A GREAT RECORDING - DEFINITELY HER BEST TO DATE
author: CAM MILLER in the AMERICAN RAG
KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING – “CHOICE CUTS” by Cam Miller
in the AMERICAN RAG, July 2003
The question is not how do you keep the music playing, but how can you not appreciate the talent God gave gifted vocalist Claudette Stone? Put simply, the gal can sing up a storm,and does, whether it’s in live performance with husband Dick Johnson’s Mardi Gras Band, or on recordings, such as this one.
The popular Stone gets top billing, as well she should, but the Mardi Gras Band is first rank, too.
The ensemble includes such worthies as trombonist Brad Hammett, bassist Mickey Bennett and guitarist Charlie Robinson as well as pianist Tom Shove, drummer Ron Jones, and Johnson, who plays trumpet. And add tenor saxophonist Howard Dudune to the list, who more than fills the shoes of MGB regular reedman Ed Schmalz on this outing.
Now that the table’s been set, what’s on the musical menu? Ballads mainly – mostly from the Great American Songbook – and two freshly written songs that in time also could become standards given the proper exposure. They are personable Rich O’Day’s “Night Flight To Love” and Stone’s “I Really Care About You.” Not only are the melodies appealing but both O’Day and Stone are also able lyricists.
Spinning the disc, you’ll also find Dudune sharing the spotlight with Stone on “Teach Me Tonight,” Stone and Robinson chasing the melody of “My Romance,” and Stone wrapping her heart in words for “When I Fall In Love,” with Shove contributing a thoughtful solo.
Other entries include Stone’s particularly fetching versions of the romantic “Stella By Starlight” and the bouncy “Let’s Fall In Love” as well as Stephen Sondheim’s dark but beautiful “Send In The Clowns.” Just as impressive is the way Stone, accompanied solely by Shove, captures the bittersweet intent of Larry Hart’s lyrics he wrote for partner Richard Rodgers’ “Bewitched.”
While love songs dominate the program, Stone and friends go the Shearing route for a loping “Lullaby Of Birdland.” In her reading of “It Don’t Mean A Thing” Stone opens with a scat chorus before leaping into Ellington’s familiar lyrics that have been amended slightly to draw attention of Jones’ tasteful timekeeping.
As for those glorious arrangements, they were contributed by Johnson and Robinson and go a long way in making the recording the best yet by the silken-voiced Stone.
GRADE: A+
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AN UNSOLICITED REVIEW FROM GERMANY
author: DIRK BINSAU
Claudette Stone with Dick Johnson's Mardi Gras Band
HOW DO YOU KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING
Every once in a while there comes along a songstress who just knows how to sing a song in a way that you just sit there and instantly believe, what she's singing and you don't doubt that this singer has experienced all the trouble she sings about.Claudette Stone is just one of these songstresses. A great deal of this credibility is certainly based on the fact that Claudette isn't your average promising new kid on the block. In fact she may be a little too old for today's youth-orientated music market to get signed by a major label, but that's the loss of the mainstream, that - unfortunately - may never hear of Claudette, not our loss.Most of the songs on How Do You Keep The Music Playing are more or less well-known jazz standards with I Really Care About You being the sole original composition by Claudette herself. And since her own contribution really fits perfectly into the mood she creates here with the chosen songs, one wonders why she hasn't written more songs to show to a greater extent that she's not only a brilliant singer but can also write good songs. Like any real good singer should do, Claudette makes each cover version her own, so you don't say 'ah, I know this one from Billie, Ella or Sarah'.The overall feeling of this album is a very pleasant journey into jazz music's heyday when every band has its 'Red Hot Mama' even though Claudette sings songs that were written between 1928 and 1982. Just listen to Claudette's wonderful renditions of Gershwin's The Man I Love, which starts like a ballad and then turns into a fine swinging tune that gives the song a new direction. Or take Claudette's version of Washington's/Young's Stella By Starlight...literally, I could name any song here, whether it's the old chestnut When I Fall In Love, Lullaby Of Birdland (with some nice but uncredited vibes), Bewitched or the swing classic per se It Don't Mean A Thing or any other of the 15 songs here.Of course this CD wouldn't be so good if Claudette wasn't accompanied by some equally good musicans who know how to play their instruments. The music is played by Dick Johnson's Mardi Gras Band with Dick Johnson on trumpet, Brad Hammett (Trombone), Charlie Robinson (guitar), Howard Dudune (tenor saxophone), Tom Shove (piano), Mickey Bennett (bass) and Ron Jones (drums). And the band's motto 'Quality and Entertainment' is well achieved on this fine album.If you're a fan of classic vocal jazz sung by a woman, who really knows how to handle a tune, then you should get Claudette Stone's How You Keep The Music Playing.(for more information and sound samples visit mardigrasband.com and cdbaby.com)
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Stone’s convincing presentation is thought provoking and emotion stirring
author: HARVEY BARKIN in THE L.A. JAZZ SCENE
REVIEW OF CLAUDETTE STONE’S LATEST
HOW DO YOU KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING
By Harvey Barkin
L.A. Jazz Scene, August 2003
A year in preparation, this latest Claudette Stone CD contains fresh, unhurried presentations of songs written between the late 1920s and the early 1980s. Authors include the Gershwins, Stephen Sondheim, Michel Legrand (album title song), Marilyn and Alan Bergman, Rick O’Day, Rogers and Hart, Duke Ellington, Sammy Cahn, and George Shearing. Featuring vocalist Claudette Stone with Dick Johnson’s Mardi Gras Band, attention to detail is evident with innovative arrangements that showcase Stone’s marvelous voice and her ability to tell the story. Her vocals are well used to call attention to the intention and meaning of the lyrics.
Stone’s convincing presentation is thought provoking and emotion stirring. At times accompaniment or lead-in with a single instrument is effective, creating an intimate feel. Most band members are given room to shine during this 66 minute CD. Particularly Charlie Robinson outdid himself with superb guitar work on several cuts. Others in this outstanding band are: Dick Johnson, leader/trumpet; Brad Hammett, trombone; Howard Dudune, tenor; Tom Shove, piano; Mickey Bennett, bass; and Ron Jones, drums.
Even with a thoughtful understatement on some arrangements, there is a lush feel to the work. During any discussion of Claudette Stone’s singing, the adjective “classy” always comes to mind. She is a jewel of a vocalist here, put into an enhancing setting with songs of a wonderful time of music. Tunes are, “How Do You Keep The Music Playing”, “Teach Me Tonight,” “Stella By Starlight,” The Man I Love,” “Night Flight To Love,” “I Really Care About You,” “Secret Love,” “My Romance,” “When I Fall In Love,” “Send In The Clowns,” “What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life,” “Bewitched,” “Lullaby Of Birdland,” and “It Don’t Mean A Thing”.
HOW DO YOU KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING? Iformation from www.mardigrasband.com. Or 2141 Perkins Way, Sacramento, CA 95818.
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