Melody Breyer-Grell

Featured Artist: Meoldy Breyer-GrellCD Title: Fascinatin RhythmsYear: 2008 -Record Label: Rhombus ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Style: Jazz Vocals ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Musicians: Melody Breyer-Grell (vocals) Gloria Cooper (piano) Dean Johnson (bass) Matt Wilson (drums) Don Braden (saxophone) Jim Rotundi (trumpet) John Hart (guitar) Kahlil Kwame Bell (percussion) ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------- Review: Melody Breyer-Grell's Fascinatin Rhythms on the Rhombus Records label is the latest entry in a long, (and I mean long) list of Gershwin recordings. And you know what? This is a good one, I mean a really good one; one of those heartfelt well done recordings that makes you stop and listen.----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------Breyer-Grell has a very compelling voice, at times soft and low, enticing you to listen, and then it can soar to heights that make you shake your head in wonder. This is more than just a tribute album, in fact, to call it that would be to trivialize it, to reduce it to less than what it is. This is an album of songs that are as timely now as they were when first introduced. Even though they are all recognizable to anyone who has not been on Mars for the last twenty years, there is something new about them all. The opening number "Somebody Loves Me" was a first take done without rehearsal, just voice and the expert playing of Don Braden on saxophone. After you hear this number you'll say to yourself, "If that was without any rehearsal imagine how good the rest of this is going to be once they had time to practice!" ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ There are moments here and there that sound a little less polished than others but that is not a negative, in fact, it is in those moments that some of the best performances come from. It is like being center stage at one of those smoky nightclubs at about three in the morning when things have just really gotten good. You are carried along on a seamless wave of music and emotional honesty that gives the album its flavor. Fascinatin Rhythms is a more than one casual listen album; it is one of those recordings that comes along every once in a while that remind you why you listen to jazz in the first place. It is the kind you listen to when you are in love or just out of it or could care less about it, this recording just seems to fit no matter what. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Melody Breyer-Grell is a new find and one that it can be strongly suggested you pay attention to. In fact, if you would like to hear what this singer can do with a wider variety of composers, try her first recording The Right Time. Ms. Breyer-Grell, legend has it, was an office temp while getting her start in music; those days are over and a very bright future awaits her in music, and that is good news for us. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------Tra cks: Somebody Loves Me, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Someone To Watch Over Me, Fascinating Rhythm, I've Got A Crush On You, Who Cares, But Not For Me, I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise, Love Walked In, How Long Has This Been Going On, Let's Call The Whole Thing Off, They All Laughed, Embraceable You / Our Love Is Here To Stay Record Label Website: http://www.rhombus-records.com ____________________________________________________________ _____ Artist's Website: http://www.melodybreyer-grell.comReviewed by: Jim McElroy ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ********---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Melody Breyer-Grell "Fascinatin' Rhythms" Rhombus Records ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- AUGUSTA, GA. - This CD, "Fascinatin' Rhythms" by Melody Breyer-Grell, has some impressive vocal work along with good jazz guitar accompaniment. ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------- The style of jazz music represented here was really made famous by artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Keely Smith. With an artist such as Melody Breyer-Grell, this style of jazz music will survive long into the future because it is in demand by jazz purists and avid listeners of music in general. ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- The song called "Someone To Watch Over Me" has really strong vocals and superb jazz guitar similar to the styles of Barney Kessel, Howard Roberts and Herb Ellis. This song is done in the traditional jazz styling's of the greats in this genre of music. ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------- "How Long Has This Been Going On" has a great lounge jazz arrangement. The drums played with brushes, upright bass, piano, stellar vocals and jazz guitar create this wonderful music track. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ It's the sound of true jazz music. ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- "Embraceable You" has been covered by many legendary jazz artists. This song is a timeless jazz standard and it's impressive to hear another musical interpretation of this song. The overall sound is very good, and the instruments are the right ones used for this melody. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Melody Breyer-Grell has a fantastic new CD that highlights the vocal dynamics of this wonderful jazz artist. "Fascinatin' Rhythms" is a highly recommended listen. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ If you're a fan of jazz and jazz standards sung and played as they were meant to be, then listen to and purchase Melody Breyer-Grell's new CD, "Fascinatin' Rhythms," available at rhombus-records.com.Best Vocal CD of 2004” - "The Right Time" - All About Jazz New York -- Annual Top 5 Critics' Poll-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------- MELODY BREYER-GRELL's award winning debut CD, "The Right Time" (blujazz records) tells a story. While vocalizing in a traditional melodic style, her clever arrangements and simple improvisations add freshness to some familiar and lesser-known jazz and "Great American Songbook" standards. Each piece is specifically selected and ordered to create a mood and a sense of musical and dramatic direction. Melody appeared in many of New York's music room's "Sweet Rhythm", "Iridium", "Chez Suzette" "Triad. and Montclair. New Jersey's hot spot, "Trumpets" just to name a few.