by Charlie Barnett | Aug 3, 2012 | News, Press, Uncategorized
Chaise Lounge is still hitting the Jazz Charts!
NIGHT TRAIN
Nightly on KMUW FM 89.1, Wichita – Ranked Top 20 nationally AQH Share/Top 30 Cume Rating
Jazzweek and Roots Music Report Jazz Chart Reporter
Chris Heim – Host/Producer
More information at: http://www.kmuw.org/index.php/programs/night_train/
NIGHT TRAIN JULY TOP 40
- Curtis Fuller – Down Home (Capri)
- Kate McGarry – Girl Talk (Palmetto)
- Jazz Soul Seven – Impressions of Curtis Mayfield (BFM Jazz)
- Virginia Mayhew Quartet – Mary Lou Williams: The Next 100 Years (Renma)
- Duke Ellington Legacy – Single Petal of A Rose (Renma)
- Bela Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio – Across the Imaginary Divide (Rounder)
- Shawnn Monteiro – To Carmen with Love (Whaling City Sound)
- David Liebman/Nancy Reed – Neighbors (VectorDisc)
- Eric Reed – The Baddest Monk (Savant)
- Halie Loren – Heart First (Justin Time)
- Brad Mehldau – Ode (Nonesuch)
- Brazilian Trio – Conselacao (Motema)
- John Brown – Quiet Time (Brown Boulevard)
- Stacey Kent – Dreamer in Concert (Blue Note)
- Steve Kuhn – Wisteria (ECM)
- Chris Hazelton Trio – Peregrination (Artists Recording Collective)
- Florian Hoefner Group – Songs Without Words (OA2)
- Stephanie Nakasian & the Harris Simon Trio – Show Me The Way (Capri)
- Scott Cossu – Jazz, Boogie and Deja Blues (Summit)
- Pat Metheny – Unity Band (Nonesuch)
- Cory Weeds – Up A Step (Cellar Live)
- Mike Freeman ZonaVibe – The Vibesman (VOF)
- Jessica Williams – Songs of Earth (Origin)
- Tessa Souter – Beyond the Blue (Motema)
- Joe Chambers – Moving Pictures Orchestra (Savant)
- Three Voices – Transitions (Summit)
- Joe Locke/Geoffrey Keezer Group – Signing (Motema)
- Tony Monaco – Celebration (Chicken Coop)
- Mary Stallings – Don’t Look Back (High Note)
- Dirty Dozen Brass Band – Twenty Dozen (Savoy Jazz)
- Eddie Gomez – Per Sempre (BFM Jazz)
- Carol Saboya – Belezas (AAM)
- Grant Geissman – Bop! Bang! Boom! (Futurism)
- Kenny Garrett – Seeds from the Underground (Mack Avenue)
- Bria Skonberg – So Is The Day (Random Act)
- Nick Moran Trio – No time Like Now (Manor Sound)
- Chaise Lounge – Insomnia (Modern Songbook)
- Larry Willis – This Time The Dream’s On Me (High Note)
- Arturo Sandoval – Dear Diz (Concord)
- David Reinhardt Trio – Colombe (Cristal)
by Charlie Barnett | May 14, 2012 | News, Press, Reviews, Uncategorized
Chaise Lounge – Insomnia
Trying to get the decks cleared before the next overseas trip. Much to write about, and much to load onto the ‘pod for that 14-hour Pacific flight.
Chaise Lounge – Insomnia
(Modern Songbook)
Released – April 2012
This is a unique group of musicians – hell, they had me at the quote from Mr. Barnett – “We wear suits—it’s a stylish damn band.” From somewhere between Washington (the right coast one) and Baltimore, the sextet describes themselves as fresh out of a 1962 recording studio. Not just any recording studio, but the famed Capitol Recording Studios.
If you’re going to make the comparison, make it a good one.
Luckily, the band lives up to its hype on this disc of a dozen tunes – nine originals, plus Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Bali Ha’i,” Arlen and Harburg’s “If I Only Had A Brain,” and a version of “Ode to Billie Jo” that matches the band’s Marilyn Older channeling Bobbie Gentry’s voice. Except imagine Blood, Sweat and Tears as the backing band.
The words and music for the originals come from Charlie Barnett, with a list of 50 credits as a film composer. He’s able to craft lyrics (“Houdini”) like, “I need a man, not a magician | I’ve got the keys in the ignition.”
But it’s the skill of Ms. Older, whose charm comes from being able to throw off Mr. Barnett’s lyrical punchlines with the charm of a gifted straight man. Feisty, but familiar, she’s everywoman, with great lines like “The truth is you’ll be bummin’ | cause you’ll never see it comin’ | I’m going to ruin your day.”
And that’s from probably my favorite track on the disc – the bonus track – the unlisted “I’m Going To Ruin Your Day,” which apparently isn’t available as a download, only on the physical CD.
Of it, Mr. Barnett says, “I just loved the idea of writing a waltz, not even a particularly hip jazz waltz, but an old-fashioned lovey-dovey-style waltz, and having it contain a lyric of true spitefulness. In the space at top of the score, to the left—where a composer usually writes something like “andante” or “slowly, with feeling” — I wrote ‘peevish.’”
And Ms. Older plays it beautifully. Her charm comes from her style, warm and simple, able to handle not just peevish, but also the blues and a romantic ballad with class. No wonder she was nominated as one of Washington DC’s best jazz vocalists.
Yes, it is. In addition to Ms. Older, Mr. Barnett on Guitar and piano, Tommy Barrick on Drums, Gary Gregg on sax, clarinet and flute, John Jensen on trombone, and Pete Ostle on bass and tuba.
Class act, this. Very highly recommended.
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by Charlie Barnett | May 7, 2012 | News, Reviews
Insomnia on Vinyl
Chaise Lounge – INSOMNIA: We’ve certainly all suffered a night or two when sleep was elusive, but as you groove to the title track opener, “Insomnia“, the groove will automatically have you counting sheep (or nymphs, if you prefer – lol). When the crew hits the full-boogie tilt of “43 Good Excuses“, you’ll be reminded of every late-nite diner along route 66, I’ve no doubt. An even dozen stories in song that will keep you eternally awake as you let the buzz flow through your headphones. There’s a real original feel on the jazzy & upbeat tunes that I found very attractive. Strangely enough, I found Chaise’s rendition of “Ode To Billie Joe” to be my favorite… “bouncy” is the keyword. These folks get a definite HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from my ears, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.96. Get more information at the Chaise Lounge website. Rotcod Zzaj
Chaise Lounge – Insomnia
Of it, Mr. Barnett says, “I just loved the idea of writing a waltz, not even a particularly hip jazz waltz, but an old-fashioned lovey-dovey-style waltz, and having it contain a lyric of true spitefulness. In the space at top of the score, to the left—where a composer usually writes something like “andante” or “slowly, with feeling” — I wrote ‘peevish.’”
