CD Review/ Jazz Loves Disney

jazz_loves_disney_cover

  • Band/Artist: Various Performers
  • Title: Jazz Loves Disney
  • Date: March 18th, 2016
  • Label: Interscope

We all have a Walt Disney cartoon tune or melody in mind, reminding us of magic afternoons spent with our parents when we were kids or with our own children now that we are grown-ups.

I grew up on watching Disney movies every Sunday night and those were the best memories I have. Watching the movies and then listening to the music that was in them. So I was thrilled when I was accepted to listen and review Jazz Loves Disney especially since quite a few of my favorite Disney movies are included in this cd.

I love listening to jazz music but I have to say its not something I listen to all the time so it was nice to add this into the mix this past month. All the artist performing on the cd are all new to me with the exception of Nikki Yanofsky. She is a local Montreal artist.

Jazz Loves Disney was recorded between Paris, London and Los Angeles by a dream cast. It is incredibly coherent, as if all participants had agreed to pay a rightful tribute to the most beautiful and symbolic tunes of Walt Disney’s magic world, as if nothing was too good for the stars when they revisited the classics and the sweet childhood memories connected to them.

Disney has always held a special place in my heart and I love that I now care share my love of Disney movies with my son. We have watched quite a few Disney movies and we both love Pinocchio, Jungle Book and Toy Story, we have watched these multiple times over the years. Sadly he doesn’t share the same love of Lady and The Tramp, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Frozen or Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs but thats okay maybe one day he will.

I always remember how I felt when I watched Disney, and I still get that same feeling of warmth and love. Who else cries during a Disney movie? Disney always had the best movies and you could see it in the production of them.

When it comes to the music in Disney movies they have it down pack thats for sure and its surprising that even though I am much older I still remember the words to the songs. My mother use to always say that after listening to When You Wish Upon A Star I would sing it all the time and I do have memories of when I was a little girl looking out my bedroom window at night and singing that song softly and wishing upon a star. Although I can’t remember what I wished for but I sure its was always something different and probably trivial.

Just recently I have noticed that I catch myself singing Let it Go much to my son’s dismay but I noticed that when I am really stressed and annoyed with things that I sing this under my breath and it honestly helps me get through things and to let things go. Its funny how one song can do that to you.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, you will always love a good Disney movie and I love being able to share that love with my son. You are never too old to watch cartoons and that’s what I want my son to know that you are never too old. I wish I would have kept all my old Disney movies but I am happy that they get released occassionally on DVD.

This cd is the best thing to bring back all those memories from childhood. The cd is fantastic and it stayed true to the orginal Disney songs.

Nikki Yanofsky

“Disney represents my childhood and the way I grew up listening and watching the movies & I used to sing the songs being a kid, I loved it so much. It brings back some really good memories for me so it’s really cool to be part of this project and relive those moments

The Disney movie which affected me the most probably was the Aristocats, that movie was the first time I heard Jazz as a little kid, and I just remember loving the music so much, it was not the most popular movie when I was young but still my favorite one.

“Someday My Prince Will Come” comes from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, I love that movie so much, all the different personalities…”

I was lucky enough to be provided a digit download of Jazz Loves Disney for review. I think this would make a perfect Christmas gift for all those Disney movie lovers.

Track Listing:

1.  Jamie Cullum – “Everybody Wants To Be A Cat” – from The Aristocats

2.  Melody Gardot – “He’s A Tramp” – from Lady And The Tramp

3.  Stacey Kent – “Bibbidi Bobbodo Boo” (French version) – from Cinderella

4.  Gregory Porter – “When You Wish Upon A Star” – from Pinocchio

5.  China Moses – “Why Don’t You Do Right” – from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

6.  Raphaël Gualazzi – “I Wanna Be Like You” – from The Jungle Book

7.  The Rob Mounsey Orchestra – “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” – from Cinderella

8.  Hugh Coltman – “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” – from Toy Story

9.  Anne Sila – “Let It Go” – from Frozen

10.  Melody Gardot & Raphaël Gualazzi – “The Bare Necessities” – from The Jungle Book

11.  Laika – “Once Upon A Dream” – from Sleeping Beauty

12.  Nikki Yanofsky -“Someday My Prince Will Come” – from Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

13. The Hot Sardines – I Wanna Be Like You (French & English version) – from The Jungle Book (US release only)

If you would like to purchase this online you can do so through these two links:

Artist Bios:

