Ellen Johnson Gets Most Highly Recommended from Improvijazzation Nation

IMPROVIJAZZATION Nation
Issue #94 Reviews
by Rotcod Zzaj aka Dick Metcalf
http://zzaj.freehostia.com/Z94Reviews.htm



Ellen Johnson - THESE DAYS: Female jazz singers are often "lumped" in a category (for reviewers, anyway) that says "later"... I don't know why that is, but know it often happens. A part of that could be the simple fact that there are many... well, in Ellen's case, letting the dozen tunes on her newly released CD "just slide" would be a mistake for anyone enthralled with true artistry. We reviewed another CD she produced ("A Mother's Heart) in issue #91, & were very impressed with her skills there, too. It is, of course, her voice that makes the difference & catapults the music on "These Days" to the top of the stack... what you hear is fresh & soulful, without pretense or gimmickry - excellent expression on every note! One of the most powerful tracks for this listener was "Inspiration"... simply beautiful, with great guitar by Larry Koonse & bass that stands right behind her penetrating vocal performance from Darek Oles! Oles bass lead-in on "You Don't Know What Love Is" is perfect for Ellen's silky & intimate style when she starts singing... another performance that will stay in your ears for months & years to come! In the overall, there is a real "slinky" quality to Johnson's voice that is so inviting you won't be able to move on to anything else until you've listened to the whole tune... & then the next track... & the next... & so on & so on. "These Days" is a definite jazz winner for all, players & listeners, & gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from this little corner of the jazz world! Get more information at www.ellenjohnson.net/ Rotcod Zzaj

Ellen Johnson Featured Event on RadioOjai.com

The Ojai Moment with Lisa and Matt: Matt Spins & Tweets

http://radioojai.com/2009/04/18/the-ojai-moment-with-lisa-and-matt-matt-spins--tweets.aspx


Lisa talks to Matt about the joys of spinning at Bryant Street Gym, Lisa's Lab chews up Simon and Garfunkel and Matt is tweeting on Twitter. Current events: Ellen Johnson 4/24, Elvis in Ojai 4/25 and The Ojai Tennis Tournament 4/23-26.


"Johnson has released a challenging, sophisticated and successful album that raises the standard of modern jazz singing by at least one notch. While other singers are rehashing the great American songbook, Johnson is puttinng it through the meat grinder and crea(ng a whole new menu.”
‐George Harris, All About Jazz

“Ellen Johnson's These Days is one of the best albums to be heard from a no‐nonsense jazz singer in the past year; she and her recording are worthy of serious consideration for placement in the 2007 DownBeat Cri1cs Poll.”
‐Frank‐John Hadley, DownBeat

"As "These Days" proceeds the soul of Ellen Johnson emerges, and she leaves no doubt about the wide range of her talents.In addition, the album reminds us of the fresh ideas, impressive technique and passion for the music that Ellen Johnson offers listeners. "These Days" is a true delight. “
‐Bill Donaldson, Jazz Improv

“Ellen Johnson’s new release “These Days” is a complete breath of fresh air. Johnson who is not afraid to go where no vocalist has gone before presents a CD of taking chances. A standing ovation for Ellen Johnson. Thank you for showing the world of Jazz vocals that there is so much to explore.”
‐James Rosen, Inside Connection

"The blue‐eyed blonde is gorgeous and so is her voice. She has very firm intonation, unique jazz phrasing and can scat well."
‐Harvey Siders, JazzTimes

"With Every Kiss"
(From A Mother's Heart CD)
by Ellen Johnson





featured on RadioOjai.com

http://tinyurl.com/careol

RadioOjai.com is featuring the original music of Ellen Johnson in lieu of her upcoming performance on Wednesday, February 18th (8 PM - 11 PM) at the Ojai Valley Inn located in Ojai, CA.

The CD was one of 11 songs from the download only CD, "From A Mother's Heart" which is a musical tribute to mothers, mothers day and mother earth. The song "With Every Kiss (Song For Frances)" was dedicated to Ellen's mother along with the rest of the songs dedications to each artist's mother or to a cause for mother earth.

