JazznSamba CDs

JazznSamba CDs
POSTCARD (1996) & Christmas Card (1997)

"The sound on jazznsamba's new release, POSTCARD, is amazing...unusually pristine, astonishingly intimate...Shaw has never sounded better. POSTCARD is a brilliant piece of work."
- Stephen Pedersen, Halifax Chronicle Herald

"By blurring the edges of pop and jazz, the group...will attract neophyte listeners while coyly delivering the goods to hard-core jazz fans."
- Ron Foley MacDonald, The Halifax Daily News

"...a fine blend of two great traditions...You can easily sense the happy spirit and generous three-way interplay at work here. Recommended."
- Lois Moody, The Jazz News

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When In Rome: (Coleman/Leigh) The first track we recorded with the full band. A great tune with clever lyrics that really swings.
Breakfast Samba: (Paul) East Coast Samba (Nova Scotia meets Brazil).
Hey John: (Blossom Dearie) The wonderful singer/pianist Blossom Dearie wrote this for John Lennon after meeting him at her gig in New York. I listened endlessly to the music of Lennon and McCartney while growing up, so this song has special meaning for me.
When Your Lover Has Gone: (E.A. Swan) This arrangement is the result of the bossa nova influence which brings out the darkness inherent in bereft loneliness.
You and the Night and the Music: (Dietz/Schwartz) One of my favourite tunes, inspired by the Bill Evans Quintet version with Freddie Hubbard.
For Billy and Duke: (Skip Beckwith) Murley's tenor saxophone beautifully captures the essence of Skip's classic jazz ballad tribute.
Postcard: (Paul) A blend of jazz and samba from the sea.
Dindi: (Antonio Carlos Jobim) I fell in love with this ballad when I was first introduced to Brazilian music in the 70's by the recordings of Flora Purim. It's still the most romantic song I've ever heard.
The Skip: (Skip Beckwith) A bit of a "jazz thrash".
Waters of March: (Jobim) Another lovely composition by the Brazilian master, Antonio Carlos Jobim, full of haunting lyric imagery.
Clichés: (Passman/Danko/Ross) A "cool blues" in 3/4 in the key of G flat. De rigueur.
Loads of Love: (Richard Rogers) The quintessential "chick singer" number. Loads of fun!
A Ghost of a Chance: (Young/Washington/Crosby) A great jazz ballad co-written by one of my earliest musical influences, Bing Crosby.
Baby You Should Know It: (Tucker/Dorough) A verbose blues by another NY based singer/pianist, Bob Dorough.

Kathie Claire Shaw

POSTCARD
Featuring the JazznSamba Trio
with special guests
Mike Murley: Saxophones
Anil Sharma: Drums
Tom Roach: Percussion
All arrangements by JazznSamba
Produced by Skip Beckwith
Recorded and Mixed by Al Strickland
Digital Preparation by Kurt Hahn
Mixed and Digitally Mastered at Kurt's, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Cover photo-painting "Love Letters From The Sea" by Carol Kennedy
Design and Prepress Production by ArtPlus Advertising Ltd.
Executive Producer: Stephen MacDonald
Promotional photography by Steve Shewchuk

Reviews of POSTCARD

Christmas Card is a JazznSamba sampler of exciting, original arrangements and interpretations of five favourite Christmas songs as well as a beautiful new ballad written especially for this CD. What could be more appropriate for a relaxing evening with friends and family, decorating the Christmas tree, enjoying a mug of mulled wine, or just dreaming by the fire on Christmas Eve than this new CD from JazznSamba? Following on the heels of their critically-acclaimed debut release POSTCARD, the aptly-named Christmas Card contains six seasonal gems, sparkling with originality while remaining true to the tradition of these wonderful classic Christmas songs.

"...enterprising versions of traditional and sacred tunes that pass the acid test: you might still want to play them after Boxing Day...a pleasing half-hour of just six songs from sweet-voiced Kathie Claire Shaw..."
-Geoff Chapman, The Toronto Star
"Paul's nylon-string guitar work meshes magnificently with Skip Beckwith's expert bass figures...What distinguishes jazznsamba is the joy of playing that informs every track."
-Ron Foley MacDonald, Halifax Daily News

"...Kathie Claire Shaw's voice, Paul's guitar and Skip Beckwith's bass
glow with the brightness of heavenly bodies."
-Stephen Pedersen, The Halifax Chronicle-Herald

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JazznSamba's Christmas Card contains a version of "Jingle Bells" that breathes new life and energy into this old chestnut, invoking nearly-forgotten images of a flying sleigh-ride on a crisp, starry night ...their reading of "Let It Snow", with Kathie Claire's intimate vocals and Mike Murley's warm tenor sax sets the tone for romance by the fire... their arrangement of "We Three Kings" (with unique vocal harmonies) is brilliant, a fitting tribute to the mystery and wonder of this timeless carol and the miracle of Christmas...
...a bossa-nova style interpretation of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" brings out the wistful sweetness of this all-time favourite song... romping through an up-tempo, jazzy treatment of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (32") highlights the band at its swinging best, with all the joy of kids having fun at Christmas... and finally, a brand-new ballad destined to become a Christmas Classic, "The Best of Christmas" (33") (music by Skip Beckwith, lyrics by JazznSamba) tells of the happiness found in being home with friends and family for the joyous season, and delivers the essence of the message of this CD: a wish for Christmas cheer for one and all this year.

Christmas Card was recorded October 1997 at
"The Cape House on the Hill" near Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada
Produced by Bill Garrett and Skip Beckwith
Recorded and mixed by David W. Hillier, Bill Garrett and Skip Beckwith
Special guest artists: Mike Murley, saxophones; Anil Sharma, drums
All arrangements by JazznSamba
Design and Prepress Production: Artplus Advertising Ltd.
Promotional photography by Steve Shewchuk
National Promotion by Jane Harbury Publicity, Toronto, Canada

Reviews of Christmas Card

POSTCARD and Christmas Card are available at HMV, Sam The Record Man, and other fine record stores across Canada, and by calling toll-free 1-800-JOE-RADIO.