Blu Swing

German jazz vocalist Roger Cicero interpreted the sound and spirit of the swing era for contemporary audiences, upholding the family traditions established by his father, renowned jazz pianist Eugene Cicero…

Set in New York City in the 1930s, Café Society is a 2016 romantic comedy by director Woody Allen, his 47th film. The 15-song soundtrack features a reliable mix of big-band era tunes, with archival recordings such as "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra, as well as eight covers by contemporary outfit Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks, who specialize in early swing. The ensemble also appeared on the soundtrack for the director's 1996 film Everyone Says I Love You (and non-Allen projects such as Boardwalk Empire and The Aviator). Here, they do piano-led instrumentals ranging from a lively "The Lady Is a Tramp" to a graceful take on Rodgers & Hart's "Manhattan." Also newly recorded for the film are versions of "Out of Nowhere" and "This Can't Be Love" by pianist Conal Fowkes, also a prior soundtrack collaborator of Allen's, and a member of the Woody Allen New Orleans Jazz Band.

"What a Wonderful Town" was the motto of the traditional New Year's Eve Concert at the Berlin Philharmonie. The Berliner Philharmoniker, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle along with some of the most sought-after singers in this field including Thomas Hampson, Kim Criswell, Simone Sauphanor and Karl Daymond perform Leonard Bernstein's 'Wonderful Town'. 'Wonderful Town' was the second of Bernstein's trio of 'New York' musicals begun in 1944 with 'On The Town' and completed with 1957's 'West Side Story' and is a love letter to New York in the '30's. Bernstein's score combines witty pastiches of various popular musical styles of the 30s - Conga!, Swing! - and some of his most winning ballads. The program also includes George Gershwin’s songs ‘My Man’s Gone Now’, ‘Ask Me Again’ and ‘Fascinatin’ Rhythm’.

Pasquale Plays Duke, is the second of a three-part trilogy which follows the early 2021 digital release of Solo Ballads. For this particular album he introduces his working trio of bassist Ari Roland and drummer Keith Balla, and is joined by special guest vocalists Samara Joy and Sheila Jordan.

Branching away from standards on her second album Way Down Low, Austin-based jazz vocalist Kat Edmonson also expands her musical worldview, going beyond the sophisticated cabaret of her 2009 debut Take to the Sky and creating a breezy neo-tribute to the swinging '60s. That was the decade that produced Brian Wilson's "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times," one of the few covers on Way Down Low and a sentiment that applies to Edmonson but in a different way. Where the Beach Boy was pining for the days before rock & roll, Edmonson would certainly feel more comfortable in either the '60s or '50s, where bossa nova, swing, and pop mingled happily, as they do here.