James O'Malley - I'm Ready

http://www.jamesomalley.org/index.htm

James O'Malley is a sophisticated singer/songwriter whose
verbal skills, detached but enchanting delivery, stirring wit and storytelling skills ranked him among the best of his genre. The sound of this CD is of softly sculpted silvery guitar sounds with engaging airy vocals. O'Malley philosophical, quiet, but confident approach could open the door for a new generation of singer-songwriters, just as Norah Jones open the door of soft jazz sounds to a pop audience. When I first discovered this album earlier this year, it was during a particularly tumultuous (yet poignant and memorable) period in my life, and every time I pull out this CD the songs just hit me right in the gut and flood me with memories. Whatever mood you happen to be in, at least one of "I'm Ready" tracks has you covered. From sweet to bittersweet James O'Malley will break your heart or make you smile from ear to ear and everything in between. What a joyous discovery this CD is. I truly hope that he continues to write and give us all more wonderful, unique, and intriguing bits of music for many, many years to come. Review by Earnest Woodall

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GEORGE WINSTON
"Night Divides the Day: The Music of the Doors"

http://www.dancingcat.com/dancingcat/about-winston.shtml

Solo pianist George Winston takes on The Doors in this recording that fails as often as it succeeds. The big question forme is, would Jim Morrison approve?To me George Winston and Jim Morrison seem so opposite to each other - Morrison was the self-styled "Lizard King" and was widely known for his excesses and exploration of the dark side of the human psyche, where Winston performs live in his sox and plaid flannel shirts, and considers himself to be more of a new age folkie. The raw power and energy of the doors isn't always reflected on this disc and I believe this isn't the way most people would want their Doors. It's no secret that George isn't a great technician, and you can hear the flaws whenever he remains true to the melody, especially replicating Robbie Krieger's guitar lines. The recording does have some soul, and Winston makes you feel that he's using the music as a starting point for his own art. Notably "Crystal Ship," which he expands into a gorgeous meditation. Some songs are just perfect for Winston and he makes his best points with "Riders on the Storm," "Wishful, Sinful" and "Love Me Two Times." It is amazing what George Winston has done with this music for solo piano. Since Winston released the trilogy of albums Autumn, December, and Winter Into Spring, which have been all very successful, he is doing what many musicians attempt to do; experiment, and at times in this disc this experiment failed. A quintessential example of George Winston's "folk piano" style is his recording "December" which was recorded nineteen years ago, it is still by far my favorite George Winston. Recorded when "new age" music was barely emerging and Windham Hill was an experimental artists' label, this is one of a handful of albums that show just how good the music was when artists had more control of what went onto their albums. "December" speaks to the spirit of the season. Mixing traditional carols, a couple of classical works, and his own originals, Winston drops notes with icy clarity into a winter silence, rippling through "Carol of Bells" and coaxing dark, introspective moods from his own suite, "Night." This recording is a must have. But "Night Divides the Day: The Music of the Doors" is an experiment. Review by Earnest Woodall

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The acoustic jazz sound of E.S.T. also known as the Esbjvrn Svensson Trio seems certain to build a solid following of music lovers. This Swedish group latest to land on North American shores is led by pianist Svensson. The classic trio's sound is deeply inspired in the jazz tradition of such artist as Bill Evans. But while nobody's gonna confuse E.S.T. with Medeski, Martin, Wood, they do bring eclectic influences like progressive rock and acid jazz to the table. With this said some of the tracks have a raucously funky feel and other times an techno-inspired meltdown. I must say this is a nice welcome twist of contemporary musical styles. The trio may be a little too jazzy for the easy listening crowd and a little too arty for jazz traditionalists, but all will find something uniquely wonderful in E.S.T.. Review by Earnest Woodall

http://www.sonymusic.com/artists/est/bio.html

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