Ellen Johnson, described by Bruce Crowther of Jazz Journal International as “superior jazz singing by an artist of the highest quality”, has three critically acclaimed CD’s (These Days, Chinchilla Serenade and Too Good To Title). “These Days”, dedicated to jazz icon Sheila Jordan, was called “one of the best albums to be heard from a no-nonsense jazz singer” (Frank –John Hadley, DownBeat ) and a “sophisticated and successful album that raises the standard of modern jazz singing by at least one notch” (George Harris, All About Jazz). The CD features two duets with Sheila Jordan and continues her bass and voice innovations with beautiful interplay with bassist Darek Oles, guitarist Larry Koonse and drummer Roy McCurdy. Ellen has performed, recorded and studied with many other exceptional musicians including Charles McPherson, Louie Bellson, Bobby McFerrin, Wiliie PIckens, Jay Clayton and John Clayton. Her amazing range, unique jazz phrasing, improvisational skills and imaginative vocal style delights audiences at concerts, festivals, colleges, and venues all over the world. Ellen is also a songwriter, lyricist, publisher, educator and is the founder of Sound Visions Media Group which distributes, promotes and produces a roster of jazz artists and publishes educational CDs including “You Sing Jazz” and “Vocal Builders”. Ellen received her Master’s Degree from San Diego State University and has been on the faculties of California Polytechnic University at Pomona and the University of San Diego among other colleges as well as jazz vocal workshops and private coaching. She can be reached through her website at www.ellenjohnson.net

www.ellenjohnson.net

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www.ellenjohnson.net.

Sheila Jordan "Winter Sunshine" CD Review

CD REVIEW:
From Rifftides- Doug Ramsey on Jazz and other matters...
http://www.artsjournal.com/rifftides/


Sheila Jordan, Winter Sunshine (Justin Time).

The first word in the CD's title may refer to Jordan's age, the second to the quality of her singing. She is seventy-nine and sounds thirty. Part of her schtick in this live recording at Montreal's Upstairs club is to tell the audience how tired she is, but she doesn't sound tired. She sounds like a young bebop and ballad singer with sunshine in her voice. If there must be scatting, let it be the kind of canny scatting Jordan does in "I Remember You" and her montage of "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" and "Little Willie Leaps." She praises pianist Steve Amirault, bassist Kieran Overs and drummer André White...for good reason. The chatter between songs wears thin after two or three hearings, but it is on separate tracks, and most CD players are programmable.

"In A Mellow Tone" music of Sheila Jordan and Ellen Johnson

November 14, 2008

PLAYLIST for "In A Mellow Tone" on

NOVEMBER 19, 2008

Ron Sweetman's “In A Mellow Tone” can be heard on CKCU-FM every Wednesday from 9 to 11 PM EST at 93.1 FM in the Ottawa region and around the world on Internet Radio.

Ron Sweetman

Ron Sweetman has been an activist for jazz and blues since arriving in Canada in 1969. He was a founder member of L’Atelier de Musique Experimentale (1972), Jazz Ottawa (1976), and Music Now (1997). He has written for CODA magazine since 1970, and has been a member of the Down Beat International Critics Poll since 1982. He has hosted his weekly jazz and blues radio show “In A Mellow Tone” on CKCU-FM 93.1 since May 1976. In his spare time, Ron is a management consultant. Ron can be reached via email at: ronsweetman[at]kalixo[dot]com.

SHEILA JORDAN


The greatest living jazz singer, Sheila Jordan, turns 80 on November 18th. In this tribute program, we’ll trace her recording career from 1962 to 2008.

Artist: Sheila Jordan with Aki Takase
Album: ABC
Tune: I Hear Your Music
Label: Eastwind

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Portrait of Sheila
Tune: Am I Blue
Label: Blue Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Portrait of Sheila
Tune: Falling In Love with love
Label: Blue Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Portrait of Sheila
Tune: Hum Drum Blues
Label: Blue Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Portrait of Sheila
Tune: Let’s Face the Music and Dance
Label: Blue Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan with George Russell Sextet
Album: Things New
Tune: You Are My Sunshine
Label: RLM

Artist: Sheila Jordan with Roswell Rudd
Album: Blown Bone
Tune: Blues for the Planet Earth
Label: Emanen

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Lost & Found
Tune: The Very Thought of You
Label: Muse

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Lost & Found
Tune: Anthropology
Label: Muse

Artist: Sheila Jordan with Vienna Art Orchestra
Album: Quiet Ways: Ballads
Tune: If You Could See Me Now
Label: Amadeo

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Jazz Child
Tune: Everything Happens To Me
Label: High Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan & Theo Bleckmann
Album: Jazz Child
Tune: Oh Henry
Label: High Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Little Song
Tune: Little Song
Label: High Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Little Song
Tune: Blackbird
Label: High Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Little Song
Tune: Barbados
Label: High Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Celebration
Tune: Blue Skies
Label: High Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Celebration
Tune: All Blues
Label: High Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Celebration
Tune: Freddie Freeloader
Label: High Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Celebration
Tune: Humdrum Blues
Label: High Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Celebration
Tune: Mood Indigo
Label: High Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: Celebration
Tune: Sheila’s Blues
Label: High Note

Artist: Sheila Jordan & Ellen Johnson
Album: These Days
Tune: Little Messenger
Label: Vocal Visions

Artist: Sheila Jordan & Ellen Johnson
Album: These Days
Tune: The Crossing
Label: Vocal Visions

