New Jazz Standards, Volume 7: The Music Of Carl Saunders – Marina Pacowski

For several years Saunders had been searching for the right artist to feature for the vocal volume of his “New Jazz Standards” series. Upon meeting Marina, the collaboration was solidified. With Carl’s untimely passing it was decided to move forward with this project (with LA’s finest jazz musicians) – Marina Pacowski shines a light on Carl’s catalog!

CARL SAUNDERS: AUG 2, 1942-FEB 25, 2023

GENRE: Jazz/Vocal
COMPOSERS: Carl Saunders, Bobby Sherwood, Frederic Chopin
PRODUCERS: Marina Pacowski, Scott Whitfield, and Ken Poston

The Seventh edition of the late-great Carl Saunders remarkable, extensive songbook; a ‘Volume’ with vocals was always discussed, but didn’t take shape til Saunders passed away thanks to Marina Pacowski and Scott Whitfield who relentlessly put it together w/ LA’s finest crop of musicians!

Marina Pacowski was born in France and is based in Los Angeles. She is a multi-faceted artist: multi-awarded concert pianist, sought after collaborative pianist, and accomplished vocalist. Her previous recording on Summit Records was critically acclaimed by both reviewers and radio. Here she presents the ultimate tribute to the great Carl Saunders with an amazing performance!

Carl’s music, while being beautiful, is also complicated and challenging, both melodically and harmonically.
The influences are impressive. During the ’60s-’80s Carl played with a countless number of show bands, including lead trumpet with Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennet, and Frank Sinatra. Saunders also traveled as a lead player with Paul Anka and Robert Goulet and with such bandleaders as Harry James, Maynard Ferguson, Benny Goodman and Charlie Barnet.

Asked to define jazz, Carl once said, “It’s a combination of intellectual funk and hypnotic swinging”.

Marina Pacowski brings Carl’s music to life in a fabulous way!

PERSONNEL:
Marina Pacowski, voice (1-13), piano (14)
Roy McCurdy, drums (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
John Clayton, bass (1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12)
Josh Nelson, piano (all except 14)
Rickey Woodard, tenor (1, 5, 9, 12) and soprano sax (3, 10)
Ron Stout, trumpet (1, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12)
Larry Koonse, guitar (1, 3, 9, 10, 12)
Ken Wild, bass (2, 3, 9, 10)
Scott Whitfield, trombone (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13)

Special Guests:
John Proulx, voice (8)
Ken Peplowski, clarinet (8)

REVIEW:

LA-based Marina Pacowski shows that she knows her way around town on this recent album. First, all of the tunes are composed by the late great Angeleno trumpeter/composer Carl Saunders. Second, she brings in a who’s who of locals, namely the venerable Roy McCurdy/dr, the almost as venerable John Clayton/b, local legend Josh Nelson/p and Larry Koonse/g and a desert island selection of horn players in Rickey Woodard/ts-ss, Scott Whitfield/tb and RonStout/tp, as well as guests John Proulx/voc, Ken Peplowski/cl and Ken Wild/b.

Her voice is a kind of bold Betty Boop, and she uses it quite well, getting sexy around Clayton and Koonse on a bossa’d “Theme For  Jobim” and pretty with Nelson and Whitfield on a Latin lovered “I Need A Dream”. With the Spartan support of Nelson and Clayton, she agonizes on “Feels Like Home”, and in duet form with Nelson, there is a vulnerable “Alone” and gentle vibrato wafting on “Always In My Heart”. Oh, she can have fun  as well, shuffling with the horns to KC on “Is That Asking Too Much” and slinky with Proulx and Peps  on “Sweet Talk”.  Pacowski promises a fun night out with the local boys. Who’s heading out to Tommy’s Burgers?

-George Harris for Jazz Weekly