ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE

Songbook Inc

This album is full of beautiful music, soothing music, beginning with the opening number on disc one of two discs, “Moonlight Serenade.”  This beautiful ballad calms and sooths.

However, this music is meant to reflect a world at war; An economy in ruins with citizens fighting for basic human rights. Propaganda deployed. Tension everywhere; uncertainty, loss, fear and political unrest. This probably mirrors a typical July morning in 2026. Surprisingly, this music reflects the world of the 1930s, 1940s and World War 11.

Here is an anthology album, the brainchild of Suzanne Wakdowski, who has been committed to presenting jazz for over a decade. She hopes this album will counter the gloom that shrouds today’s world by accentuating the positive. It seems that humanity keeps repeating ‘crazy.’ The title of her project is borrowed from a Connie Haynes hit record back in 1945, “Accentuate the Positive.”

During the production of this album, Ken Peplowski was a major influence. Sadly, during the final hours of this album production, Ken unexpectedly passed away. Suzanne called on a long string of talented vocalists to sing on her project along with some awesome musicians. They regrouped and completed the album as a testament to both Ken Peplowski and Wakdowski’s determination. The result is music that transmits happiness and joy with well-written arrangements. This album celebrates big band brilliance and lyrical excellence. In some respects, it’s the soundtrack of America. Some of these songs are one hundred years old.

You will hear a plethora of wonderful vocals. Two discs of recordings celebrate America’s musical legacy. It’s an important part of the 250-year celebration of our nation.

The familiar “Stompin’ at the Savoy” is performed with joy by Kate Kortum, with the bass player dances under the groove, laying down a solid walk with the improvised piano solo soaring.

Other vocalists joining this project are stars like Jane Monheit who sings, “Look for the Silver Lining.” Wyatt Michael croons “Too Marvelous for Words” and singer Gretje Angell smoothly interprets the Ellington standard, “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear from Me.”

Robbie Lee performs “Makin’ Whoopee” and “You’d be so Nice to Come Home to” with his unique stylized vocals. The drums introduce an up-tempo rendition of “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” that features the beauty of Ken Peplowski’s clarinet solo. Ken began playing clarinet professionally in Ohio at age ten as part of his family’s polka band. Later Peplowski joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and made quite a name for himself.

On disc two, you will enjoy the unique voices of Olivia Chindamo on “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” and Nicki Parrott singing the old favorite, “Our Love is Here to Stay.” Some of these voices were new to me like, Tahira Clayton swinging her way through “A Fine Romance” and Alphonso Horne’s tenor voice shuffling lyrically across the slow swing arrangement of “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”  The trumpet solo made this tune come alive. Angela Grey sings “I’ll Be Seeing You” with tremolo coloring her tone and reminding me in a small way of Esther Phillips. The title tune is arranged as a shuffle blues.

THE ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE PLAYERS: Champian Fulton, Konrad Paszkduzki, Bryan Reeder,

Phillip Granley, & Robbie Lee , Piano; Håkon Bjørge, Kevin Congleton, Mike Gurrola, Ilya Osachuk, & Dylan Shamat, Bass; Charles Ruggiero, Aaron Kimmel, Dag Markhus, Drums; Ken Peplowski & Felix Peikli, Clarinet: Klas Lindquist, Alto Sax; LEAD SINGERS: Gretje Angell, Olivia Chindamo, Tahira Clayton, Angela Grey, Renee Lubin-Holmes, Alphonso Horne, Kate Kortum, Robbie Lee, Wyatt Michael, Jane Monheit, Nicki Parrott, Byron Stripling & Lucy Wijnands. Norwegian Jazz Orchestra, strings.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

 

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