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Supporting the Jazz Genre and The 4 Land's Region of Central Europe |
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Michael Franks - Time Together
Artist : Michael Franks
Album : Time Together
Year : 2011
Label : Shanachie |
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Personnel : Michael Franks : Composer & Vocals | Chuck Loeb : Guitar | Will Lee : Bass | Wolfgang Haffner : Drums | Eric Marienthal : Alto Sax | Till Broenner : Trumpet | Gil Goldstein : Piano | Romero Lubambo : Guitar | Mike Maneiri : Vibraphone | David Mann : Sax | Mark Egan : Fretless Bass | Veronica Nunn - Vocals | Carmen Cuesta : Background Vocals and others.
The first time I heard Michael Franks was his tribute song to Antonio Carlos Jobim ' Antonio's Song ' from his ' Sleeping Gypsy ' set in 1977, being a fan of bossa nova endeared me to this soft, melodic compostion by a man who is quite unique in-as-much, he could be regarded as a poet as well as a songwriter. Indeed poetry was to become a part of his education at the University High in San Diego where he grew up. His interest in poet Theodore Roethke coupled with his English studies at UCLA and later literature studies earned him a Masters Degree from the University of Oregon in 1968.
His early musical education was quite simple with a handful of guitar lessons at aged 14,
but his discovery of artists such as Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Miles Davis would sew the seeds of a recording career which would span from 1973 until present.
The album which I play most of all from him is the 2011 Shanachie released ' Time Together ' collection which has a stellar line up of wonderful musicians on his 17th album release.
The artists mentioned above compliment beautifully these crafted songs which were produced by Chuck Loeb, Gil Goldstein, Scott Petito, Charles Blenzig and Mark Egan, the use of so many creative musicians and talents results in a wonderfully balanced and creative collection of songs.
To first time listeners to Michael Franks you might be forgiven for thinking ' What's all the fuss about ? ' he is not the greatest singer, BUT once you have listened to the number of tracks by this maestro as I have you will soon realize that singing is just the tip of the iceberg and that the real message and talent is in the lyrics of his music and in the case of this album ' Time Together ', the wonderful lyrics, instrumentation and arrangements.
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Please continue in the next column |
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