Friday Evening October 7, 2005 at Founders Hall in the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa, California, Dee Dee Bridgewater opened a two-night, four-set stand as part of the tenth season of the Jazz Club Series. Dee Dee has just released J’ai Deux Amours, a remarkable album from its retro packaging and glamour photography to the eleven very memorable songs sung for the most part in French. The CD includes liner notes of the highest caliber …

Michael Feinstein and George Shearing have just released an album on Concord Records entitled "Hopeless Romantics" [catalog 2152] that combines their unique vocal and piano stylings with the beautiful music of unsung composer, Harry Warren. Michael Feinstein was introduced to Harry Warren by Ira Gershwin, for whom he worked as a secretary. After his introduction, Michael spent many days hanging out with Harry whom he says, "was something of a grandfather and a mentor." …

On June 24, 2005 I had the distinct, pleasant opportunity to speak with composer, pianist Claire Ritter, about her recent album, "Greener Than Blue," and about some current and future projects that she is working on. Prior to speaking with Claire, I listened to the album several times, featuring seventeen original pieces of music, sixteen of which Claire wrote. It is an album that is immediately appealing and that grows more so with each listening. Claire is joined by some remarka …

Julie Hardy is a vocalist who is on a journey to take her chosen instrument to its limit. Using words, phrasing, scatting and vocal instrument duplication to make the voice functions in unique and innovative ways, she is traveling a road that promises to be aurally stunning. Julie’s voice is round, smooth and used with imagination and impressive control. Julie started her musical career as a classical pianist, but in college she discovered that voice is her instrument. Julie studied compositi …

Friends and I were able to catch the first set of a two-night stand by the James Carter Quartet. The jazz at Founder’s Hall is always top-notch, but the James Carter Quartet decided to add some new notches at the top of scale with what was a killer six-song, ninety minute set. James Carter, dressed like he was headed for a GQ fashion shoot, led his fellow musicians on stage carrying an armful of gleaming horns. Drummer Leonard King came on stage sporting an electric smile and dreadlock