Moon & Sand

Gino Vannelli, John Proulx | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Max Jazz Records
• ASIN: B000G1R3B2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #190,915 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

William Claxton

"You can tell immediately that John’s approach to jazz is both new and refreshing."

Product Description

Moon And Sand captivates the listener with the opener: I’ve Never Been In Love Before by Frank Loesser. Proulx displays his wares on voice and piano with a fresh arrangement that sets the pace for what follows. The title track, Moon And Sand, showcases Proulx’s warm voice. The pace slows with a lovely rendition of the song Alice In Wonderland by Sammy Fain and Bob Hilliard. The first of two originals, My Love For You, is a lush ballad with a beautiful melody. Featured on the piano is Tamir Hendelmen, who also co-produced the release with Proulx. The Duke Ellington/Bob Russell composition, Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me, follows with a nice intro by Proulx on vocals and Berghofer on bass. The pace quickens with an Afro-Cuban-infused arrangement of the standard What A Difference A Day Makes by Stanley Adams and Maria Grever. The second original, Stuck In A Dream With Me, features inventive lyrics by K. Lawrence Dunham, who also contributed lyrics to My ! Love For You. Proulx’s impressive voice stands out on this enchanting ballad. The line-up continues with high energy on There Is No Greater Love by Marty Symes and Isham Jones. The group shows energy on this track, which culminates with a fine solo by LaBarbera. I Should Care by Cahn, Stordahl and Weston follows and features swinging solos by Proulx and Berghofer. Cole Porter’s So In Love is a tender arrangement showcasing great harmony by the group. Proulx’s scatting opens the Brooks Bowman composition East of The Sun. The brilliant unison interplay of the group is exhibited on the Cole Porter classic You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To. The session comes to a close with a lovely rendition of I Can’t Make You Love Me by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm a friend of John..., August 1, 2006

By 

Phillip Golub - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moon & Sand (Audio CD)

I'm a personal friend of John Proulx himself. I went to the CD release party about two weeks ago and got the CD then. This guy is very, very, very, very, very, very, very talented. His voice is a rencarnation of Chet Baker's; warm, effortless high range, and smooth. John's piano playing is great too. I took a few lessons with him about a year ago. If you listen to the intro to "I've Never Been In Love Before", he quotes the intro to Horace Silver's "Room 608". John Prolux is a fantastic, very talented musician. By the way, before he talked, he sang!!!!!

Mabye I was just blabbing on and on above, but what I was trying to say is "THIS GUY IS AMAZING!!!!! - DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND BUY THIS ALBUM!!!!!!!"

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If... only.., May 31, 2008

By 

Marc R. Wedner "mayreh" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Moon & Sand (Audio CD)

If this CD consisted only of "What a Diff'rence a Day Made", its release would have been justified. This has got to be the DEFINITIVE CHART covering this tune, with great harmonic choices!!.

Otherwise, i find the tracks all well performed, produced, arranged and accompanied.

A very good listen.

I recommend purchase.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Even Before I Could Talk, I Was Singing", July 22, 2009

By 

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* (CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Moon & Sand (Audio CD)

"I've always loved beautiful melodies and old love songs. That sentiment has carried through in my writing even today." ~ John Proulx ~

Recorded and released in 2006 by Max Jazz Records, "Moon And Sand" is a fine debut album by John Proulx who is obviously one of the finest torch-bearers of the Great American Songbook judging from the album's material. He is not only a promising singer who sings in the tradition of Chet Baker, but also an impressive pianist and award-winning-songwriter. He also reminds me of Kenny Rankin's vocal artistry.

John Clayton, one of the multi-talented musicians in the jazz scene today praises this album by saying: "This introduction from young, talented John Proulx does a great job of showing us what he is about: strong musicianship, great intonation, mellow swing and a soothing, almost vibrato-less Chet Baker like tone quality. Bravo, John!" What a remarkable compliment to a fine musician coming from another fine musician.

The great musicians who lend their expertise and supported Mr. Proulx to make this debut album stand out include Chuck Berghofer on bass, Joe LaBarbera on drums/percussion and producer/pianist Tamir Hendelman.

John Proulx's flair in composing music can be heard on two tracks, "My Love For You" and "Stuck In A Dream With Me." Both songs were co-written with K. Lawrence Dunham. It's also interesting to note that one of his original songs, "These Golden Years," was recorded by Nancy Wilson in "Turned To Blue," winner of Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2007 Grammy Awards. He was also featured as a guest at NPR's Piano Jazz with its host, the First Lady of Jazz Piano, Marian McPartland.

The album's highlights include some of the most enduring standards such as "There Is No Greater Love," "What A Difference A Day Makes" and "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me" as interpreted by John Proulx and his sidemen in the most refreshing and up-to-the-minute settings. And the most striking track is "East of The Sun (And West of The Moon") which is rendered with an impressive one-minute scat singing that makes it a listening delight.

Considering that "even before he could talk, he was singing," I personally feel that this debut album is just the beginning of something big that is bound to happen to his musical and recording journey. His sophomore album, "Baker's Dozen: Remembering Chet Baker," will be released at the end of this month. It is a loving tribute to Chet Baker. I'm absolutely positive that it will be another fine album of standards that is worthy not only to his growing number of fans but Chet Baker fans as well.

Please give this fine debut album your welcoming ears and enjoy his singing style that speaks of vocal refinement, musical elegance and lyrical grace.

Warmly and heartily recommended!