 on the CD), features a recording of a RIO street carnival at the beginning and then bursts into the most sublime and yet lively Samba with a wonderfully intriguing melody. By contrast, the following track, The First Spring, starts as a warm and gentle ballad with a hint of slow beguine underneath, moving to a samba and finally changing feel again to bossa nova.

Other selections include the wonderful Antonio Carlos Jobim tunes Agua De Beber (Water to Drink) and Triste (Sad). Gershwin’s Summertime receives the Latin treatment.

I see smart lunchtime sidewalk cafes; I see sophisticated cocktail functions; I see ritzy hotel restaurants; and most of all, I see thousands of eateries of all multicultural persuasions enjoying this music immensely. 

First published in Restaurant and Catering Magazine, September 2001

Album Review: DIG DEEPER - DIG (Directions in Groove), Phonogram 5186092, Reviewed by Tony Magee

My choice this month is not a new release, however it is one of the classic Australian jazz/funk albums of the mid 1990’s.

The group is called DIG (Directions in Groove) and features a unique blend of original jazz, funk, rock, indigenous and even world music influences, expertly played by Scott Saunders on Hammond, rhodes, pianos and vocals, Tim Rollinson on guitar, Rick Robertson on saxophones and flute, Terepai Richmond on drums and percussion and Cameron Undy and Alex Hewetson sharing electric and acoustic bass.

The opening track, Two Way Dreamtime, is a fantastic combination of ethereal aboriginal sounds moving into a solid funky jazz/rock groove. This would make an ideal opening number for an evening where the atmosphere needs to be really funky and cool.

From there, we hear the up tempo grooves of The Favourite, Hip Replacement, Terrified From Dizzy Heights, the brassy sound of Pythonicity and the medium funk of The Dig theme (really nice) and Re-invent Yourself. Then there are cool laid back tracks such as Gil, Shelf Life and Inner Blue Funk.

Along the way, the main music tracks are punctuated with smaller “interlude” tracks, which act as a sort of transition point between the many different musical styles featured on this CD. A clever and innovative idea that works very well, and once again makes this CD ideal for playing in restaurants, bars and cafes. It is particularly suited to establishments that are cool, funky and groovy, with a hip staff and décor and menu to match.

First published in Restaurant and Catering Magazine, Aug 2001

My beautiful and much loved Grandmothers

We lost both our Grandmothers in 2001 at grand ages.

Grandma - Mrs Eileen Boston - passed February 14, aged 94.

Gran - Mrs Eileen Magee - passed July 7, aged 96.

The Sydney Morning Herald

The Canberra Times

Grandma, myself and Gran, on the occasion of Mum and Dad's 50th birthday dinner,
Ron Murray's MV City of Canberra, Lake Burley Griffin, 1983.

Grandma at my house in Torrens, with Charlotte the cat, June 3, 1997.

Myself with Gran circa 1998.

Album review: SINCE I LEFT YOU - THE AVALANCHES. Modular MODCD009 (through EMI). Reviewed by Tony Magee

Since I Left You, by Melbourne artists The Avalanches, is a hip, funky and “now” CD, ideal for eateries of the same persuasion. This CD may set the trend for the overall style of the decade and could easily be used for interesting and stimulating listening or even dance.

Influences and inspiration for each track come from tiny music samples (included in each piece) from other performing artists and composers too numerous to mention here – suffice to say that they range in diversity and style from Madonna to Debbie Reynolds, Sergio Mendez, The Isley Brothers and many, many more.

The album is curiously done so that no one theme is really allowed to become too established, but you still get a satisfying taste of all the concepts, whilst being swept along in a sort of wonderland of sound experiences. There are no breaks between each track, however the pieces all have their own individual musical style and atmosphere.

The music is very visually evocative too.

This new music product is exciting, alternative and unique and should provide a wonderful accompaniment to establishments who wish to give their diners and patrons something different and occasionally a little challenging.

First published in Restaurant and Catering Magazine, June 2001

Album Review: WANDERLUST, ABC Jazz 518 650-2, reviewed by Tony Magee

My offering for this month is for establishments whose menus are designed to challenge their diners just a little and therefore whose musical selections might also match, whist at the same time being perfectly accessible and highly rewarding.

The album is the debut by Australian modern jazz sextet Wanderlust, however since this release the band has followed through with three more.

