01. I Know I've Seen This Thing Before
02. Something's Gotta Give
03. Ela E Carioca
04. Mr. Hooper's Find It In A Minute Book
05. At The End Of The Day
06. You're Makin' Me Crazy
07. For Elizabeth
08. Lament
09. Rock Me To Sleep
10. One Mint Julep
11. You Are There

Musicians:
Rosana Eckert, vocals
Brian Piper, piano
John Adams, bass
Mike Drake, drums
Gary Eckert, percussion
Aaron Kelley, acoustic and electric guitar
Rodney Booth, trumpet and flugelhorn
Chris McGuire, tenor saxophone and flute

There has been a trend for the past number of years of jazz vocalists opting for original compositions primarily and simply peppering their recordings and performances with stray standards. El Paso native Rosana Eckert conforms to this trend with a collection of original and standard compositions that are fresh and sophisticated. Backed by a crack team of Dallas musicians, including percussionist/husband Gary Eckert, Ms. Eckert effortlessly swings with her well-shaped alto and intelligent ear for lyrics.

The opener, "I Know I’ve Seen This Thing Before," penned by the singer and her husband, flows with that jazz perfection one always wishes for in a vocal recording. Ms. Eckert duets first with bassist John Adams, progressively adding the remaining band members, building a quiet tour-de-force. Johnny Mercer’s "Something’s Gotta Give" allows pianist Brian Piper to display his wares in a jaunty fashion. "Ela E Carioca" is a Bossa sway and "Mr. Hooper’s Find It In A Minute Book" a swing-era phonetic and poetic marvel, complete with a growling muted trumpet.

Ms. Eckert’s ballads are uniformly fine. "At the End of the Day" is almost necessarily a lullaby quietly accented with Rodney Booth’s exquisite brass. She accomplishes the same with "Lament," a plaintive and pure melody piece gently driven by the core rhythm section. Two wonderful inclusions are Benny Carter’s "Rock Me To Sleep," which struts the recording stage with a swagger and wink, and "One Mint Julep" which is a fast, rocking piece with no peers on this recording. The piece highlights Aaron Kelley’s electric guitar. Ms. Eckert’s debut recording is an occasion for celebration. It is a well-conceived and well-performed pleasure. ---C. Michael Bailey, allaboutjazz.com

download:   4shared yandex mediafire

back

01. In the Still Of The Night
02. Lost In The Skies
03. Sayin' It Straight
04. This Carousel (The Stalker Song)
05. Dreaming
06. So In Love
07. Rapture
08. Lady Lee
09. Moon And Stars
10. It's Sand, Man
11. There's A Small Hotel

Musicians:
Rosana Eckert (vocals); 
Aaron Kelley (guitar); 
Chris McGuire (clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone); 
Brian Piper (piano, keyboards); 
Mike Drake (drums); 
Gary Eckert (percussion).

With smooth sounds, dynamic spontaneity, exciting rhythms, and a selfless musical sincerity, acclaimed Texas-based jazz singer Rosana Eckert embraces and captivates listeners, taking them on a musical journey that is often described as joyous, breathtaking, and inspiring. Her acclaimed debut CD, At the End of the Day, introduced her to the jazz world not only as a vocalist, but also as a creative composer and arranger. The CD received rave reviews and was a finalist for Best New Jazz Album in the 2006 Independent Music Awards. Guided once again by the creative voice of husband/writer/producer Gary Eckert, her newest CD, Small Hotel showcases Rosana's knack for songwriting and storytelling as well as her ability to breathe new life into beloved standards with her contemporary style. The half-acoustic/half-electric project includes liner notes and a guest appearance by legendary trumpeter Marvin Stamm as well as contributions from renowned arranger Michele Weir and the incomparable Christian McBride on bass. ---amazon.com

download:  4shared yandex mediafire

back