A Special Note: Award winning singer-songwriter Michele Brourman has released the single “God of War,” with lyrics by her longtime writing partner Amanda McBroom, to benefit World Central Kitchen in Ukraine. 
“After watching yet one more power-hungry politician spread havoc throughout our world,” McBroom said, “I needed to reach out, through lyric, to express my anger and sorrow at this continuing dance of death.” Brourman’s haunting music evokes the folk melodies of Eastern Europe, setting them in a soundscape of smoke and chaos. For more info, go to: www.michelebrourman.com/godofwar
Barbra Streisand: Live at the Bon Soir (Columbia) R
ecorded in November 1962, this album marks the first official release of the legendary Greenwich Village Nightclub shows and includes 24 newly mixed performances from the original master tapes in Streisand’s personal collection. The Bon Soir, a small club in New York’s West Village, now long-gone was the the venue that saw an 18-year-old Streisand wow audiences, catapulting her career.
Ella Fitzgerald Live at the Hollywood Bowl: The Irving Berlin Songbook (Verve/UMe ) On August 16, 1958, just a few months after Fitzgerald recorded her now-classic album, Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Irving
Berlin Songbook, The First Lady Of Song performed selections from that album live at the Hollywood Bowl to asold-out crowd. Conducted and arranged by Paul Weston, who also arranged and conducted the studio sessions, this concert marked the only time that Ella performed these arrangements live with a full orchestra. For the first time, the full, never-before-released 15-song performance, discovered in the private collection of producer and Verve Records founder Norman Granz, marks the first time a live Songbook has been released
Berlin Songbook, The First Lady Of Song performed selections from that album live at the Hollywood Bowl to asold-out crowd. Conducted and arranged by Paul Weston, who also arranged and conducted the studio sessions, this concert marked the only time that Ella performed these arrangements live with a full orchestra. For the first time, the full, never-before-released 15-song performance, discovered in the private collection of producer and Verve Records founder Norman Granz, marks the first time a live Songbook has been releasedChristine Ebersole: After the Ball (Club44 Records) This release by the two-time Tony Award winner features American classics by composers and songwriters from Jerome Kern to Joni Mitchell in 
original arrangements by Broadway veteran Lawrence Yurman. Now an empty-nester, nostalgia for her children’s earlier days infuses Ebersole’s interpretations of Billy Barnes’ “I Stayed Too Long at the Fair,” Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields’s “The Way You Look Tonight” and the title track, Charles K. Harris’s “After the Ball.” Through “My Baby Just Cares for Me” and more. The recording features fellow Broadway mainstays Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf on cello, John Benthal on guitar and banjo, and, in Autumn Leaves, Larry Saltzman on guitar
original arrangements by Broadway veteran Lawrence Yurman. Now an empty-nester, nostalgia for her children’s earlier days infuses Ebersole’s interpretations of Billy Barnes’ “I Stayed Too Long at the Fair,” Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields’s “The Way You Look Tonight” and the title track, Charles K. Harris’s “After the Ball.” Through “My Baby Just Cares for Me” and more. The recording features fellow Broadway mainstays Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf on cello, John Benthal on guitar and banjo, and, in Autumn Leaves, Larry Saltzman on guitarVanessa Racci: Jazzy Italian (ZOHO Records) In her second studio recording, New York based singer Racci, revisits songs by Italians and Italian-Americans who 
left their mark on jazz, from Nick LaRocca to Frank Sinatra to Louis Prima, Chick Corea and John Pizzarelli. The pianists-arrangers Steven Feifke and Glafkos Kontemeniotis provide creative horn writing and harmonic and metric alterations to bring even century-old songs into the present. “Racci’s sultry vocal style combines a tart, brassy, catch-in-the-throat sound with Italianate ardor, dramatic flair, and swing.” (James Gavin).
left their mark on jazz, from Nick LaRocca to Frank Sinatra to Louis Prima, Chick Corea and John Pizzarelli. The pianists-arrangers Steven Feifke and Glafkos Kontemeniotis provide creative horn writing and harmonic and metric alterations to bring even century-old songs into the present. “Racci’s sultry vocal style combines a tart, brassy, catch-in-the-throat sound with Italianate ardor, dramatic flair, and swing.” (James Gavin).Eleri Ward: Keep a Tender Distance (Ghostlight Records) War
d’s follow-up to her 2021 Sondheim folk album A Perfect Little Death includes “No One Is Alone” and “Another Hundred People,” plus songs from Merrily We Roll Along, Assassins, Sweeney Todd, Evening Primrose, A Little Night Music and Sunday in the Park With George. Ward’s acoustic covers of Sondheim’s songs received approval from the late Mr. Sondheim himself before his passing. A Perfect Little Death was recorded completely by Ward alone, who arranged each song. This follow-up album has been expanded with strings and other collaborative arrangements.