Starting with the lively and driving Bronte Café, the selection continues with the ethereal and hypnotic Dakar, which demonstrates influences of music from all over the world, as indeed do all the tracks. This is a world music album. There are seven more excellent tracks.

Instruments include trumpet and flugelhorn (both played by Miroslav Bukovsky, who wrote seven of the nine compositions on the album), alto sax, clarinet, trombone, didgeridoo, double bass, drums and percussion, keyboards, guitar and voice.

One of the most impressionable things about Wanderlust is the extremely high quality of playing and the beautiful freedom and space within the ensemble playing, whilst still retaining complete tightness and direction.

Wait till about 9pm, put this album on, starting with track two, and see what happens.

First published in Restaurant and Catering Magazine, April 2001

Album review: COOKIN' ON THREE BURNERS - Steamed Up

New Market Music NEW 3064.2

Review copy supplied by Abels Music, Canberra

Reviewed by Tony Magee

A very cool selection of mostly original tunes is presented on this album by Jake Mason (Hammond organ), Matt Kirsch (guitar) and Ivan Khatchoyan (drums), with percussion on some tracks from Andrew Swann.

The distinctive drawbar sound of the Hammond, combined with it’s excellent breathy bass pedals is becoming a lost art and it is very refreshing indeed to hear this revived and played so well, particularly when combined with extremely tasteful guitar work and well punctuated rhythm.

Funky blues numbers include Humpback and Rusty Meat, whilst the title track, Steamed Up, is a funk-rock piece. The guitar is featured in the beautiful ballad Song for Sarah and the rather ethereal slow blues, The Lost World.

There are also swingin’ tracks like Hiding From Tyler and the bouncy Rev. Moses, plus a vibrant treatment of the Romberg song Softly as in a Morning Sunrise.

If you want to get your guests tapping and grooving, then I would highly recommend this one.

First published in Restaurant and Catering Magazine, February 2001

Album review: DAZ NUANCE - Divaria

Seratone, SERA001

Review copy supplied by Abels Music, Canberra ACT

Reviewed by Tony Magee

This is the sort of CD that many guests will inquire about during the course of dining.

Divaria is an intriguing collection of originals and famous operatic arias arranged in a kind of jazz / funk / pop meld by Australian composer Andrew Thomas Wilson.

This CD would suit many different kinds of restaurants I feel, from trendy cafes to funky eateries, certainly alternative establishments and even quite up-market places.

Some purists will say that they prefer the original versions of the opera selections, which is perfectly valid, however Wilson’s treatment of them and the sparkling performances given by him and his chosen players and singers are a treat and certainly not offered as “improvements” – just an alternative approach.

Included are: Massenet’s Le Poeme De La Mer, Caccini’s Ave Maria, Puccini’s Nessum Dorma as well as five Wilson originals, which are all notable and one track by contralto Justine Bradley. Karen Cummings supplies the soaring soprano realisations on many of the tracks.

Do have a listen. Fabulous stuff.

First published in Restaurant and Catering magazine, January 2001

Album Review: COMME CI, COMME CA - Janet Seidel, La Brava Music LB 0033, reviewed by Tony Magee

On this gorgeous CD, Janet Seidel sings a beautiful collection of songs with a French influence, including a good dose of Michel Legrand, Johnny Mercer and many others. An almost Doris Day touch to her vocal delivery sets this album up as superb lounge style listening and definitely an excellent choice for cocktails, dinner, or late night romance.

Nice to hear familiar, but now rarely performed, movie theme classics such as A Man and A Woman, The Summer of 42, Windmills of your Mind, I Will Wait for You and others. In fact some of these tunes are not usually heard with the lyric at all, and when Seidel sings them in her sensuous French they come to life again in an even more delectable way.

Other songs are sung in English or sometimes both languages and include C’est si Bon, And the Angels Sing, I Wish You Love, These Foolish Things and lots more.

Backing is provided tastefully by a small band headed up by Kevin Hunt on piano, harking back to early Nina Simone accompaniments and even the classic Ella and Louis sounds, ranging through cool swing, bossa nova and ballads.

Not to say that this album is a re-creation of those previous artists – it isn’t. Seidel and the band have established a fine and distinctive style of their own with this new release, and I urge all listeners interested in lounge, jazz and film scores to get a copy. It’s a lovely portrayal of some of the best songs ever written.

First published in Restaurant and Catering Australia magazine, Jan 2001