Customer Reviews

Moon & Sand

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!!!!!!!"

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.

"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!

Marvelous. John Proulx's voice is soft and smooth. He clearly loves jazz. A must in everyone's collection.

A truly delicious CD

John Proulx is a MAJOR talent in the fine tradition of the fabled Chet Baker.

Some of the best piano jazz in this or any other world from this incredible musician.

Romantic,sexy and a wonderful background to a romantic evening.

A treasure!!

.....looks do not a singer make. While others here may include friends, or cohorts.....or even those in love.....again, that does not this man other than an average vocalist make---at best.

Sorry to say, but all I hear is a voice that too often leans to "mono-tony;" one with a tendancy to stretch for (or avoid) upper level tones, and one that often treads closely to falling off-key.

ON THE OTHER HAND, his pianism IS what his vocalizings are not: spot-on and vivacious (easily worth 4-Stars). While not a jazz afficionado, these two things I can plainly see.....er, hear. Perhaps my fifty-some years of keyboard, vocal and orchestral listening have helped me out here (but, then, what could an average joe like me know).

Best to you, John Proulx.

****

John Proulx's newest CD, Moon and Sand, catches the ear of the traditional jazz vocalist admirer almost automatically. Chuck Berghofer and Joe LaBarbera team up with Proulx's vocal and piano skills and create an impeccable blend of sounds. These sounds simultaneously respect the traditional tunes and Proulx's two originals sound as good as (or better) than many of the traditional writers of songs from the American Popular Songbook. I thoroughly enjoyed this musical work and hope that John Proulx will continue to work hard in creating even greater works of music. I would like to thank all of the artists on this particular CD for their hard work and contributions for those of us who KNOW what quality sounds are!

I'm a jazz purist, but I what like most about this album is that I can play it when I have all my non-jazz fan friends over and they really appreciate it--yet I also really enjoy it myself. The one reviewer below mentioned Chet Baker, but Mr. Proulx's slightly flat, high tenor vibrato-less voice is, to my ears, pretty common in a certain type of jazz-influenced "adult contemporary" pop, which is why my friends like it. The difference, though, is that Proulx has a great, no compromising jazz feel, and his piano playing is strong and straight ahead. My favorites are I Should Care, which contains some really nice harmonic and melodic alterations, and East of the Sun, with its laid-back voice in unison with the piano opening. The one song I really don't care for is "I Can't Make You Love Me," but it is nicely placed at the end of the CD, so I can cut it off while enjoying everything else that came before.

This guys voice is phenomenal. I think the pure quality of his voice would be killed by more vibrato. His voice has that quality that is difficult to describe. It has a pure energy that makes affects you almost immediately, almost physiologically. Buy this album, and if you live in the Los Angeles area catch one of his shows when he gets back from his album release tour. You will not be dissapointed.

But I guess I'd like to hear more vibrato in the voice, especially at the end of notes. As a pro pianist & vocalist and degreed musician, who knows Tamir Hendelman, as well as who has played many times with Tamir's wife, prominent bassist Sherry Luchette, and who has subbed numerous times for prominent pianists Alexandra Caselli and Karen Hernandez, I feel qualified to say that while the CD shows a lot of profiency, it isn't quite novel enough for me - I do respect and admire the talents of all the musicians, however, and hope to put out a CD myself in the next year or two. It is just not a CD I would find myself listening to over and over - nice, with a friendly tone, but I just felt a kind of coolness to it throughout, and I need more warmth in a singer's voice to want to listen again and again. Also - so many singers have cut many of those same tunes, they just seem to be getting worn out. The originals are pleasing, but a little slow for me. Valiant effort, and congrats to John on all his gigs in the major venues. I have a few such gigs but they are fewer and farther between!...So obviously, you have an excellent formula. - Nina B.