Cherry Avenue, features a joint venture between singer Kevin
Bachelder and drummer Jason Lee Bruns.This is an exceptional collaboration focusing on the two most important
elements of music, melody (Bachelder) and time/rhythm (Bruns). Bachelder owns a wide ranging tenor voice that
is presented in various styles: swing (straight-ahead and modern), blues, latin,
and even pop/easy listening.Bruns’
solid and creative drum work is the glue that holds Cherry Avenue together.Bruns’ accompaniment skills are top notch and
his brush work is stellar.
Highlights include: “Dear Prudence,” "Send in the
Clowns," and "Ain’t No Sunshine." The later finds Bachelder scatting
in the vein of Jon Hendricks and Kurt Elling. On a more traditional note, the swinging
numbers that are examples of excellent jazz are: “My Romance” (Bruns’ brush
work is excellent), “Autumn Leaves” and “Like Someone in Love.” Also, their original
“Cherry Avenue” is a great ending selection and really showcases Bachelder’s
melodic delivery in both presenting the melody and scatting a cohesive
solo.Well done guys; we are wanting
more albums soon!
Players: Kevin Bachelder:vocals, trumpet (#4); Daniel Szabo: piano; Angelo Metz: guitars; Ron Blake: trumpet, flügelhorn; Kim Richmond: soprano sax, alto sax, clarinet; Jacques Voyemant: trombone; Edwin Livingston: upright acoustic bass; Jason Lee Bruns: drum set, bandleader; Brandon Fields: tenor sax (#10).
Tracks: 1. My Romance (3:17); 2. Autumn Leaves (4:07); 3. I Fall in Love Too Easily (4:29);4. Waters of March(4:03); 5. Dear Prudence (3:44); 6. Send in the Clowns (4:07);7. Like Someone in Love (3:55); 8. It Didn’t Workout That Way (5:47); 9. Ain’t No Sunshine (3:29); 10. Cherry Avenue (3:48).
