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August 2023 MBR The Library CD Shelf

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Midwest Book Review

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Sep 1, 2023, 12:40:55 AM9/1/23
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The Library CD Shelf

Let All Who Will
Chris Pierce
https://www.chrispierce.com
Calabama Recordings
$TBA

Los Angeles singer/songwriter Chris Pierce dares to create country music about the harsh realities of being black in America, including the hardships of discrimination, injustice, and the increased risk of being murdered. Pierces' newest album is Let All Who Will, a music CD of original compositions that shine a light on the specter of racial violence, and emphasize that justice and compassion are the only hope for America as a nation. Most songs are co-created by Chris Pierce; other co-creators include Sam Hollander, Mark Malone, Sunny War, Kaveh Rastegar, Siddhartha Khosla, and Adrianne Gonzalez ("Drive" is written solely by Ric Ocasek). One of the most standout songs is the unforgettable "Tulsa Town" about the notorious Tulsa, Oklahoma race massacre of 1921, during which white rioters conducted a systematic pogrom of murder and destruction against black people. Let All Who Will is soulful, deeply principled, and worthy of the highest recommendation for country music connoisseurs and public library music CD collections. The tracks are Batten Down the Hatches, 45 Jukebox, Overdue, Meet Me at the Bottom, Tulsa Town, Mr. McMartin, American Silence (Revisited), Sidney Poitier, Time Bomb, Home, Magic and Light, Get Yourself Right, We Can Always Come Back To This, Drive, and Ain't No Better Time.

High Hopes
Kane Kalas
Centerpoint Records
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1JGGH9V

High Hopes is the debut album of Kane Kalas, a classically trained crooner. Named after the timeless Sinatra song, High Hopes features 18 original arrangements of beloved songs from the American Standards genre. Over fifty musicians were commissioned for the orchestra and chorus; High Hopes does not use any computer-generated instrumentation. High Hopes is a silky smooth dulcet performance, highly recommended for personal and public library collections, and also makes an excellent gift. The tracks are Take Me Out to the Ballgame, All of Me, I've Never Been in Love Before, On the Way to Cape May, Luck Be a Lady, French Foreign Legion, This Is the Moment, Guys and Dolls, On the Street Where You Live, High Hopes, You Make Me Feel So Young, If Ever I Would Leave You, The Way You Look Tonight, Fugue for Tinhorns, Eagles' Victory Song, Edelweiss, Bridge Over Troubled Water, and Goodnight My Someone.

Putumayo Presents Bossa Nova
Putumayo
https://www.putumayo.com
$14.98 CD / $9.95 digital

https://www.putumayo.com/bossa-nova-cd

Putumayo Presents Bossa Nova is a music CD with download card of song selections chosen to evoke the beautiful and romantic beaches of Brazil. The songs are each performed by different, up-and-coming music artists, who add their own flair to the Portuguese lyrics. Putumayo Presents Bossa Nova is perfect for getting into the spirit of a carefree and joyous summer, and treat for connoisseurs of Brazilian musical styles. Highly recommended, especially for world music collections. The tracks are Blue Bossa, Quando Falas Coracao, Ondas, Canto das Tres Racas, Provas de Amor, Manha de Carnaval, Meu Mundo e Hoje, Danca da Dolidao, Te Esperei, and Comeca com S.

Compass
Will Clements
willclemmusic.ca
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $TBA digital

https://willclements.bandcamp.com/album/compass

Compass is the third album by jazz vocalist Will Clements. He composed the majority of the album's songs, and performs them with support from Alvin Brendan on guitar, Miles Black on piano and keyboards, Jodi Proznick on bass, Todd Steward on drums, and more. The songs' themes include the journey to maturity, love from a queer perspective, and vibrance of Montreal itself. Compass is a standout contribution to modern jazz, highly recommended. The tracks are On a Clear Day, Trails (feat. Allison Au on saxophone), Compass, Your Eyes (feat. Rachel Therrien on trumpet and flugelhorn), Seaglider, Walkin' with Cool Style (feat. Atley King on vibraphone), Montreal, Interlude, Back to Black (Winehouse/Ronson), and Lookout.

A Moment in Time
Olivia Maisel
www.oliviamaisel.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $7.92 MP3

https://oliviamaisel.hearnow.com/a-moment-in-time

Montreal-based vocalist Olivia Maisel presents her debut album A Moment in Time, a beautiful selection of classic songs from the Great American Songbook that collectively embody the story of her journey. Her dulcet vocals are accompanied by Thelonius Garcia on piano, Luc Herrmann on guitar, Alex Le Blanc on upright bass, John Buck on drums, and for specific tracks, Noemy Braun on cello and Sergiu Popa on accordion. A moment in time is a passionate, sparkling, and wondrous performance, distinguishing Olivia Maisel as a rising talent, and highly recommended especially for jazz connoisseurs. The tracks are Crazy He Calls Me, My Foolish Heart, The Nearness of You, Send in the Clowns, Easy to Love, Embraceable You, Que Reste-t-il De Nos Amours?, and Last Time for Love.

A Life Well Lived
Daryl Mosley
www.darylmosley.com
Pinecastle Records
www.pinecastlemusic.com
$14.99 CD

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Well-Lived-Daryl-Mosley/dp/B0C4Q6JSQJ

https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-life-well-lived/1688747002

A Life Well Lived is the third solo album by award-winning bluegrass country music performer Daryl Mosley. The songs cherish the foundational values of faith, family, and the joys of simple living. Thoughtful and heartwarming, A Life Well Lived is highly recommended especially for fans of bluegrass and gospel-inspired music. The tracks are A Life Well Lived, Back When We Were Boys, Walking Man, Big God, Mayberry State of Mind, Working Man's Prayer, We Need More of That, The Bible in the Drawer, Nobody But Her, Hillbilly Graham, and Thankful.

New Beginning
Nic Vardanega
nicvardanega.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $7.92 MP3

https://www.amazon.com/New-Beginning-Nic-Vardanega/dp/B0C4XHPFYS

Guitarist and composer Nic Vardanega, whose award nominations include "Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year", presents his third original album New Beginning. All compositions are original works by Nic Vardanega, and performed as a trio with Nic on guitar, Ben Allison on bass, and Allan Mednard on drums. The jazz songs of New Beginning are dedicated to the dawn of a post-pandemic world and the birth of Nic's first child. New Beginning is captivating, inspirational, uplifting, and highly recommended. The tracks are New Beginning, Cardenas, Side Effects, Looking Back, Inner Episode, Glass Moon, Summers, and M's Lullaby.

Spirit of 3, Spirit of 4
Jon Menges
Menges Music
www.mengesmusic.com
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C87K44LH

Jazz musician and Jon Menges and his talented associates present Spirit of 3, Spirit of 4, a music album that showcases two ensembles - one a trio (Jon Menges on trumpet and flugelhorn, Pete McCann on guitar, and Evan Gregor on bass) and one a quartet (Jon Menges on trumpet and flugelhorn, Nathan Childers on tenor and soprano sax, Joe Fitzgerald on bass, and Robert Weiss). All songs are Jon Menges' original compositions. An extraordinary showcase of different jazz traditions, drawn from a wide variety of inspirations, Spirit of 3, Spirit of 4 is a choice pick for stimulating creativity and highly recommended for both personal and public library collections. The tracks are (Spirit of 3 Trio) Anchor in the Path, Stairs, Tree of Hope, Angelynne, Turning Point, Walk Into My Heart, (Spirit of 4 Quartet) Coqui, Focus, Heartbreak, Mina Buta, The Spirit Within, and Somethin.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

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The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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