CLAIRE MARTIN & RAY GELATO
Claire Martin and Ray Gelato have been friends and collaborators for more than 30 years.
Their new album ‘We’ve Got A World That Swings’ (Linn Records) will be launched at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club later this month.
Here, Claire and Ray choose the five recordings that have shaped and influenced their musical careers.
Their new album ‘We’ve Got A World That Swings’ (Linn Records) will be launched at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club later this month.
Here, Claire and Ray choose the five recordings that have shaped and influenced their musical careers.
Claire Martin
SHIRLEY HORN - Here’s to Life 1992
This album released in 1992 blew me away. Shirley Horn with full orchestra with arrangements by Johnny Mandel. Wynton Marsalis plays trumpet, stepping in
after Miles Davis passed away. The songs, the interpretation, the strings. Utterly sublime and nothing will ever touch this.
BETTY CARTER - An Audience with Betty Carter 1979
This is a live double CD with Betty Carter at her dynamic best. The opening song ‘Sounds (Movin’ On)’ is an epic 25 minutes long and has a scat solo that is a vocal masterpiece. The recording has so much energy and displays Betty’s songwriting abilites too. A fantastic record and ‘My Favourite Things’ is a brilliant study in jazz phrasing for
any vocalist.
CARMEN McRAE - Bittersweet 1964
A wonderful recording of some beautiful standards sung by the sublime Carmen McRae who is, in my mind, the ultimate jazz vocalist. Her story telling ability is second to none and her
vocal range and smart and intelligent phrasing is sublime. I always go back to this record to hear how this music should be sung. Brilliant in every way.
DONNY HATHAWAY - Extensions of a Man 1973
Soul/R&B singer Donny Hathaway is my favourite male vocalist ever. His sound touches me deeply. This 1973 album was his last studio recording and was produced by Arif Mardin.
Amongst some originals by Donny, this album features perhaps my favourite song ever - ‘I Know it’s You’ by Leon Ware. The vocal performance is out of this world.
PAT METHENY - First Circle 1984
Guitarist Pat Metheny won a Grammy for best Jazz Fusion performance with this epic 1984 release. I first heard this when I was a singer on the QEII and used to spend hours and hours
listening to these tunes whilst gazing out to sea!! I love the catchy and well written melodies plus, of course, the amazing improvisations from Pat and keyboard player Lyle Mays.
Outstanding musicianship and a real eye opener for me.
SHIRLEY HORN - Here’s to Life 1992
This album released in 1992 blew me away. Shirley Horn with full orchestra with arrangements by Johnny Mandel. Wynton Marsalis plays trumpet, stepping in
after Miles Davis passed away. The songs, the interpretation, the strings. Utterly sublime and nothing will ever touch this.
BETTY CARTER - An Audience with Betty Carter 1979
This is a live double CD with Betty Carter at her dynamic best. The opening song ‘Sounds (Movin’ On)’ is an epic 25 minutes long and has a scat solo that is a vocal masterpiece. The recording has so much energy and displays Betty’s songwriting abilites too. A fantastic record and ‘My Favourite Things’ is a brilliant study in jazz phrasing for
any vocalist.
CARMEN McRAE - Bittersweet 1964
A wonderful recording of some beautiful standards sung by the sublime Carmen McRae who is, in my mind, the ultimate jazz vocalist. Her story telling ability is second to none and her
vocal range and smart and intelligent phrasing is sublime. I always go back to this record to hear how this music should be sung. Brilliant in every way.
DONNY HATHAWAY - Extensions of a Man 1973
Soul/R&B singer Donny Hathaway is my favourite male vocalist ever. His sound touches me deeply. This 1973 album was his last studio recording and was produced by Arif Mardin.
Amongst some originals by Donny, this album features perhaps my favourite song ever - ‘I Know it’s You’ by Leon Ware. The vocal performance is out of this world.
PAT METHENY - First Circle 1984
Guitarist Pat Metheny won a Grammy for best Jazz Fusion performance with this epic 1984 release. I first heard this when I was a singer on the QEII and used to spend hours and hours
listening to these tunes whilst gazing out to sea!! I love the catchy and well written melodies plus, of course, the amazing improvisations from Pat and keyboard player Lyle Mays.
Outstanding musicianship and a real eye opener for me.
Ray Gelato
FRANK SINATRA - Songs for Swingin' Lovers
Every tune on this album is a winner. The arrangements are incredible and Sinatra himself never sounded better.
LOUIS PRIMA - The Wildest
This must be one of the best ' Fun' albums of all time. It captures that spirit when Prima was the King of the Las Vegas lounges. Along with saxist Sam Butera and Prima's wife and vocalist Keely Smith, they all sound like are having a riot of a time. Which indeed they were .
BEN WEBSTER meets COLEMAN HAWKINS
This is a legendary meeting of two sax greats. Both men sound wonderful on this recording and there is an air of friendly and respectful competition between these two sax giants .
ELLA FITZGERALD & LOUIS ARMSTRONG - Ella and Louis
This is an album that you can never get tired of. Just two jazz giants showing mutual love and respect for one another. Backed by the Oscar Peterson trio and playing a repertoire of jazz standards, Satch croaks away as only he could, and Ella is her usual sublime self. We also get to hear some fabulous Armstrong trumpet!
LUCKY THOMPSON & OSCAR PETTIFORD - Tricrotism
This is a pairing of tenor saxist Lucky Thompson and giant bass player Oscar Pettiford. The sheer beauty of Lucky Thompson 's sound makes this album a 'must listen’.
FRANK SINATRA - Songs for Swingin' Lovers
Every tune on this album is a winner. The arrangements are incredible and Sinatra himself never sounded better.
LOUIS PRIMA - The Wildest
This must be one of the best ' Fun' albums of all time. It captures that spirit when Prima was the King of the Las Vegas lounges. Along with saxist Sam Butera and Prima's wife and vocalist Keely Smith, they all sound like are having a riot of a time. Which indeed they were .
BEN WEBSTER meets COLEMAN HAWKINS
This is a legendary meeting of two sax greats. Both men sound wonderful on this recording and there is an air of friendly and respectful competition between these two sax giants .
ELLA FITZGERALD & LOUIS ARMSTRONG - Ella and Louis
This is an album that you can never get tired of. Just two jazz giants showing mutual love and respect for one another. Backed by the Oscar Peterson trio and playing a repertoire of jazz standards, Satch croaks away as only he could, and Ella is her usual sublime self. We also get to hear some fabulous Armstrong trumpet!
LUCKY THOMPSON & OSCAR PETTIFORD - Tricrotism
This is a pairing of tenor saxist Lucky Thompson and giant bass player Oscar Pettiford. The sheer beauty of Lucky Thompson 's sound makes this album a 'must listen’.
We've Got A World That Swings by Claire Martin & Ray Gelato is released on Linn Records
For more information visit:
www.clairemartinjazz.co.uk
&
www.raygelato.com
Click on the album cover to read our review.
