Barnes & Cabasso Music artist: Cheryl Barnes - Listen To This - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Listen To This, from Cheryl Barnes and although not my primary fare, a well done jazz/blues release none the less. Opening with a jazz swinger, Like Jazz Barnes shows that she has the voice to carry off classic jazz singing. Joined by John Hammond on piano, Phillip Cabasso on bass, and James Hughart on drums this track sets the pace for this release. That Afternoon In Harlem has a cool syncopation and breezy piano work by Joel Scott complimented by Wali Ali on guitar and Carl Saunders on trumpet this track is strong. On classic ballad, Why Did I Choose You?, Barnes shows her more expressive side in the delicate execution of this well done track. Hammond is back on piano with Rahn Coleman. Title track, Listen To This is a full blown swinger with full orchestration. Cabasso on piano and Hughart on on drums are joined by a full house of horns like Nolan Shaheed on trumpet solo, Rickey Woodard on sax solo, Jamie Horvorka, James Ford and Brian Swartz on trumpet, Francisco Torres, Wendell Kelly, Ryan Dragon and Steve Hughes on trombone and Katisse Buckingham, Justo Almario, Kirsten Edkins and Brandon Fields on sax. On I Wish You Love, Fred Jackson lays down a really nice sax solo supplementing Barnes well phrased vocals. Joni Mitchell's Come In From The Cold, has a nice rearrangement and with a different style of vocal altogether, Barnes with Cabasso on piano and Woodard on sax makes for a new experience. What's On Your Mind has a light funky under beat compliments of Coleman on drums and Rickey Minor on bass. A looser singing style nicely compliments this track and keyboard punctuation by Cabasso adds a nice punch. What's Fair In Love is a somber ballad with a haunting melody. Muted trumpet work by Shaheed adds a nice jewel in a very relaxing track. Wrapping the track is a jazzy upbeat Merry, Merry Christmas To You; perfect for the season. A light poppy track with piano and orchestration and featuring the child voices of Emilana Robinson, Dewain Robinson and Dominic Robinson.

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