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 | Kenny ColmanStraight AheadLabel: Justin Time | Vocal Jazz | September 12, 2000Format UPC Order # Unit Price |
Credits Miles Black piano Kenny Colman voice Jack Duncan percussion (on tracks 04 and 05) Oliver Gannon guitar Tom Keenlyside tenor saxophone Brian Kirk drums Ranee Lee voice (on track 05) Houston Person tenor saxophone (on tracks 01, 02, 09, 13, 14 and 15) Brad Turner flugelhorn and trumpet Dave Young bass Production Credits Arranged by Miles Black (on track 00) Musical direction by Miles Black (on track 00) | TracksNo Title Duration Excerpts 01 Come Rain Or Come Shine 00:03:49 03 The Way You Look Tonight 00:03:35 04 Last Tango In Paris 00:03:25 07 Why Should I Care 00:03:51 08 Ill Remember April 00:03:22 09 Its All Right With Me 00:02:29 10 What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? 00:06:38 11 Ive Got It Bad (And That Aint Good) 00:04:05 12 I Wanna Be In Love Again 00:03:08 13 The Good Life 00:04:04 14 My Funny Valentine 00:05:20 15 Thats All 00:04:11 Album DetailsKenny Colmans career reads like a book, and quite an exciting one at that. He was a friend of Frank Sinatra, who gave him his big break, and has recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Johnny Mandel. The writer of When Joanna Loved Me insists Colmans version of his song is the best. Liner NotesIn the late fifties, I left Vancouver and went to New York City to get inside myself with the love of music and jazz surrounding my ears. I was hooked, hanging around all the jazz clubs like The Five Spot, The Village Vanguard, The Dom, The Toast, The Most and Jillys. It was there, sitting in and paying my dues, that I learned my craft. I loved my early 20's, hanging out with Johnny Hartman, Earl Coleman, Tony Scott, Scott LaFaro, Mundell Lowe. One night after I sat in with a hot jazz trio at the The Page Three, Sarah Vaughan and her husband, C. B. Atkins, asked me to join their table. Within the week they arranged a studio date to make a demo record with Harry "Sweets" Edison, Bob Cranshaw, Harold Mayburn, and Elvin Jones. I sang "Come Rain or Come Shine" "Star Eyes;" and "There Will Never Be Another You." (Where is that demo now?)Ten months later Sarah Vaughan and C.B. Atkins arranged for me to perform in Las Vegas at the Flamingo Hotel. Lionel Hampton was on the bill and in the band was Quincy Jones. Sinatra and the Rat Pack were walking through every night I was in Heaven and definitely in show biz. Johnny Hartman provided my warm up gig prior to Las Vegas. Back then, everyone was looking for gigs and ways to help each other out Then I signed with Epic Records, cut 10 sides for them and did a few shows including Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, Steve Allen, Midnight Special and the Lou Rawls Special. I even had my own show for CBC TV in Canada. It was the sixties and then the music stopped. The Beatles came into town and music changed its early course. I kept singing anywhere I could, resort areas like Acapulco, Aruba, Bermuda, Palm Springs, and Las Vegas. Those were the dues and the wonderful learning days. Late in the 1980's, I was booked at the Loews Monte Carlo Hotel. Frank Sinatra, who was always trying to help my career, had arranged this gig where I was held over a year and from then on the doors flew open. In Monte Carlo, I was the recipient of a great jazz profile article in the International Herald Tribune, by the jazz writer, Mike Zwerin. Mr. Freddy Heineken read the article and arranged to hear me sing. Before I knew it I was in London at CTS Studio with the London Philharmonic Orchestra Johnny Mandel conducted and arranged his songs for me, jazz legend jean "Toots" Thielemans was on the CD and Frank Sinatra chose the title, Dreamscape. The CD has been reviewed and endorsed by my peers and journalists throughout the world, and Jim West of Justin Time Records re-released it in 1998. It was a beautifully conceived CD and I am grateful to Freddy Heineken, Dick Bakker, Ruud Jacobs and Frank Sinatra for making it possible. Jim West called me a few months ago and said "Kenny, I think it's time we made a new CD. Something that will show people what they would hear when they see you perform live." Now it's time to show the other side of Dreamscape and Kenny Colman. The idea for Straight Ahead was to do a cooking, hard-driving session with some great musicians from New York, Toronto, and Vancouver, featuring songs that I have lived with for a while. And that's exactly the way it happened. In coming up with the concept for the CD I spent a lot of time with the Vancouver based pianist and arranger, Miles Black. I've been a fan of young Miles for the last several years, taking him with me to New York's Tavern on the Green. I can't say enough about Miles Black. He is a terrific, kind and talented guy who was deeply involved with making this session click. Thanks Miles. Just listen to his arrangements and piano playing, especially on "Last Tango in Paris." My thanks to all the musicians who contributed to this great session - Miles, Olly, Brian, Dave, Brad, Tom, Jack and a special thanks to Houston Person, whose presence, great personality, sultry and straight ahead playing, put the finishing touch to the CD. A special thanks to Dave Young. There are bass players and then there is Dave Young. Thanks to Jim West for believing in me and backing me all the way, and I mean, all the way. I've chosen material that I have performed throughout my career. Many of the songs bring back memories of my early sit in days in New York, singing with legends like Tony Scott, Mundell Lowe, my dear friend and mentor, Harry "Sweets" Edison and many others who showed me the way. The result is of great personal significance to me. For example, the song, "Why Should I Care" reminds me of the late great Johnny Hartman's choice of material. I first heard this sung by Diana Krall in the Clint Eastwood movie "True Crime." She did a beautiful reading of the lyrics. I love this song, so I thought I would give it my own interpretation and I think it came off beautifully. To honour my respect for Marilyn and Alan Bergman, I chose to include one of their songs "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life." I sang this song to my wife Lily on our wedding day and the lyrics explain it all. She has remained my best friend, my partner and understands what this business is all about (and it ain't easy). Thanks to my sons Chase and Jeremy for their love and support Thanks to everyone at Justin Time Records, J.P. Leduc and all. I'll keep the faxes and e-mails coming. It has been a long, hard road, but I loved all the songs along the way and all the great players that have surrounded me. I thank them all and I hope that you enjoy listening to this CD as much as I enjoyed singing it I gave it my all. In closing, I want to dedicate this CD to Mr. "S," Frank Sinatra, who encouraged me and always did all he could to keep me singing. He was the best agent I ever had. A special thanks to his dear friend and mine, Jilly Rizzo, who was always supportive and encouraging. You are missed. I know that I speak for all of us. I also want to thank Mrs. Barbara Sinatra and Frank's personal assistant for over 30 years, Dorothy Uhlmann, who was always there for my peers and me. Lastly, special thanks to Izzy Asper and David Foster for their thoughtfulness and support Straight Ahead, Kenny Colman. |
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