Artist: Sheila Jordan
Album: From A Mother’s Heart
Tune: Dat Dere
Label: Vocal Visions

Sheila Jordan Review and NY TImes Listing

Review: Chris Spector, Midwest Record www.midwestrecord.com

11/13/08
SHEILA JORDAN/Winter Sunshine-Live at Upstairs: Reprising her 76th birthday recording with a set for her 80th birthday, this grande dame of jazz vocal shows about as much signs of slowing down as Marian McPartland. Certainly a survivor with a rich jazz history under her belt, she didn’t think she’d live to make this recording as the last birthday recording was done the night before surgery to fix a 99% blocked artery. None of that has slowed her down showing her to be a perfect example of music keeping you young. A stellar set for jazz vocal fans that want it old school without having to sit through the lessons. (Justin Time)

Listing: 11/13/08 - New York Times

SHEILA JORDAN (Tuesday through Thursday) Ms. Jordan is what they call a musician’s singer, sure of phrase and light on her feet. For this celebratory engagement, which kicks off on her 80th birthday, she corrals a handful of the players with whom she has a good rapport, including the pianist Steve Kuhn, the bassist David Finck and the drummer Billy Drummond. (Also on hand: a string quartet stocked with improvisers like the violinist Mark Feldman.) At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th Street and Broadway, (212) 258-9595, jalc.org; cover, $35, with a minimum of $10 at tables, $5 at the bar. (Chinen)

Sheila Jordan CD Release "Winter Sunshine"

Justin Time Records releases the new live recording
from Sheila Jordan, "Winter Sunshine".

Musicians:
Sheila Jordan, vocals | Steve Amirault, piano | Kieran Overs, bass | André White, drums

Songs include:
Comes Love, I Remember You, Lady Be Good, Whose Little Angry Man Are You, Dat Dere, Ballad For Miles, Little Willie Leaps, The Crossing, Sheila's Blues

Entirely non-derivative, Sheila Jordan is one of only a tiny handful of jazz singers who fully deserve the appellation and for whom no other term will do. This live set captures her refreshingly unusual musical imagination, her indomitable spirit and her hilarious between-song banter (separately indexed), which will have you alternately laughing and crying. This release coincides with Sheila’s 80th birthday! (Nov 18).

Information from: http://www.justin-time.com/works/JUST_233-2/

Sheila Jordan 80th Birthday Celebration in New York

New York, NY, October 21, 2008 : One of the remaining legends of jazz vocals, Sheila Jordan, celebrates her 80th birthday with a series of performances November 18th – 20th at Dizzy’s Coca Cola along with the Steve Kuhn Trio and String Quartet featuring Steve Kuhn, piano; David Finck, bass; Billy Drummond, drums; Mark Feldman, violin; Barry Finclair, violin; Vincent Lionti, viola; Harold Birston, cello. Set times are 9:30 and 10:30 with reservations required. Contact 212.258.9595 or visit http://www.jalc.org/.

All Music Guide says that vocalist Sheila Jordan is "one of the most consistently creative of all jazz singers." Starting with her 1962 debut Blue Note recording Portrait of Sheila, Jordan has become an iconic jazz figure, influencing many other artists in the jazz vocal genre. The New York Times raves, "Her ballad performances are simply beyond the emotional and expressive capabilities of most other vocalists."

One of the most consistently creative of all jazz singers, Sheila Jordan has a relatively small voice, but has done the maximum with her instrument. She is one of the few vocalists who can improvise logical lyrics (which often rhyme), she is a superb scat singer, and is also an emotional interpreter of ballads. Yet despite her talents, Jordan spent much of the 1960s and '70s working at a conventional day job. She studied piano when she was 11 and early on, sang vocalese in a vocal group. Jordan moved to New York in the 1950s, was married to Duke Jordan (1952-62), studied with Lennie Tristano, and worked in New York clubs. George Russell used her on an unusual recording of "You Are My Sunshine" and she became one of the few singers to lead her own Blue Note album (1962).

However, it would be a decade before she appeared on records again, working with Carla Bley, Roswell Rudd, and co-leading a group with Steve Kuhn in the late '70s. Jordan recorded a memorable duet album with bassist Arild Andersen for SteepleChase in 1977, and has since teamed up with bassist Harvie Swartz on many occasions. By the 1980s, Sheila Jordan was finally performing jazz on a full-time basis and gaining the recognition she deserved 20 years earlier. She recorded as a leader (in addition to the Blue Note session) for East Wind, Grapevine, SteepleChase, Palo Alto, Blackhawk, and Muse, resurfacing in 1999 with Jazz Child. - by Scott Yanow from All Music Guide

For more information about Ms Jordan go to: www.sheilajordanjazz.com