Jamie Cullum: http://www.jamiecullum.com/biography
Melody Gardot: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/melody-gardot-mn0000546205/biography
Stacey Kent: https://www.staceykent.com/bio.html
Gregory Porter: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gregory-porter-mn0001682702/biography
China Moses: http://www.chinamoses.com/en/bio/?iframe=no
Raphael Gualazzi: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/raphael-gualazzi-mn0001000844/biography
The Rob Mounsey Orchestra: http://www.robmounsey.com/about.html
Hugh Coltman: http://www.hughcoltman.com/who/
Anne Sila (attached)
Laika: http://www.laika.org/index_alt.shtml#aboutus
Nikki Yanofsky: http://www.nikkiyanofsky.com/#about
The Hot Sardines: https://hotsardines.com/about/

“This is a sponsored post from Disney Music and One2One Network. All opinions are my own.”



CD Review/ Stages by Josh Groban

stages

  • Band/Artist: Josh Groban
  • Title: Stages
  • Date: April 2015
  • Label: Reprise

Stages is Josh Groban’s  7th studio album. Stages consist of 13 songs from well known Broadway plays. He also includes Kelly Clarkson (wow is all I have to say when I heard her sing All I Ask of You), Chris Botti (another favorite of mine) and Audra McDonald who is a Broadway legend.

I have always enjoyed listening to Josh Groban’s music so I was quiet surprised to see that they had Stages available at my local library to borrow. I am currently listening to it for what is probably the tenth time and I have told my family that this is a must for a Christmas gift for me.

I loved all the songs on this especially All I Ask Of You with Kelly Clarkson. Wow is all I can say. I never realized that she could sing like that since I am use to her singing country. She did a beautiful job and Phantom of the Opera is one of my favorite Broadway plays.

Another favorite was Over The Rainbow. I wasn’t sure how it would play out but Josh did an amazing job and I love how he made the song his own while remaining true to the original song.

I loved the songs and I have to say Josh did an amazing job with the selected songs. I don’t know alot of the Broadway plays mentioned and I have to say I am curious and will need to find a way to check them out some of those Broadway Musicals.

This would make the perfect gift for anyone who loves Broadway musicals and/or Josh Groban fans.

Track list:

1. Pure Imagination – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
2. What I Did for Love – A Chorus Line
3. Bring Him Home – Les Miserables
4. Les Temps Des Cathedrales – Notre Dame de Paris
5. All I Ask Of You (duet with Kelly Clarkson) – Phantom of the Opera
6. Try to Remember – The Fantasticks
7. Over the Rainbow – The Wizard of Oz
8. Children Will Listen/Not While I’m Around – Into the Woods/Sweeney Todd
9. You’ll Never Walk Alone – Carousel
10. Old Devil Moon (fet. Chris Botti) – Finians Rainbow
11. Finishing the Hat – Sunday in the Park With George
12. If I Loved You (duet with Audra McDonald) – Carousel
13. Anthem – Chess

CD Review/ The London Sessions by Mary J. Blige

  • Band/Artist: Mary J. Blige
  • Title: The London Sessions
  • Date: December 2, 2014
  • Label: Capital Records

Track Listing
1. Therapy
2. Doubt
3. Not Loving You
4. When You’re Gone
5. Right Now
6. My Loving
7.Long Hard Look
8. Whole Damn Year
9 .Nobody But You
10. Pick Me Up
11. Follow
12. Worth My Time

I was super excited when I was given an advance copy of Mary J. Blige’s newest cd The London Sessions. Mary J. Blige sounds amazing. Each song is so different from the previous one and the whole cd just blends in so well.

I have been listening to this for a little while now and its been playing in the house. I love playing it will I am alone because I can turn it up loud and enjoy it.

I always find it hard to pick a favorite song or two and it was especially hard with this cd because I honestly loved the whole cd. Each song had a different feel and vibe to it. I really did enjoy listening to Doubt because listening to the words I realized that I could relate to them and I gotta get it through my head to stop doubting myself. When You’re Gone made me think of young love and how you realize now how much you appreciate it when its gone. I know it sure made me think about that. I also love Right Now and I have included the video below.

If you know someone who loves Mary J Blige then this would make a perfect gift for them  but I also think if you have a female in your life she would love this because Mary J Blige is a strong woman and a powerful voice. This cd is making it my birthday/Christmas wishlist so that goes to show you how much I love this.

 

itunes-logo

 

amazon_buy_button_2

*Official Mary J Blige Websitewww.maryjblige.com
* Twitter @maryjblige
* Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/maryjblige
* YouTubehttp://bit.ly/MJBVIDEO

I participated in the Mary J Blige The London Sessions album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own.