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:

Marina Pacowski is a French songstress who transplanted to Los Angeles in 2017.  This project showcases the composer mastery of the late trumpeter, Carl Saunders.

Pacowski is also an awesome pianist and has toured extensively in Europe, performing in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.  In fact, she teaches private lessons in Los Angeles of piano and she offers vocal jazz improv classes.

One thing you notice right away is how intricate and melodic the compositions of Carl Saunders are.  His music is brilliant.  Pacowski was first introduced to Saunders when trombonist, Scott Whitfield brought her to his home for a private jam session.

“Carl was known for his demanding standards. I was thrilled that I was welcomed into a very special inner circle of fellow artist and friends,” Marina Pacowski shared in her press package.

She opens with “August in New York” because Pacowski loves the joyful, swinging arrangement and the great lyrics by Pat Tuzzolino.  This tune also gives her an opportunity to step up and showcase her impressive scat-singing talents.  She and trumpeter Ron Stout trade fours briefly.

Track #2 is a tribute to Carl Saunders’ favorite dessert, “High on Blueberry Pie.” This tune has special meaning to Pacowski, because the first time she heard it, Carl Saunders actually sang it to her while she played piano.  Speaking of the piano, Josh Nelson takes an awesome solo during this song.

Alan Bergman penned the lyrics for the Saunders’ tune “Theme for Jobim.”  Pacowski is quite creative when spontaneously singing a brand new melody during her smooth scat presentation. She seems to think like a horn player. Larry Koonse enters the scene on his always brilliant guitar, soloing over the lilting moderate tempo tune. Pacowski has surrounded herself with some of the best jazz musicians in Los Angeles, including Scott Whitfield on trombone who plays as smooth as velvet.

Every song on this album is a diamond in the raw, just begging the music community to expose it’s glittering beauty to a wider audience.  What a blessing for Marina Pacowski to get this wonderful opportunity to vocally introduce Carl Saunder’s music.

Her former release was titled “Inner Urge” on Summit Records.

On “Feels Like Home” I am intrigued by the wonderful melody and the John Clayton opening introduction using his magic bass.  His bow is like the magician’s wand, hypnotizing our attention with an amazing solo entry.  When Marina Pacowski’s soprano vocals enter, her high tones against Clayton’s rich bass accompaniment is stunning.  I had to play this one twice. When Josh Nelson joins the arrangement, he repeats the melody on piano. This tune is so beautiful it takes my breath away.

Pacowski swings hard on “Is That Asking Too Much?”  She is a scat-master on this blues. The band jumps in with gusto and features Rickey Woodard on tenor saxophone. Everybody wants a piece of this tune. Josh Nelson takes a turn improvising wildly, followed by master bass man, John Clayton. The legendary Roy McCurdy takes a noteworthy drum solo, before the vocalist re-enters to close the tune out with her scat singing.

Every song on this album is a journey into the mind and genius of Carl Saunders. The music is grandly presented by a group of his close friends and features the talented vocalist, Ms. Marina Pacowski.

– Dee Dee McNeil for Making A Scene

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

REVIEW: