Hello friends

Today I present you a new review about Jessy J's debut album Tequilla Moon.





The link to the review is

http://www.smooth-jazz.de/starportrait/JessicaJ/Tequillamoon.htm

Have fun

hbh

She hooked up with Paul Brown to do the radio friendly thing so it's really laid back but I've heard she's a really firey player live. This CD was, well, OK. Two hot songs and a bunch of Brown stuff. She's been touring with some smokin' Latin artists too. Hopefully the need to play with such restraint won't be an issue when she does her sophmore project.

It's on my to-do list, but I may pass on it. On first listen, I liked her chops but I agree with Shannon. The Paul Brown factor is way too strong here. If on the next pass I find myself liking 6 or more songs, I'll review it.

I'm a few months late, but I finally bought "Tequila Moon" on Monday and it arrived this afternoon. It's pretty good. The vocal tracks were rather hypnotizing, as if the cover/liner notes shots weren't enough.
As I looked at the thank yous in those liner notes, I noticed something: no mention of a husband. Is she really married, as I remember being discussed late last summer? Or was I incorrect in thinking that?

I'm scaling back my review, which was only after hearing tracks 1 through 4 and 9. Now, I'd say it's satisfactory. Still curious about marital status. I'm not thinking I have a shot. I'm just wondering.

I got to see her with G&S a few weeks ago. This woman is quite a musician. There's more fusion and some straightahead in this verison of G&S and that's where she gets to show her stuff. I hope she gets to play without format boundaries on her next CD. One of the benefits of the format flipping to Lite-er A/C may be that artists do get to play for the audience again!

She is also one of the most gracious, down to earth folks out there.

Why Mike. You sly dog.

Here she performs with Guitars and Saxes last weekend in Detroit...

Probably doesn't wear a ring cause it'll scratch the sax...

Long fingers though!

Photos by Kevin Sanderson

Billy, this brings to mind two questions:
1) Is she married or not? I didn't get a definitive answer.
2) Is she the other sax in Guitars and Saxes? If so, that's what I have to look forward in October at IMAC in addition to Jeff Lorber, Jeff Golub, Peter White, and Gerald Albright.

UPDATE: I guess I shouldn't care about whether or not she's married, but I tend to care when it's someone close to my age.

Hey Mike;

I don't know if she is, or is not married. I thought you'd like the pics.

As far as guitars and saxes, go to http://www.wvmv.com and you can see more guitars and saxes and pics of Jessy, Gerald, Jeff and the whole gang. That may answer 1 of your questions.

They're excellent pictures. Thank you. And don't worry about not knowing the answer.

Mike,

I thought I told you once before.

She is married to Fabio Spinella, a photographer and musician she met while at the University of Southern California.

I hope that clears up this mystery.

Signed,



Eric X. Viccaro
Back and better than ever

I remember now. I was in massive denial. I'm sorry. That'll cut down on my listening.
And I now scale back further in my review: adequate.
That's why I listen to so many male musicians and groups: I won't develop crushes on them and feel stupid about it later. Joyce Cooling is an exception.
And with that, my contribution to this thread is complete. Now, let's please bury the thread with posts to other threads as soon as possible.

Good grief, Mike! Either the music's good or it isn't. Whether or not you have a crush or some vain hope of a fantasy date, it shouldn't dictate how you feel about the CD. I've seen some pretty immature comments made on these boards - guilty of a few myself - but that, by far, is the most juvenile.

I've spoken to Kat. She said there was no reason for me to apologize about what I said. Opinions are opinions, and let it go. I will do the same.

My emotions aside, this is a good album. No dates are necessary, by the way, not even fantasy ones. I'd be out of her league anyway.
Good night, everybody! (I'm walking out on a high note.)

just got back to my computer....

We can all express our opinions, and as long as we abide by the agreement that we "checked" when we registered.... and when opinions are offered with respect, then we have to extend our respect for the view of the person who posted - regardless of whether we are in agreement or not.

On another note - Mike & Woody are long time posters here on the Island, and there has always been mutual respect for each other. From getting to know Mike at the various shows in the tri-state area, I know that Asperger's Syndrome is something that he deals with every day - and as we all know in each of our lives - we all have our good days and our bad days. I also know that Woody has shown a balanced opinion when it comes to reviews.

I think the point of Woody's post was intended to be objective about the down grading of a review based upon our emotional ups and downs and not mean spirited towards Mike's emotions themselves. (Woody did mention that he feels that he himself has posted a few "in the moment" comments, too).

I know that for many who don't follow all the threads - it would be easy to take these comments out of context. But in another thread, it was pointed out:




We should all remember that sometimes the written word comes across much differently than the same words expressed in a conversation. And no.... adding emoticons to a post doesn't convey the intention which is carried by conversational inflection and body language. Please do not jump to conclusions about another boarder's intentions in his/her post.

Some advice - if you can not "accept" someone else's opinion, and you feel the need to argue or have the last word in a thread - then I'd recommend that you slow down your reaction and think about how your written words are coming across before you click that "submit" button.

In speaking with Mike earlier this evening, we talked it thru, and so.... we'll move on to more discussion about Jessy J's music.

Thanks everyone...

And thank you, too, Kat.

A couple more photos....


From Berks, April 5:



From the Smooth Jazz New York Cruise, June 25 (BTW, they're listening to Gerald Albright):

still trying to catch up on hundreds of photos.... I liked this one...




I am finally putting together a portfolio of my work, and as I push thru all of my editing this weekend, the number of photos will probably double.... many more bands to display...not everyone is out there yet.

http://www.myspace.com/nekoproductions

Excellent photos Kat...and for the record, I definitely have a crush on Joyce Cooling.

And I keep things professional with Joyce. She and her management have been very nice to me.
Back on topic, great pictures, Kat.

There isn't another sax billed in Guitars and Saxes this year outside of Gerald. Jeff Lorber owns the traditional fourth headline spot this year on the billing. Jessy is part of the band, gets to play Tequila Moon on her own.

When she opened for Nick two years ago at Catalina we met her husband, last year he wasn't there and not that I really pay attention to this stuff but I did hear she was divorced now. So Mike, your question is answered. Sort of.

Just saw her at the KSBR Birthday Bash and she was as sweet as ever. Very respectful to the other artists, nice to see.

Well, I finally bought downloads of eight of the tunes from Jessie J's CD. I really like 'em. I put them on a CD with eight tunes from Kenny G's latest, and now I have a C-Jazz CD with lots of different rhythms than the norm. Peace and goodwill.

A nice interview with Jessy J.