Songbook by Reg Schwager

includes pdf of album art

review:

Songbook - Reg Schwager
Jazz from Rant 1751 (jazzfromrant.com)
In his latest release, consummate Canadian jazz guitarist Reg Schwager acts brilliantly as producer, composer and arranger. The well-conceived and performed recording comprises all original compositions by Schwager, with collaborations from: his talented sister, jazz chanteuse Jeannette Lambert; luminous Brazilian vocalist Luanda Jones; and certainly one of Canada’s finest jazz singers, John Alcorn. The superb cast of performers on the CD also includes William Sperendai on trumpet, Allison Au on alto saxophone and flute, Mike Murley on tenor saxophone, Brodie West on alto saxophone, Don Thompson and Amanda Tosoff on piano, Steve Wallace on bass, Michel Lambert and Fabio Ragnelli on drums and Manino Costa on percussion.

Schwager’s elegant, crisp style and harmonic sophistication are reminiscent (but not derivative of) guitar legends Jim Hall and Emily Remler, and this recording is certainly a portrait of an artist at the peak of his creativity and skill.

Every track here is a work of art, but of particular note are Kisses of Summer – a winning combination of Alcorn’s sensuous and evocative baritone, sumptuous compositional ideas, Schwager’s incomparable guitar work and jazz legend and multi-instrumentalist Thompson on piano. Co-written with Jones, O que tinha que dar features Schwager’s considerable Brazilian chops on full throttle, as vocalist Jones effortlessly draws the listener into her lovely web of bossa rhythms and sexy nuances. Au on alto and Tosoff on piano also shine. On the gorgeous ballad Splintered Dream, co-writer Jeannette Lambert channels the spirit of Peggy Lee with this romantic and melancholy song worthy of the silver screen.

Lesley Mitchell-Clarke - The Whole Note

press release:

Toronto, ON, Canada – On March 21, 2017, Jazz
from Rant will release the latest recording by jazz
composer, guitarist and arranger Reg Schwager
entitled Songbook.

The album introduces some wonderful new songs
written by Reg with lyrics by the vocalists on the
album, Jeannette Lambert, John Alcorn and Luanda
Jones.

As a child prodigy, Reg’s great musical passion was
learning as many jazz songs as humanly possible,
which eventually inspired his own songwriting. He
has always had an affinity for vocal jazz helped by
his long standing duo with his sister, vocalist Jeannette
Lambert. One of their earliest songs, Bygones,
opens the album. Other songs, such as Provence
and Crow’s Cry, were written in the past year.

He continues to support and encourage vocal jazz
expression in much of his work. This collection of
some of his best songs is a testament to that.
Jeannette Lambert is a respected singer, poet and
multi-media artist. There is an appealing directness
and deceptive simplicity to her work that belies an
unusual depth of meaning and understanding – like
a Miles Davis trumpet solo.

John Alcorn’s lyrics, like his singing, are a perfect
blend of emotion and craft, as in the poignant ballad
Kisses of Summer. His keen wit is also on display
in the devilishly clever Whoop-De-Doo.

Valsa etérea and O que tinha que dar feature lyrics
in Portuguese by Luanda Jones. Luanda grew up in
a richly musical household in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
From diverse influences she has developed a style
that radiates vitality, sophistication and charm.

The album also features inspired musical contributions
from Allison Au, Amanda Tosoff, Brodie
West, Don Thompson, Fabio J Ragnelli, Kiki Misumi,
Maninho Costa, Michel Lambert, Mike Murley,
Perry White, Steve Wallace and William Sperandei.

The cover painting is by Agatha Schwager, Reg and
Jeannette’s mother, from her last exhibition entitled
“Shadows of my Hand”.

I play jazz guitar. A lot.