BEST CDs. BEST RECORDINGS: JAZZ                                                                          By Maximillien de Lafayette, Syndicated Columnist

MAESTRA BAILEY: A NATIONAL MUSICAL GEM

Photo: Live from Down Under! Drummer, Andrew Dickeson, Sher and V in Sydney at the Side On Cafe after a gig.
 

From a little dreamer at the age of 13, to a band trumpeter in her high school band, and from recording artist to a jazz teacher at college, Sheryl Bailey had to walk an extra mile, maybe two, three or more. She had to put in print the vast knowledge, experience and virtuosity she developed in the form of training manuals. She had to write some books. The overwhelmingly productive guitar diva came to the rescue. She wrote a magnificent book "“The Chord Rules.” And Sheryl shed some light on the book, "The “Chord Rules” deals with navigating LI-V-I’s, drop—2 voicings, applications for the Jazz Melodic Minor Scale, and other assorted pet topics of mine. The underlying theme of everything is that playing jazz is about creating melodies from harmony. To be able to play changes means melodically interpreting arpeggios. That’s why Charlie Christian changed the jazz line; he created melodies from harmonic shapes. No one really played vertically before him. " This American genius lives and breath jazz.

 And it is so evident in the way she composes, performs, teaches and talks about jazz. For Bailey, a person needs to know his or her history, and nothing in life comes from nothing. Sheryl explains that when we  understand how jazz was created, developed and  has evolved sentimentally, socially, melodically, rhythmically, musically, harmonically, politically and spiritually, we began to feel and sense the immense beauty and wealth of this great American musical heritage. And those guitarists who love jazz, their  playing will take on a new musical wealth, richness and inner beauty. If you want to excel, to become one with jazz and to master  jazz guitar,  you got to learn from this genius diva. Get her books. Read them. And to add an extra dimension to your learning, buy her CDs too. You will have the complete picture. "BULL'S EYES" is a gem. A masterpiece. A monumental musical creativity. No jazz library, discotheque or collection is complete without it. Buy it. You will treasure it for years to come. And if you believe in immortality, this CD will be your music companion for centuries. Maestra Bailey, you are the best. Two thumbs up! -Maximillien de Lafayette         You can contact Ms. Bailey at  sbailey@sherylbailey.com

Photo: Richard Bona Band: Richard Bona, Gilmar Gomes and Sheryl Bailey 2004.
 

POP MUSIC

JANN ARDEN Love Is The Only Soldier (Universal) Jann Arden's seventh album, self-produced and recorded in her basement, is an attractive showcase of the best the Calgary-bred singer has to offer. The songs, mining variations on a light-pop vein, are solidly crafted and tastefully arranged. And a handful of them, including "Four Feet Deep" and the title track, are not only commercially viable enough to merit radio consideration but are better than most of the middlebrow fodder that makes it on to the airwaves. Most consistently impressive is Arden's versatile singing. Whether whispery ("When You Left Me") or fraught with yearning ("Ruby Red"), her voice always carries the ring of conviction.-Vit Wagner

 

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