-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -- -- When Melody cd was cited critic's choice in the Prestigious All About Jazz 2004 top 5 Vocals, she once again took a surprise course. -- -Rather than touring europe or striving to make it big she decided to write a satire ("Wrist Slashing Funny") taking on the "Jazz Business" "Is that an oxymoron" she asks? "What's so Funny About Jazz" featuring instant classics such as "CD's For Sale" and "Still Can't Sing the Midnight Sun" "Melody communicates words with clarity and warmth, while letting the composer's intentions shine through." --James Gavin, critic and and author of "Deep in a Dream life of Chet Baker------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ---" Reviews for "THE RIGHT TIME"------------------------------------------------------ "Melody Breyer-Grell possesses the consciousness and depth to bring new emotions forth on this excellent offering she has titled "The Right Time". ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Rich, meditative and emotionally resonant, the New York-based vocalist brings such jazz standards as "You Don't Know What Love Is," and "You Go To My Head," into a new frame of mind. From her soul to her voice to the song, this highly imaginative vocalist brings a fresh andinnovative experience to each song, singing a unique, compelling mix of jazz ballads and Great American Songbook favorites."Accompanied by a top-flight ensemble, her voice lingers with you like a haunting refrain because of her sweet, swinging, sophistication. New and veteran fans will appreciate Melody Breyer-Grell's use of several harmonic complexities and her unique approach that is both modern and nostalgic." Paula Edelstein, www.allmusic.com-------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------"In the fluid landscape of female jazz vocalists, where divas flow between jazz and pop, the new release from Melody Breyer-Grell is all about JAZZ. Breyer-Grell is possesses a voice that is perfectly suited to deliver the traditional jazz ballad. Without vocal pyrotechnics, she is able to use pitch, tone and phrasing in a controlled way to induce deep moods.------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------"In her CD, The Right Time, she has chosen her band with much care. Pianist Gloria Cooper is a significant presence on every cut, allowing Breyer-Grell to have her way with ballads, while pushing her to break into a trot for the necessary up tempo moments."John Hart's guitar provides an energizing bite to cuts like "You Don't Know What Love is" and "Watch What Happens" and a bluesy backdrop to "You Go to My Head." While Hart's solo's refreshingly contrast with Breyer-Grell's rich vocals, Noah Bloom's trumpet adds to the lush feel of ballads like "Does Anybody Here Love Me" and "I've Never Been in Love Before." Enticing atmosphere results in the cat and mouse interplay on the piano/vocal duet "Invitation" while all contribute to an enchanting version of "Out Of This World."-----------------------Elliot Simon, allaboutjazz.com-------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------"Melody Breyer-Grell is next with "Does Anybody Here Love Me" from her new Blujazz release, The Right Time. Blujazz has created quite an impression with very free thinking vocalists......and now Melody Breyer-Grell for unique, very sophisticated, progressive ballad presentations. There is material here, that you may not know until you listen to the whole show, "Does Anybody Here Love Me," "This Is New" along with interesting reflections by Grell of "Close Your Eyes," "Invitation," "You Go To My Head." It's the slow dancing that fascinates me. Very groovy arranging and production." Dick Crockett, Still Another Jazz Show, 88.7 FM Sacramento CA ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -"Melody has done an astounding transfer of vocal sound over to the world of Jazz...Pick up Melody's lovely CD, it's kinda sexy too!" - Mark Murphy------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------"The Right Time attests to her (Melody Breyer-Grell) ability to study the best, glean what she can from them and make them her own....Her renditions are unfussy and strike at the heart of each song.....She doesn't shy away from difficult music, demonstrating her exemplary intonation on "Invitation" (a tune more often performed as a Jazz instrumental)...she often includes rare verses... ”She makes every word count...she also puts together and intelligent collection of songs...mixing standards and rarities.” Barry Bassis Hagedorn Communications" ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ "An expressive voice, at times warm and throaty, at times pure and delicate, that brings intimacy and a touching vulnerability!" - Roy Sander...--------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------"The song selections were impeccable, with some interesting surprises, like the song "Invitation," a great tune, and Melody sang it very well. The room was packed with an enthusiastic appreciative crowd, who enjoyed the show, both songs and patter." "There was a very interesting simplicity to her performance.......formidable vocal talents." Stan Martin, www.popstandards.com---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------- Switching hats she has been extremely busy as the musical director of the Jazz/Supper Club, "Chez Suzette." She has produced numerous musical events incuding the presentation of Legendary performers to the introduction of up and coming people, who went on to perform internationaly ,"Sing Jazz" (based on the songbook edited by Dr. Gloria Cooper) played to a full house, offering a chance to hear a wide variety of singers. Her most recent presentation was the screening of 'Tis Paris--the Sundance hit documentary