d’s follow-up to her 2021 Sondheim folk album A Perfect Little Death includes “No One Is Alone” and “Another Hundred People,” plus songs from Merrily We Roll Along, Assassins, Sweeney Todd, Evening Primrose, A Little Night Music and Sunday in the Park With George. Ward’s acoustic covers of Sondheim’s songs received approval from the late Mr. Sondheim himself before his passing. A Perfect Little Death was recorded completely by Ward alone, who arranged each song. This follow-up album has been expanded with strings and other collaborative arrangements.Colin Donnell and Patti Murin: Something Stupid (Broadway Records) Conceived during lockdown, Murin and Donnell engineered their own vocals for the record from their newly formed home studio. The album goes far bey
ond the couple’s musical roots to include a variety of genres and songs by Bruce Springsteen, Sara Bareilles, Jason Robert Brown, Paul Simon and more. The eclectic selection of songs, comprised of solos and duets, touches upon the themes of searching, longing, and finding love. The pair worked with producers Robbie Rozelle and Yasuhiko Fukuoka and Luke Williams on subsequent arrangements and orchestrations to bring the new album to life.
ond the couple’s musical roots to include a variety of genres and songs by Bruce Springsteen, Sara Bareilles, Jason Robert Brown, Paul Simon and more. The eclectic selection of songs, comprised of solos and duets, touches upon the themes of searching, longing, and finding love. The pair worked with producers Robbie Rozelle and Yasuhiko Fukuoka and Luke Williams on subsequent arrangements and orchestrations to bring the new album to life.Claudia Acuña: DUO (Ropeadope) The Chilean singer teams up with Kenny Barron, Christian McBride, Carolina Calvache, Fred Hersch, Regina Carter, Arturo O’Farrill and Russell Malone for a set
of intimate duets. Recorded during a time of personal rebirth for the Latin Grammy-nominated artist, DUO marks an important phase in Acuña’s career as she embarks on a musical journey of reflection and re-dedication. Seven of the songs on DUO come from composers hailing from Chile, Cuba, Argentina and Mexico, as well as one from the great Chick Corea. The final track is Acuña’s sole original composition, and speaks of her relationship with Mother Earth.
of intimate duets. Recorded during a time of personal rebirth for the Latin Grammy-nominated artist, DUO marks an important phase in Acuña’s career as she embarks on a musical journey of reflection and re-dedication. Seven of the songs on DUO come from composers hailing from Chile, Cuba, Argentina and Mexico, as well as one from the great Chick Corea. The final track is Acuña’s sole original composition, and speaks of her relationship with Mother Earth.Kate Baker: Return to Shore (Strikezone) Featuring Baker’s late husband, guitar giant and influential educator Vic Juris, the album chronicles a moving love story, dis
playing some of Juris’ most innovative guitar work along with Baker’s skills as a singing storyteller. Tracks feature renditions of jazz and pop music selections, as well as a collection of original compositions. The origin story of Return to Shore began several years prior to Juris’ untimely passing nearly three years ago, when the husband and wife duo entered engineer Paul Wickliffe’s recording studio to track six of the ten songs that comprise this release. In late December 2019, Juris passed away after a relatively brief battle with nuero-endocrine cancer. When Juris passed, the recordings from earlier that year took on new significance, yielding Return to Shore.
playing some of Juris’ most innovative guitar work along with Baker’s skills as a singing storyteller. Tracks feature renditions of jazz and pop music selections, as well as a collection of original compositions. The origin story of Return to Shore began several years prior to Juris’ untimely passing nearly three years ago, when the husband and wife duo entered engineer Paul Wickliffe’s recording studio to track six of the ten songs that comprise this release. In late December 2019, Juris passed away after a relatively brief battle with nuero-endocrine cancer. When Juris passed, the recordings from earlier that year took on new significance, yielding Return to Shore.Judy Niemack: What’s Love (Sunnyside Records) Following Niemack’s 2018 release New York Stories with pianist Jim McNeely and Danish Radio Big Band, What’s 
Love represents an embrace of the vocalist’s distinctive sound in a collection of original lyrics paired with select standards. Niemack takes to exploring the many varieties of love in her life on each selection, while also seizing an opportunity to explore her vocal range. She is joined by Peter Bernstein on guitar, Sullivan Fortner on piano, Doug Weiss on bass, Joe Farnsworth on drums and Eric Alexander on alto saxophone.
