Sandra Cheatham Nelson

Les rares femmes au pouvoir, dans l'entreprise ou en politique, ont longtemps été considérées avec méfiance. Suspectes "d'être pire que les hommes", d'avoir réussi grâce à une promotion canapé, d'avoir de l'ambition, un gros mot pour le sexe faible. Les réflexes conditionnés ont la peau dure mais ils évoluent au nom du principe de réalité. …

The Kansas City swing blues of the Sweet Baby Blues Band is very difficult not to enjoy. Jeannie Cheatham's exuberant vocals (propelled by her forcefully swinging piano) inspire the many soloists on the blues-oriented material, and there is plenty of variety in tempo and feeling to keep this set continually interesting. Among the main soloists are ageless trumpeter Snooky Young, tenorman Rickey Woodard (making his debut on clarinet on two cuts), and guest altoist Hank Crawford, who sits in on four songs.

For their sixth Concord recording, there was a major change in the personnel of the Cheathams' Sweet Baby Blues Band. Jimmie Noone, Jr. had passed away, and his replacement was the popular tenor Rickey Woodard, who on this set also plays some effective alto and clarinet (the latter on "Buddy Bolden's Blues"). But Woodard is only one of a bunch of colorful soloists, which include pianist/singer Jeannie Cheatham, Jimmy Cheatham on bass trombone, altoist Curtis Peagler, Snooky Young and Nolan Smith on trumpets, baritonist Dinky Morris and guest Frank Wess on tenor and flute. With bassist Red Callender and drummer John "Ironman" Harris keeping the ensembles swinging and driving, this is a particularly memorable set..

This time around, the Cheathams' guest is altoist/singer Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson - a perfect choice, since his ability to play both blues and Kansas City swing/bop is similar to the style of the Sweet Baby Blues Band. Although the emphasis is on swinging blues, there are a few departures, including Jeannie Cheatham's wistful vocal on "Detour Ahead," and a hot instrumental "Homeward Bound." In addition to Vinson and Jeannie (a splendid pianist), soloists include the tenors of Jimmie Noone, Jr. (doubling on clarinet) and Dinky Morris, altoist Curtis Peagler, trumpeter Snooky Young and bass trombonist Jimmy Cheatham. Not to be overlooked are bassist Red Callender and drummer John "Ironman" Harris. But it is the heated and riffing ensembles, along with the pure joy this band generates, that make all of their Concord recordings easily recommended.

These two major French composers abound with evocations to nature, to poetry, and immerse us in a universe of ephemeral sound images.

SANDRA NKAKÉ has found her own new way in a musical land where no one had gone before, her inner soul. Led by her magnificent voice and her partnership with Jî Drû, a new genre is born: moon like land, misty, meditative, delicate and intimate. A perfect combination of arty minimalist songs and NKAKÉ’s powerful voice. TANGERINE MOON WISHES is a concept album, free from the first notes. A shamanic voyage into a reddening and introspective ethereal world clinging to SANDRA NKAKÉ’s voice and breath.

5 years after her last solo album, Sandra Nkaké returns with a fourth album: SCARS. SCARS is a jewel of powerful and organic soul songs that make us travel in weightlessness, suspended in the majestic breath and words of Sandra. His long-awaited return captivates us and takes us into a universe that gives pride of place to the energy of rock, to folk ballads that move from the first notes.