HOT - Pure Imagination

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Charmin & Shapira with Friends – Pure Imagination
2003 Jewel Records
SQ Issue:  Summer 2005, Volume 15, Issue 3 

The Band:
Vocals:  Charmin Michelle; Guitar:  Joel Shapira; Tenor Sax and Flute:  Paul Harper; Bass:   Tom Lewis; Drums:  Nathan Norman
 

“In their debut collaboration, Charmin Michelle and Joel Shapira showcase their unique musical insight into the Great American songbook by exploring it in a highly personalized guitar/vocal duo format.”   --- press release. 

Dancers in the Twin Cities are regularly treated to the swinging sounds of Charmin Michelle.  But her talents go way beyond swing and she explores the depths of her jazz interests with Pure Imagination.   

Teamed with the extremely talented Joel Shapira on guitar, Michelle covers songs from Monk to Johnny Mercer to Cole Porter.  You’ll probably recognize tunes like Night and Day and Love for Sale but this CD goes beyond the common standards that many jazz artists cover.   

Michelle flexes her vocal muscles on Straight, No Chaser a be-bopish Monk tune.  And  Paul Harper’s sax sways the bop rhythm’s to the swingin’ jazz sounds dancers love to hear.   But you’ll also hear Michelle’s soft side with wonderful vocals on You Go to My Head and the title track, just to name a few. 

Joel Shapira is a treat on guitar.  His Joe Pass influenced style keeps the rhythm swingin’ on Dearly Beloved, an uptempo swing tune.  Throughout the CD, he backs Michelle’s vocals wonderfully.  Never overplaying during her singing and showing what he’s got when he solos. 

This album explores the full genre of jazz and doesn’t necessarily swing on every tune.   I found the full out swing tunes that dancers will enjoy dancing to are Love for Sale and  Dearly Beloved.  That being said, you’ll be able to dance to others, including Straight, No Chaser and Night and Day but be forewarned that these songs tend to have rhythm changes including bop and latin.  So, if you are versatile in your dancing that won’t bother you. 

The CD has several ballads, or as I call them, standards, which are wonderfully done.  Beautiful vocals and the haunting strums of the guitar of A Time for Love underscore my point.  You aren’t going to be Lindy Hopping but you will definitely enjoy the music. 

As far as a swing dance CD, you will find only a few songs on this CD suitable.  But if you are a jazz music fan in addition to dance enthusiast, you will not be disappointed in this CD.  Michelle has given us two great swing CDs with Destination Moon and Hot, so it’s only fair we get to enjoy the rest of the package this time around.  Open a bottle of wine, kick off the shoes and allow yourself to be consumed by Michelle’s dreamy vocals and the gentle rhythms of Shapria on this great jazz CD.

Bottom Line:  To buy or not to buy….. BUY!  Here’s how:  http://tcmusic.net/band124cd103.html

Charmin Michelle

 Charmin Michelle - HOT
2001 Charmin Michelle
SQ Issue:  Winter 2001/02, Volume 12, Issue 1

Charmin Michelle featuring Doug Haining and the Twin Cities Seven:
Charmin Michelle – vocals; Doug Haining – saxophone, clarinet; Tim Sullivan – trumpet; John Boblett – trombone; Rick Carlson – piano; Kent Saunders – guitar; Steve Pikal – bass; Gordy Knudtson – drums; Keith Boyles – bass; Dick Bortolussi - drums

It is the year 2001 in the month of October – Autumn in the land of Minnesota lakes.   And Charmin Michelle, via her third CD, pours out her heart and her soul.  If in this bizarre time, these performances by Charmin and her messengers, The Twin Cities Seven, don’t offer comfort and healing, then all is lost. – CD liner notes

Personally, this has been a much anticipated CD release.  Charmin Michelle is one of the premiere jazz singers in the Twin Cities and is adored by swing dancers and jazz fans with two left feet!

Charmin’s selections for this offering will please a wide audience.  There are plenty of ballads, Latin tunes and swing, baby, swing!  The majority of the arrangements are by TC Seven leader Doug Haining with offerings by other local arrangers as well, giving this a very Minnesota flavor.

The musicianship from beginning to end are solid gold.  From Rick Carlson’s piano to Haining’s sax and clarinet to Tim Sullivan’s trumpet and of course, the golden voice of Michelle.  With that being said, my favorites are the swingin’ tunes like Bli Blip, Come on Over to My House, Hungry Blues and the best on the CD, Rock Me to Sleep, a fantastic version of the Benny Carter classic.

There are some hot and fast swingin’ tunes in Them There Eyes and What a Little Moonlight Can Do that will please shag and balboa dancers.  Latin dancers will have fun with this CD as well with several offerings including Close Your Eyes which seems to have a haunting feel of the Latin classic, Caravan.

Overall, I think you are going to be pleased whether you dance or just enjoy great music, jazz or otherwise.  This has crossover appeal and should be in everyone’s personal library.

Bottom Line:  To buy or not to buy….. Oh yeah, BUY THIS ONE!  If you do, here’s how: This is so new that you may have to catch Charmin at a gig but also look for it at local record stores and I’m sure eventually it will be located online at:  www.tcmusic.net.