There’s a new songwriter, named J. Frederick Millea, and he’s got a couple artists delivering his material. Read on.
Jazz vocalist Kate Millea takes on fresh songs composed by J. Frederick Millea, backed by a solid team of Glen Berger/wwinds, Phil Finesse/dr, Johnny Hatton/b, Sam Hirsch/p, Fino Roverato/g and Brian Acsenzo/g-mand. Her voice and delivery is breathy and flexible, sounding a bit like Lorraine Feather on the indie sounding “You and I” or Tin Pan Alley coziness of “The Museum”. She tells a nice story with the flutes on “Play On” and wisps with a glisten in her on on the soulful “My Heart Sings”. Fresh forms.
Lady Millea shows up with guest John Millea for singer L.A. Cowboy to deliver more material by J. Frederick Millea, supported by a six member horn section, Claudius Kannbanger/dr, Johnny Hatton /b, Fino Rovertato/g and Sam Hirsch/p. The songs are filled with upbeat bluesy fun ones like “Love Songs” a relaxed night club after h ours “The Museum” and a hep cat 8 beat to the bar “The Big Pitch”. There’s some western swing with hot horns for “Stories To Tell” and a New Orleans groove that doesn’t let up on “Forget About Her.” The good times roll.
Also on the horizon is composer Wesley Stace, telling tales and backed by a rich team of Brian J. Campbell/sax, Danny Cao/tp, David Nagler/key-g-etc, Prairie Prince/dr, Mauro Refosco/per and a handful of guests. He can be a hep cat as he boogaloos on “Where The Bands Are” , with his high baritone working well on the Caribbean “Hey! Director” and samba’d “Everything All the Time” or “All the Yous”. He sounds like a member of the Mamas and Papas on the poppish “The California Fix” while taps into his soul jazz pulse for “Do Nothing If You Can”. Versatile penmanship.