LAUREN SCALES, MIKE FLANAGAN, CHRIS GRASSO

MANY RIVERS

Truth Revolution Recording Collective

Lauren Scales, vocals/composer; Mike Flanagan, alto saxophone; Chris Grasso, piano; Luques Curtis, bass; Richie Barshay &Charles Haynes, drums; Steve Davis Trombone.

Lauren Scales has the voice of an angel.  She floats above the bass line of Luques Curtis and the alto saxophone of Mike Flanagan.  The musicians begin the tune, laying down a groove with drummer Charles Haynes as a toe-tapping introduction to a song called “Spanish Joint.” Surprisingly it was written and first recorded by R&B singer/songwriter D’Angelo.  The group members say they are enamored by the music and songwriting of D’Angelo.

Track #2 is a Neil Diamond tune called “Play Me.” Surprisingly, it doesn’t sound pop at all.  Lauren Scales and her ensemble put a jazzy touch on this composition with wonderful lyrics.

“You are the sun, I am the moon, you are the words, I am the tune, Play me.”

But Lauren clearly makes a jazz statement when she interprets the Thelonious Monk tune “You Know Who (I Mean You).”  Her crystal-clear tones hit those intervals like a horn player or a pianist.  She doesn’t slide to any notes.  She goes directly to the tone, showing off skill and good pitch. Often, she harmonizes with the horn licks. Chris Grasso shows off his piano skills after the trombone of Steve Davis takes a stellar solo.

“We do have a small population of people here who are really into jazz, but then we have a lot of people who just want to be entertained,” Grasso explains in their press package.

Their next tune on the album is the Jimmy Van Heusen lovely ballad, “But Beautiful.” Lauren Scales shows us that she is a jazz vocalist who knows how to emotionally embellish a song.  Her harmonic choices are interesting and uniquely hers.  I appreciate that. The band covers a tune written by Jimmy Cliff, “Many Rivers to Cross” with Lauren coming in towards the end with the lyrics.

In the next breath, she covers a Nancy Wilson hit song, “Never Will I Marry” composed by Frank Loesser. Scales adds her own scat-singing to the mix. The vocalist has composed two songs for this album.  One is “Find A Way” that settles the music down to a slow boil.  Mike Flanagan’s alto saxophone sings sweet and sounds sexy at the top of the tune. Lauren Scales caresses the words with her sweet voice.  It was a song written to her man when she was moving from Michigan to New York, and he was flying to work in Southern California. The distance challenged their relationship. But they did find a way, and now are happily married. Grammy winner, Luques Curtis offers us a tasty bass solo before Flanagan returns on his alto to improvise back into the original song.

There is something for everyone in this production.  “Many Rivers” is a group that touches hearts and minds with their repertoire and excellence of talent. Their project bridges geography, genres and culture. Flanagan and Grasso are rooted in Provincetown, MA, and Laruen Scales brings her midwestern roots to the party, along with first call drummers Richie Barshay and Charles Haynes. Steve Davis is on Trombone and Grammy award-winning bassist, Luques Curtis adds zest to the project.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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