By Edwardo Blanco | Sept.18, 2019
American-born Canadian singer and songwriter Marc Jordan, who covers a wide range of genres, including jazz, unveils his first album since 2013 with one of his finest recordings to date on the soft and breezy balladic Both Sides. Containing lush romantic jazz arrangements of contemporary standards and recorded with the Prague Symphony Orchestra featuring trumpeter Randy Brecker among others, this is one masterpiece of a recording that speaks to the heart. Also included in this special musical package are a couple of new originals not previously recorded.
Aside from a world-class symphony orchestra providing the instrumental support, Jordan surrounds himself with some first-rate talent such as composer and producer Lou Pomanti on piano and keyboards, Mike Rogers on bass and Canadian stalwarts Mark Kelso on drums and Mike Murley on tenor saxophone to complete the cast of players. The repertoire of nine songs begins with one of the most often recorded jazz standards around, from Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington's tender "Nearness of You," delivered in a sprawling arrangement in one of the finest renditions ever documented. The Michel Legrand / Marilyn Bergman classic "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," another unforgettable standard, gets the same treatment from Jordan voicing those beautiful romantic lyrics with a measure of elegance.
Applying the same approach to the music as he did to the standards above, the singer delivers two beautiful originals in "I Saw Your Smile," and "He's Going to Break Your Heart," staying within the theme of the album. Lou Reed's signature "Walk on the Wild Side" does provide a slight departure from the main theme but only slightly as the music is still warm. The same could also be said of Mick Jagger's "Wild Horses" as well as with the Pop classic from Curtis Mayfield, where "People Get Ready," the finale song, goes out in stylish fashion.
If a romantic jazz love song is something one enjoys listening to, then singer Marc Jordan's Both Sides is the kind of pleasurable music everyone will be drawn to—warm, soft, unforgettable and voiced by a superior singer.
Track Listing: Nearness of You; Calling You; I Saw Your Smile; Walk On the Wild Side; Both Sides Now; What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life; Wild Horses; He's Going To Break Your Heart; People Get Ready.
Personnel: Marc Jordan: vocals; Lou Pomanti: piano, keyboards, background vocals; Mark Rogers: bass; Larnell Lewis: drums; Lyle Molzan: drums (4, 9); Mark Kelso: drums (3); Randy Brecker: trumpet; Mike Murley: tenor saxophone; Tommy Emmanuel: acoustic guitar; Mike Francis: electric guitar, dobro; Kevin Breit: guitar FX; Justin Abedin: electric guitar (9); Lesley Young: oboe; John Johnson: flute, clarinet, bass clarinet; Tony Carlucci: trumpet (4); Drew Jurecka: strings (3); Lydia Munchinsky: cello (3); Measha Brueggergosman: vocals (2); Amoy Levy: background vocals (BG); Billy Newton-Davis: BG; Amy Sky: BG; Wendy Lands: BG; Zoo Sky: BG; Ezra Jordan: BG; The Blind Rabbis of Rosedale: BG; Prague Symphony Orchestra.