 Two years ago the American Carol Albert came up for the first time with the album "Fly Away Butterfly". Now this new album is coming out on January 31, 2020, with 10 original songs. In addition to Carol's piano work, you can hear Paul Brown on guitar (who also produced), Dan Baraszu on guitar, Lil John Roberts on drums, Jay Williams on drums, Sam Sims on bass, Ragan Whiteside on flute, Magdalena Chovancova on sax and Joseph Patrick Moore on bass. The title track leads us in the direction of smooth jazz, but with a poppy edge. Then comes the soft "Love again", and the beautiful, Brazilian-looking "Perfect Sunday". "For the Moment" continues quietly, and the Brazilian tinted "Femme Flight" has already been released as a single. "Winter Rain" is a soft song, followed by the second single, the Latin tinted "Sun’s out". Carol sings on ‘I Am Fine’ herself, while she plays modestly on ‘Moon on the Water’. Closer "Til We Meet again" is ushered in by an acoustic guitar, and floats to a strong rhythm. Carol has overcome the death of her husband, and has delivered a beautiful album, partly smooth jazz, partly poppy. Recommended!
Patrick Van de Wiele Link to Review REVIEW #1 - Contemporary Fusion ReviewClick Here to read the full review.   Enchanting inspiring affirmative jazz Carol Albert – Stronger Now By Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews - November 22, 2019 When I reviewed Carol Albert's "Fly Away Butterfly" in 2017, I was totally blown away by her strength and energy... her new release (due in January 2020) is even more stunning, as you'll see when you view her promo video of the title track, "Stronger Now" (I'll come back and add samples when I'm told it's gone live), from the upcoming album...READ MORE Review #2 - Midwest recordClick Here to read the full review.  Review by Chris Spector (editor and publisher) c/o Midwest Record Wrapping her new spirituality in some smooth jazz, this set finds that sweet spot where jazz and new age can meet up in something that isn't drippy being neither fish nor fowl. A solid set of girl friend instrumental music with some skilled hands at the wheel, the pianist delivers the goods quite nicely...READ MORE Review #3 - Lemonwire.comClick Here to read the full review.  Pianist Carol Albert melds smooth jazz and New Age sounds on “Stronger Now” By Dodie Miller-Gould c/o LemonWire.com Some audiences might remember pianist, keyboardist and composer Carol Albert from the success of her chart-topping album “Fly Away Butterfly.” Now, the musician returns with “Stronger Now.” “Stronger Now” is an album of original music written by Albert. From the first note, the songs win audiences over with their smooth jazz approach with just the hint of an edge...READ MORE SPIRITUALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MUSICALLY, THERE’S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – CAROL ALBERT IS FEELING ‘STRONGER NOW’!  The Billboard Charting Pianist/Composer’s New Life-Affirming Album – Set to Drop January 31, 2020 – Features Production By Two-time Grammy Winner Paul Brown and Includes Her Top Ten Hits “Femme Flight” and “Sun’s Out” Embarking on a fresh new chapter in her life musically, emotionally and spiritually, Carol Albert builds upon the inspiring career-shifting momentum of her recent Billboard Top Ten chart successes with her perfectly titled new full-length album Stronger Now. Featuring all original songs written and arranged by the prolific composer and pianist, the stylistically eclectic, 10 track collection - follow up to her 2017 breakthrough album Fly Away Butterfly – is set for release on Cahara Records January 31, 2020. Stronger Now includes two tracks previously released as singles that lit up terrestrial, internet and satellite stations. The Atlanta based artist scored her biggest success to date early in 2019 with the Brazilian flavored “Femme Flight,” which hit #4 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart. Produced by Carol, mixed by two-time Grammy winning hitmaker Paul Brown and featuring flutist Ragan Whiteside and saxophonist Magdalena Chovancova, the track also earned Albert a new legion of fans via airplay on SiriusXM’s Watercolors. Also featured on Stronger Now is Carol’s latest single “Sun’s Out,” a Latin tinged track produced and mixed by Brown that is currently in the Top Ten on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart as well as MediaBase, Smooth Jazz Top 20 at #5, Radiowave at #3 and GrooveJazz Chart at #2. Her earlier chart hits include “Chasing Waterfalls” (which reached #15), “Fly Away Butterfly” (#5) and “One Way.” Stronger Now is the first of Carol’s albums to predominantly feature production by Brown, who has scored over 60 #1 chart smashes for genre greats Peter White, Larry Carlton, Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, Euge Groove, the late Al Jarreau and many others. In addition to the five tracks he produced (“Stronger Now,” “Love Again,” “Perfect Sunday,” “Sun’s Out,” “I Am Fine”), Carol helmed “For The Moment” (which features Brown on guitar), “Femme Flight” and “Moon on the Water” and co-produced (with Brown’s longtime associate Lew Laing) “Winter Rain” and “’Til We Meet Again.” Carol’s infectious piano melodies take wing with some of contemporary urban jazz’s top sidemen, including bassists Sam Sims, Roberto Vally and Joseph Patrick Moore and drummers L’il John Roberts, Gorden Campbell and Jay Williams. While most of the tracks were created digitally, with Carol recording in Atlanta and sending her foundational files to Brown at The Funky Joint in L.A. for him to build on, the songs featuring Sims and Roberts (“Love Again” and “Perfect Sunday”) were cut live in Atlanta. Key contributions were also made by Ben Babylon (string and French horn arrangements), Lee Thornburg (horn arrangements, flugelhorn and valve trombone) and acoustic guitarist Daniel Baraszu. Another point of interest: Carol recorded her parts on “Femme Flight,” “Love Again,” Perfect Sunday” and “Moon on the Water” on a venerable piano that Elton John and many other legendary artists have played at Silent Sound Studio in Atlanta. “I met Paul at a show he did in Atlanta through my friend, trumpeter Rob Zinn, and he said to give him a call when I started working on my new album,” Carol says. “He took his incredible ear and years of experience working with all kinds of artists to make incredible suggestions, oversee and put everything together, mix it to perfection and truly elevate my work. I’m so impressed with the quality of these musicians and the way all the elements came together. I’m very proud of Stronger Now and think it is the best work of my career.” From the title track to “Love Again,” from “For the Moment” to “I am Fine,” “Moon on the Water” and “’Til We Meet Again,” Stronger Now is thematically a reflection of the powerful emotional journey Carol has been on these past few years – and her ongoing resilience in the face of great loss. “My last album Fly Away Butterfly was written and recorded during a healing phase of my life after the sudden death of my husband,” she says. “This new chapter in my life has been about making it on my own. I am happy to note that one friend who heard ‘Femme Flight’ said, ‘I see your butterfly has morphed into another winged animal’ in free flight. During this period of my life, I have learned to experience joy, laughter, happiness and love, as well as many moods of solitude and introspection.”
 Carol Albert, a Paulding County native, is a force of majestic musical nature! Her music takes you on a vibrant journey. It speaks to you. Just listen. I heard it for the first time a few days ago and was captivated! Mostly instrumental, it could be described as a sublime consciousness – being brought into an awareness. Awareness of what, you ask? That’s up to you, the listener, because it’s just that soulfully poetic, without all the words. Her music is contemporary smooth jazz that is ALIVE! A magnificent composer, as well as an accomplished keyboardist and vocalist, her blending melodies take you to whatever dream world you want to be in – from floating on a cloud, or sailing the ocean, to sitting on a sun-drenched beach. Close your eyes and let Carol’s musical genius stimulate your emotions and thoughts, and be taken away. Inhale the spirit of the melodies in “Across the Sky”. One of my favorites , this one features her graceful and stunning voice that adds to the depth of this song. “Chasing Waterfalls” brings to mind the word “tranquility” because this song literally shows you a serene waterfall. You feel it, you see it, you smell it – it’s THAT alive, THAT profound!  Her latest single, “Sun’s Out” will give you a vision of an exotic beach with that perfect coastal breeze. Yes, I’ll have a Pina Colada!
She’s an amazing local talent gone world wide! |
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