Jul 20, 2023
At age 92 years old, vibraphonist Terry Gibbs was still a musical force when he recorded 92 Years Young Jammin’ at the Gibbs House (Whaling City Sound, 2017). His son, drummer Gerry Gibbs, paid homage to him with Songs from My Father(Whaling City Sound, 2021) with the Thrasher Dream Trio band. As for this recording for his father, Gerry Gibbs says, “Recording this record with my Pops will always be so memorable because it will be his last work.” Accordingly, at the ripe age of 98 years old, Terry Gibbs has released the last album of his storied career and life with The Terry Gibbs Songbook, recorded and performed by the Terry Gibbs Legacy Band featuring Gerry and an all-star cast of players including saxophonist Scott Hamilton and vocalist Danny Bacher, who fit the bill to the tee.
Having an outstanding reed section to work with, the challenge became how to feature each player by giving them proper solo space on each track. The Brazilian flavored opener, “Let’s Go To Rio,” features Ranier on the first solo with Allen and Hamilton on two choruses of eight bars each. The following “Those Eyes, Those Lips, That Nose, That Face, That Girl,” has Allen and Hamilton supporting Bacher on vocals.
One beautiful ballad played to the heart is the gorgeous “I Was Loved,” with Hamilton doing the love solos all by himself as the vocalist displays his warmth and soul, letting it all hang out. The tempo changes dramatically on the perky “Now’s The Time To Groove,” a lively swinging number that has the shoulders moving and the fingers snapping. This is the only piece that features Terry Gibbs on vocals, trading words with Bacher on a cheery, playful piece of music.
There are other memorable songs on this session and one for sure is the melodic “The House That Might Have Been,” featuring Hamilton again on some delicious solo moments. Allen takes center stage on the slow ballad of “Nina.” The boisterous and swinging “I Can Hardly Wait for Saturday Night” has Allen and Hamilton featured on multiple four-bar solos in one of the gyrating pieces of the session.
Two of the outstanding tunes of the album are “And That’s Why They Call It The Blues,” and the swinging “Stay With Me Tonight” which features solos from Ranier, Allen and Hamilton. The Terry Gibbs Songbook is the perfect Swan Song, a final musical gesture from an unforgettable jazz legend whose music will surely live on.
Jul 20, 2023
Whaling City Sound is an independent record label based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1999 by Neal Weiss, a lifelong fan of jazz. The label’s mission is to “provide a viable musical outlet for its abundance of outstanding local musicians.”
The record company has released over 100 albums, featuring a wide range of jazz artists, including Gerry Gibbs, John Abercrombie, Dave Liebman, and Terry Gibbs. The label has also released albums in other genres, such as blues, classical, and world music.
Whaling City Sound is committed to promoting the work of its artists through live performances, radio airplay, and online distribution. The label also hosts an annual jazz festival in New Bedford.
The label is named after the city of New Bedford, which was once the whaling capital of the world. The city’s rich history and culture is reflected in the label’s music, which is often inspired by the sea and the natural world.
Whaling City Sound is a respected independent label that has played a significant role in the promotion of jazz music. The label’s commitment to its artists and its community has helped to make New Bedford a vibrant center for jazz.
Some of the artists who have recorded for Whaling City Sound shown above:
Top Row (left to right)
- Terry Gibbs, Gerry Gibbs, Marcelle Gauvin
Middle Row
- John Abercrombie, John Stein, Dave Liebman
Bottom Row
- Tim Ray, Rale Micic, Cindy Scott
Jul 19, 2023
Based on the 7/20/23 JazzWeek chart The Terry Gibbs Songbook is a timeless tribute to a jazz Legend
The album spans a range of emotions and styles, from upbeat and lively to heartfelt and emotional.
Industry insiders praise Gibbs’ gift for writing melody hooks, and popular New York vocalist Danny Bacher calls the songs “truly ageless.”
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The Terry Gibbs Songbook is a must-listen for Any Jazz Enthusiast
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The album is a fitting tribute to one of the greatest vibraphonists and band leaders of all time.
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Jul 14, 2023
Check out the Terry Gibbs Songbook video promo. Terry takes us through his album, explaining how he picked artists and what their roles are in the album. Terry’s sense of humor makes the video funny and enjoyable to watch. I recommend checking this out if you’re interested.
Jul 12, 2023
The Listening Booth in Lewes, Delaware is delighted to present four very special musicians on Friday, July 21 as part of their concert series. Each year the iconic Falcon Ridge Folk Festival invites “emerging artists” to apply to perform in a showcase at the festival which takes place in Goshen, CT (after many years in Hillsdale, NY). Each year the audience gets to vote for their favorites. There was an amazing group of talented musicians during last summer’s fest and four were selected to return to the fest this summer. As a way of celebrating this feather in all their caps, there is a short tour that goes from Vermont to Massachusetts and then on to Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
The four musicians who are playing include Grace Morrison, Sam Robbins, Erin Ash Sullivan, and Phil Henry. All are excellent songwriters and are fan favorites all over the Northeast. Born and raised on the shores of Cape Cod, Grace Morrison’s unique brand of “saltwater country” has established her as a confident, refreshing voice in country-pop. With performances at Nashville’s Bluebird Café and co-writes with multi-Grammy winner Lori McKenna (Humble and Kind) and hit songwriter Barbara Cloyd (I Guess You Had to be There) under her belt, Grace made a name for herself in 2022 at songwriter festivals from Massachusetts to Montana. During this stretch she gained further recognition and invitations to write with Dana Hunt Black (Check Yes or No), Susan Gibson (Wide Open Spaces), and Billy Montana (Suds in the Bucket).
Sam Robbins is often described as an “old soul singer songwriter.” A Nashville based musician whose music evokes classic 70’s singer songwriters like James Taylor and Neil Young, Sam adds a modern, upbeat edge to the storyteller troubadour persona. An avid performer, he has gained recognition from extensive touring and as one of the six 2021 winners in the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition, one of the largest and most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country.
Singer-songwriter Phil Henry has always believed in making it himself. As a kid, he was never content to only look at art, but instead he had to paint and draw something new. An avid fan of music, Phil studied the masters in music school but was drawn to the DIY pluckiness of folk music. He concentrated on steel-string guitar and writing his first original compositions.The upbeat acoustic rhythm and melodic sensibility and lush instrumental treatment is no carbon-copy of popular or folk radio songs, but is instead an expression of Phil’s individuality and craft.
Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter Erin Ash Sullivans’s initial foray into music was as one-half of the folk duo Edith O. with Amy Speace. After a hiatus to focus on her family and career as an educator, she returned to writing and performing. In May 2021, she released her debut solo album, We Can Hear Each Other, which reached #10 on the FAI DJ Chart; her single, “Fireflies,” reached #8.
The show at The Listening Booth will be an opportunity to get to know these talented musicians up close and person. Founded by an artist, funded and supported by local music lovers, The Listening Booth is already a place that artists truly love to play. The show begins at 7:00 pm and doors open at 6:30 on July 21. Ticket link https://www.listeningbooth.com…
Music industry consultant and publicist Ginny Shea has garnered international exposure for her clients through radio and video promotion, print media, and her vast industry network.