Here's to Life

Here's to Life Artist: Obie Jessie
Label: Jazz Family
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 808739010129
EAN: 0808739010129
ASIN: B00006IZLX


Release Date: 2002-10-08

Related Categories:

General General
Related | Jazz | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Pop | Styles | Music
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Related | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Tracks:

  1. Trane Home
  2. See The Dolphin Dance
  3. Inside
  4. Caravan
  5. Everytime We Say Goodbye
  6. Blues Straight Ahead
  7. All Ancient Things Are New
  8. Here's To Life
  9. A Better Day
  10. Jazz Family

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars What a Voice.......2004-04-24

Aside from some of the electronic gimmickry that is apparent on some tracks, Obie Jessie makes a personal statement. His work is clearly that of experience from a traditional jazz/blues performance background. He is confident, personable and knows how to handle this music.

The uptempo tunes swing, the ballads are warm and frank, and his lyrics fit him like an expensive suit.

His vocal range appears to be somewhere between a 2nd tenor and an earthmoving baritone. As in "See the Dolphin Dance" he may open a tune in a lower register and close out in a voice an octave higher. As he briskly maneuvers within his accompanyment, he manages to shift from low to higher registers like a Caddy shifting into a passing gear. One may wince at some of his risk taking, but he knows what he's doing; and risks keep the work true to its spontaneously inventive nature.

My favorite selections here are Trane Home, Inside, Bues Straight Ahead, A Better Day and Dolphin Dance. Some purists may take points for the backing vocals and the sparse, though evident electonic effects in the mix. For me, the voice is center stage.

It is a favorite on my radio program WEAA-FM and all I can do is wonder why I haven't heard more of him sooner. In a world smothered with smooth-jazz, "Here's To Life" is a tourch carrier for
the traditional sound and spirit of jazz.

Music CD:

  1. Jazz for Kids, On The Road
  2. Dixieland Praise ~ David B. Hooten & Bob Snyder
  3. Sings It Could Happen to You (20 Bit Mastering) ~ Chet Baker
  4. Dizzy's World ~ Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars
  5. Get Lei'd! ~ Johann Sebastian Bork
  6. East Coast Stroll ~ Dick Berk
  7. Time Signatures: A Career Retrospective ~ Dave Brubeck
  8. Talk of the Town ~ Coleman Hawkins
  9. Joe Henderson: Inner Urge ~ Jamey Aebersold
  10. Eddie Higgins ~ Eddie Higgins Trio

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

B.O.X. ~ B.O.X. [Beyond Ordinary X-istence]

Dirty Thangs ~ Libretto

A Drug for All Seasons ~ F5

Double Play: Great Hits - First Impressions / "2" ~ Olivia Newton-John

Gerald Collier ~ Gerald Collier

Best of Hall & Oates ~ Hall & Oates

How to Deal (Remixes) ~ Frankie J

Lady (Hear Me Tonight) ~ Modjo

Based on a True Story ~ Skinny Pimp & The Committee

This Thing of Ours ~ Tha Nostra