Pick of the Week: Marilyn Scott

By Keith HannaleckiBerkshires Columnist
Print Story | Email Story
Every Time We Say Goodbye

How many times can an artist release a recording with just standards? When it comes to jazz standards, I do not believe the true music lover and jazz devotee feels there are ever too many of these types of albums.

Timeless classics from the likes of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington ... well it is obvious that you cannot go wrong when you travel down this road lined with literal music gold. This is the holy grail of jazz and near perfection is required for your audience to except your performance.

"Every Time We Say Goodbye" immediately struck me from the outset with the title track that Marilyn Scott has created a classic recording and quite possibly this could be the pinnacle of her career thus far.

Her tone, confidence and vocal timbre are superb and her accompaniment is at a very high level. Cyrus Chestnut (piano), Paul Bollenback (guitar), Gerald Cannon (bass), Willie Jones III (drums), and Ken Peplowski (tenor sax/clarinet) provide the stellar musicianship to match the singer's once in a lifetime performance and rendering of the timeless classics.


Keith 'Muzikman' Hannaleck
"I Got Lost in His Arms" had me recalling the magical meetings of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass. The guitar lines of Bollenback are smooth and succinct; matching Scott's vocalizations beautifully while keeping in time with the rest of the band to make this the gem of the lot and one track that I think will be earmarked for a single release at any time.

Kissing cousin the blues is touched upon with "Detour Ahead," and metaphorically, it is Scott that takes a slight detour to fit her vocals for the more emotive blues-jazz number. "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" is one of the best out of the 10 selections and the most recognizable crossover pop hit with a jazz flavoring. 

I had to take notice of the obvious and some of the subtleties because once again it was Scott's innate sensibility for carrying a tune regardless from whence it came that won me over. She knows how to make each track a significant effort and all her own while offering up a real jazz workout that burns in your soul long after it has played through.
Tracks
01. Every Time We Say Goodbye  06. Autumn In New York
02. Got Lost In His Arm 07 I Love Paris
03. Lonely Tow 08 Cry Me A River
04. Detour Ahead 09 Caravan
05. Do You Know The Way To San Jose 10. Somewhere
What we have here is an indie artist performing at
a level that is just as good if not better than most of her contemporaries. 

"Every Time We Say Goodbye" is definitely a body of work that should get some attention this year.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck of Adams offers up his best-listening bets as a regular contributor to iBerkshires. For more reviews, www.muzikreviews.com.
         
Genre: Jazz (Standards)
Label: Venus Records
Web site
iTunes link
Source link
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Multiple Departments Respond to Lanesborough Structure Fire

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Multiple fire departments responded to a structure fire off Narragansett Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Fire Department received a call from the owner of 6 Bangor St. reporting a smoke and flames at around 1:44 p.m.

Firefighters arriving on scene reported heavy smoke emanating from the the 1940s single-family ranch home in the thickly settle neighborhood.

The blaze was brought under control in less than an hour and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. 

"The homeowner was outside doing some work, evidently, opened the door when she came back in the house, and there were flames and smoke, so she backed out and called us, and that's all we know right now," Deputy Fire Chief Glen Storie said around 2:35 p.m. 

The fire was out at that time, and first responders observed "quite a bit of damage" to the home. The cause is still under investigation. 

Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Pittsfield departments responded to the scene, and Hancock covered the station during the call. 

"The first crew in knocked the fire right down with the first engine," Storie said. 

Smoke could be seen coming from the back of the home. Part of Narragansett Avenue and Bangor Avenue were blocked off while firefighters battled the blaze. 

 

View Full Story

More Regional Stories