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Non-Prog CD Reviews

Shaun Johnson + Big Band Experience

Made For Her

Review by Gary Hill

When you hear the term "big band" you think of an old-school sound. Well, this release shows a modern spin on that sort of concept. Mind you, not everything here even lands under jazz or seems to include a big band. This is music that is quite effective and satisfying. I like this a lot.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2021  Volume 6. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2021.

Track by Track Review
Sing Me Anything
A piano and vocal arrangement with some intriguing melodies brings this into being. The cut works out after the first verse to an arrangement has a modern sound but big band concept. This is fun stuff. It's very entertaining. It has a nice balance between mellower, more pop rock based stuff and more powered up sections. I really dig the cool jazz jam later in the song. It's just plain magic, and the bass work is so cool.
Multiplied by Two
A jazz acoustic guitar and vocal arrangement is on the menu here. This is playful, classy and so tasty. Female vocals and horns provide some nice icing on the cake here and there. A more full jazz arrangement comes in with a bridge later. I absolutely love this song.
All Because of You
I dig the acoustic guitar melody that brings this into being. The cut works out from there with style and charm. This gets jazzier, but really is a modern pop based ballad. It is a powerful and evocative piece with so much charm and beauty built into it.
This Old Man
With an almost progressive rock vibe, this jazzy cut has some killer modern pop music in the mix.
Losing You
More of a mainstream adult contemporary tune, this is an evocative one. It's essentially a ballad and has some great layers of sound in its arrangement.
Say Goodnight
This is another balladic piece of music. I love the duet of male and female vocals. The arrangement has a modern adult contemporary texture with some classic vibes. It's another effective song.
Multiplied by Two (remix)
As you might imagine, this is a remix of the earlier tune. It feels more modern. It's still a good song in this format, but I prefer the other take on it. It feels more timeless, while this is likely to feel dated down the road.
Love Me Tender (Live)
Yes, you probably know this song as being done by Elvis Presley. This version is a nice ballad with acoustic guitar, vocals and strings for augmentation. I'm not a fan of Elvis, but this works well.
  
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