Love represents an embrace of the vocalist’s distinctive sound in a collection of original lyrics paired with select standards. Niemack takes to exploring the many varieties of love in her life on each selection, while also seizing an opportunity to explore her vocal range. She is joined by Peter Bernstein on guitar, Sullivan Fortner on piano, Doug Weiss on bass, Joe Farnsworth on drums and Eric Alexander on alto saxophone.Halie Loren: Live at Cotton Club (Justin Time Records) The award-winning jazz singer-songwriter, whose repertoire is a multi-lingual one, including songs in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese an
d Korean, recorded this CD live at the Cotton Club in Tokyo during her 2015 tour in Japan. Until now, the album has only been available in Japan, Korea and several additional regions in Eastern Asia. The CD features her long-time musical collaborators Matt Treder on piano, Mark Schneider on bass and Brian West on drums. It includes live renditions of some of her most well-loved takes on American Songbook, pop/rock, world music and original pieces, including “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” “Too Darn Hot,” among others.
d Korean, recorded this CD live at the Cotton Club in Tokyo during her 2015 tour in Japan. Until now, the album has only been available in Japan, Korea and several additional regions in Eastern Asia. The CD features her long-time musical collaborators Matt Treder on piano, Mark Schneider on bass and Brian West on drums. It includes live renditions of some of her most well-loved takes on American Songbook, pop/rock, world music and original pieces, including “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” “Too Darn Hot,” among others.Judy Whitmore: Isn’t It Romantic (Arden House Music) On this, her third album, 
Whitmore lends her voice to some of the most iconic tunes of the Great American Songbook. Whitmore was inspired to make an album of standards after speaking with a young man who was completely unfamiliar with the great standards and the composers who created the music. In fact, he had never even heard of Frank Sinatra. Whitmore says, “The music of the Great American Songbook is a joy to sing. The melodies are gorgeous, and the lyrics are deeply expressive. The quality of these standards has stood the test of time. It’s a shame that so many young people don’t know these songs.” Whitmore chose a mix of ballads and swing tune, including “I Remember You,” “Speak Low,” “The Birth of the Blues,” “But Beautiful” and more.
Whitmore lends her voice to some of the most iconic tunes of the Great American Songbook. Whitmore was inspired to make an album of standards after speaking with a young man who was completely unfamiliar with the great standards and the composers who created the music. In fact, he had never even heard of Frank Sinatra. Whitmore says, “The music of the Great American Songbook is a joy to sing. The melodies are gorgeous, and the lyrics are deeply expressive. The quality of these standards has stood the test of time. It’s a shame that so many young people don’t know these songs.” Whitmore chose a mix of ballads and swing tune, including “I Remember You,” “Speak Low,” “The Birth of the Blues,” “But Beautiful” and more. Roberta Donnay: Blossom-ing! (Self-produced) The award-winning singer celebrates the music of Blossom Dearie, whose wispy, delicate voice is the perfect foil for Donnay’s 
own sound. Drawn years ago to Blossom Dearie for her simple but swinging storytelling, the album is a homage to Dearie, capturing her essence, but with Donnay’s own bluesy interpretations. Donnay chose 16 songs associated with Dearie for the album, written by diverse composers and lyricists. They include “Peel Me A Grape,” “Spring In Manhattan,” “Just One Of Those Things” and “The Party’s Over,” among others. Northern California jazz musicians on the album include Mike Greensill (piano), Ruth Davie (bass), Mark Lee (drums), Jose Neto (guitar), David Sturdivant (harmonica) and Los Angeles-based MB Gordy (percussion).
own sound. Drawn years ago to Blossom Dearie for her simple but swinging storytelling, the album is a homage to Dearie, capturing her essence, but with Donnay’s own bluesy interpretations. Donnay chose 16 songs associated with Dearie for the album, written by diverse composers and lyricists. They include “Peel Me A Grape,” “Spring In Manhattan,” “Just One Of Those Things” and “The Party’s Over,” among others. Northern California jazz musicians on the album include Mike Greensill (piano), Ruth Davie (bass), Mark Lee (drums), Jose Neto (guitar), David Sturdivant (harmonica) and Los Angeles-based MB Gordy (percussion).Nica Carrington: Times Like These (Self-produced) Although she has been singing and studying voice since she was a young child, her 
shyness made her feel more comfortable singing in choirs surrounded by others rather than stepping into the spotlight as a solo performer. But now, with this debut album, Carrington steps out front with songs from the Great American Songbook that she learned about from her father’s record collection; the album is also a tribute to him. Her mission was to stay true to the songs but within her own more contemporary style. Tracks include “Skylark,” “Left Alone,” “Here’s To Life” and more.
shyness made her feel more comfortable singing in choirs surrounded by others rather than stepping into the spotlight as a solo performer. But now, with this debut album, Carrington steps out front with songs from the Great American Songbook that she learned about from her father’s record collection; the album is also a tribute to him. Her mission was to stay true to the songs but within her own more contemporary style. Tracks include “Skylark,” “Left Alone,” “Here’s To Life” and more.
