The Chris Humphrey Big Band

FROM EJAZZNEWS.COM

CD Reviews: Chris Humphrey-"Nothing But Blue Sky"

Posted by: editor on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 07:57 AM

Glenn Astarita

CD-2007 Cadence Jazz Records

These days, it seems that male and female jazz vocalists are sprouting up faster than weeds going through concrete. But to some extent, the post-bop milieu has perhaps run its course as well. Here, educator/arranger and vocalist Chris Humphrey's debut record offers a proverbial breathe of aromatic air that goes against the norm. Yet he doesn't reinvent the norm. On the contrary, the vocalist sings these largely; standard works with a sense of ownership. With a crack rhythm section providing sympathetic and at times frisky support, the vocalist sings these works as though he's not merely reciting verse into a studio mic.

Humphrey's windswept lyricism on "Solitude," is wondrously complemented by pianist Mark Shilansky's lush chord progressions. As the respective musicians, stoke up a bit of sentiment with a sense that they live and breathe the song's connotations. They alter the flow with a loose-vibe, on Monk's bop classic "In Walked Bud," where the vocalist scat's and directs the band through various configurations of the primary theme.

Overall, diversity is a key success factor, witnessed on Jobim's "One Note Samba," and other pieces built on variable pulses. Regardless, Humphrey generates a forward-moving impetus with warmly uttered overtones amid radiantly entertaining qualities that translate into proclamations of good cheer! --- Glenn Astarita

FROM PORTLAND PRESS HERALD

Humphrey puts his voice into jazz CD

By AIMSEL L. PONTI

July 30, 2007

First, let's set the scene. Picture a rainy Sunday morning. You've slept a little late, the coffee's on and you're sporting your favorite bathrobe. Your next-door neighbor just brought you a bag of baked goods from Standard. Three different Sunday papers are intermingled across the living room floor as you peruse travel sections and see what's happening with Dilbert.

It's at this moment that you waltz yourself over to the stereo, switch it on and slide the new Chris Humphrey onto the tray. You press play and by the time you've made it back to the couch with a warmup in your coffee mug, you hear yourself singing right along with Chris as he puts his imprint on Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now."

The piano from Mark Shilansky is mellow; yet lively. Matt Wilson's snare keeps a gentle beat and Martin Wind's bass is the song's heartbeat.

Yes, it's a rainy Sunday morning and nothing but jazz will do.

Chris Humphrey lives in Kennebunk with his lyricist wife Jennifer and their two kids, Anna and Jackson, both of whom have songs named after them on the album.

He's been over the moon about jazz for most of his 40 years, specializing in vocals and composing. At present, he's director of music at Cheverus High School and is adjunct faculty with the University of Southern Maine's music program.

"Nothing But Blue Sky" (Cadence Jazz Records) is his debut and he can put a well-earned feather in his cap for his efforts.

Humphrey aims to use his voice as an instrument, and my ears tell me he's done just that, and then some. Two songs in, this is prevalent as he makes his way through Thelonious Monk's "Friday the 13th."The lyrics were written by Jennifer Humphrey and here's a line. "You put your foot out the door; it started pouring like cats and dogs a way you've not seen before. You sipped your joe and you choked you reached to pick up the The New York Times and found it totally soaked. You ran but missed the last train the boss said man if you're late again your job would be down the drain."

Wind's bowed bass solo adds panache to the number, and halfway through the song's six minutes, Humphrey breaks into scat.

"If I Should Lose You" starts off as a piano ballad that Humphrey first arranged back in the 90's for the University of New Hampshire Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Shilansky's piano floats and bounces through the song and is further propelled with bass, drums and more scatting from Humphrey.

The first of three originals on the album is "Anna's Song (Safe in my Arms)," which is guided by soft piano and the soothing sound of bowed bass. The song, or rather lullaby, was written by the Humphreys for their daughter, who was born four months after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. "Angel of mine sent from heaven on high, each song I'll sing to you a sweet lullaby; holding you gently in my arms, you will never come to harm," sings Humphrey, while Shilansky's piano permeates the song with further emotion.

A personal favorite of mine on this album is "Swingin' Til the Girls Come Home," which was composed by Oscar Pettiford with lyrics from Jon Hendricks. It's a playful, up-tempo number with plenty of scat, and a showcase for the chops of Wind on bass. Meanwhile, Wilson keeps a crazy beat on drums.

Two other standouts are Monk's "In Walked Bud" and "One Note Samba," the well-known bossa nova tune from Antonio Carlos Jobim and Mendonca Newton.

To learn more about Chris Humphrey and to purchase "Nothing But Blue Sky," mosey on over to www.chrishumphrey.net.

Aimsel Ponti is a Portland freelance writer. She can be reached at:

aimselponti@yahoo.com

Greetings,

First, thanks for sending out "Nothing But Blue Sky" so quickly – received it today.  Second, I rarely sit down and listen to a new CD from start to finish but this evening as I was opening the packages of CD's that came in the mail (16 today) I opened yours first and popped it in the CD player.  I just finished listening and I'm totally impressed.  "Nothing But Blue Sky" has all the qualities that attracted me to jazz in the first place but is missing from most of the recordings being released today.  This disc is fun, hip, original, intimate and it swings.  Tomorrow I will be calling my friends at Cadence to order half a dozen copies to send to some dear friends who complain loudly about the state of jazz 2007.  I'm looking at the pile of CD's that came today – that I've yet to open – they can wait a while longer...I want to listen to the new Chris Humphrey record again.

Be well,

Doug Moody

"Moody's Mood"

KMFB-FM

Fort Bragg, California

Excellent vocal album with a great repertoire of songs, there are some great solos from the accompanying musicians of the trio, most notably the pianist who gets chances here and there to deploy his talent. Chris Humphrey has definitely put up a great album here: one track from 'nothing but blue sky' will be featured in one of my programmes due in September. Pascal Dorban 'Jazz.com' programme Radio ARA, Luxembourg

Fabulous music and great intimate arrangements make this musical project a must have for your enjoyment. A wonderful mix of standard and original compositions to tantalize your musical pallete. Leon Reyes KVMR Radio 89.5 FM Nevada City/Sacramento Ca Host: Leon's Jazz In A Box