Ginger & Scott - Dreamsville

"I loved the CD! In this time of musical change, when the Great American Songbook is suffering, here is a new duo who provide hope and inspiration!" --Jackie Cain '...excellent CD...Thanks for doing a great job on 'Wheelers.' Best regards to you and to the justly admired Bob Florence." --Dave Frishberg "It's a bright and happy package, this 'Dreamsville' CD. Scott and Ginger sing together like peaches & cream and the band arrangements and the players are first class - all the way. Top notch too, the repertoire, and I personally feel proud to have one of my songs in this collection. Recommended!!! " --Bob Dorough "Kendall Kay has the ability to play really light without losing any intensity; Jennifer Leitham's energy level is consistently high; Roger Neumann is one of the consummate woodwind players around today; Scott never backs away from a challenge; and Ginger does herself proud!" --Bob Florence What sets us apart? Talent nurtured to musical equivalency of best chocolate and finest wine served with fireworks...plus experience in spades. Shakespeare said, 'All things by season seasoned are...to their right praise and true perfection'. We've worked musical lifetimes to find each other and are the real seasoned and swingin' deal! Personnel: Ginger Berglund, voice Scott Whitfield, voice, trombone Roger Neumann, tenor and soprano saxes, flute Corey Allen, piano (except 7, 9) Jennifer Leitham, bass Kendall Kay, drums Special Guest: Bob Florence, piano (7, 9) "Dreamsville" arranged by Jennifer Leitham. "Listen, Little Girl" arranged by Bob Florence. All others arranged by Scott Whitfield. Liner Notes by Don Shelton: For all of you who remember the sophisticated vocal duo of Jackie Cain and Roy Kral back in the 50s, 60s and beyond, this new collaboration of Ginger Berglund and Scott Whitfield will certainly take you down memory lane. This is a collection of tunes---some standards, some originals all woven together by one compelling thought of 'love and romance'. The link to Jackie & Roy is evident in their choice of tunes containing joyous wit and the trading of phrases back and forth. But this current effort also contains many elements of today's musical expressions... most definitely... as you will hear. The trick in singing a duo is to get the two voices to meld into one...naturally. And these two have done just that... Above all else, there is quite simply a sense of fun and joy throughout this disc. So sit back, relax, and enjoy 'Dreamsville'. Here are just a few of the many fine musical journeys on this new CD: 'On a Slow Boat to China'-------- After a very clever intro, they settle into the first of their duets with the recurring intro sprinkled in along the way. Also Scott comes up with the first of his many swinging trombone solos. A swinging way to start off this CD. 'All My Tomorrows'------- Ginger starts off this wonderful ballad followed by Scott and some fine 'Zoot like Tenor' work by Roger Neumann. The lyric seems to say it all ......... 'Pardon Me While I Fall in Love'------ This original co-written by Ginger and Scott displays a most witty and engaging lyric while stating the very obvious.... LOVE! Hard to listen and not break into a big SMILE too! 'Dreamsville'--------- This Henry Mancini standard, nicely arranged by bassist Jennifer Leitham in 6/4 time with an occasional 5/4 section thrown in, is the title tune of this CD. It also features a fine bass solo by Jennifer as well as the fine singing of Ginger and Scott. 'Listen Little Girl'-------- Long associated with Jackie Cain, this Tommy Wolf/Fran Landesman tune gets a fresh approach with Bob Florence's exquisite piano arrangement providing the perfect setting for Ginger's solo performance. This is one of the golden moments of this CD. 'Lorelei'-------- This original by Scott and Bebe Herring is enhanced by a bossa feeling supplied by pianist Bob Florence. This really gives Scott an opportunity to express himself as a solo performer.... and quite hauntingly so I might add. 'The Best Thing for You'-------- Following a rubato verse, this quickly turns into a 'barn burner' with Scott scatting like crazy with Roger not far behind on Tenor. Then Scott takes off on trombone and Jennifer on Bass. The duo plus tenor sax provides some rapid exchanges with the rhythm section before closing it out. Truly outstanding. 'How High the Moon'------- Ginger starts this one off just stating the melody with Corey Allen on piano in a very free style. And then it explodes into a rhythmic fast tempo of this familiar tune. Scott provides some extra fireworks by trading phrases with himself from trombone to vocal scatting. In a final nod to 'Jackie & Roy' they engage in a Charlie Ventura like treatment to finish this musical outing. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the very excellent rhythm section on this recording including Corey Allen, piano.... Jennifer Leitham, bass...and the ever-swinging Kendall Kay on drums. A special guest, Bob Florence, also added much on Tracks 7 and 9. Hope you have as much fun listening to this as I have had......... Don Shelton (LA-based woodwind specialist and vocalist, formerly with the Hi-Lo's and the Singers Unlimited) Scott Whitfield (trombonist, composer, arranger, and vocalist) is rapidly gaining international recognition for his work with contemporary big bands, including the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra and the new edition of Johnny Griffin's Big Soul Band, as well as his own Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestras (East AND West). In addition to Whitfield's own recordings, his compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by such artists as Diva, Maurice Hines,The Pied Pipers, Bill Allred's Classic Jazz Band, and Pete Petersen's 23-strong Collection Jazz Orchestra. The discography of Scott Whitfield includes 7 recordings as leader and more than 50 recordings with other artists. A frequent clinician and guest artist for Bach Stradivarius trombones, Whitfield has appeared throughout the world, from Australia to Zurich, sharing his expertise on trombone technique, improvisation, composition, arranging, and jazz history. His "The J.J. Johnson Collection" (published by Hal Leonard) has inspired many trombonists, young and old. Upon settling in New York in 1993, Scott became a member of the Nat Adderley Sextet, which also included Jimmy Cobb, Walter Booker, Vincent Herring and Rob Bargad. The group's engagements at Sweet Basil led to fruitful associations with Nnenna Freelon, Frank Wess, and Lionel Hampton, among others. From 1998 to 2002, Whitfield served on the jazz faculty at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, teaching trombone, composition and arranging, and improvisation, while also coordinating the school's combo program. During this period, one of Scott's composition students placed third in a worldwide field of contestants in the Thad Jones International Jazz Composition Competition. The Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra (first founded while Scott was pursuing his Master's degree at North Texas State University) now has TWO incarnations: the SWJO East, based in New York; and the SWJO West, based in Whitfield's new home of Los Angeles. Both of these aggregations feature some of the top players in the business. Plans are in the works for a large project featuring the combined, bi-coastal orchestra. For more than a year, the Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra East was in residence at New York's Birdland, the Jazz Corner of the World, culminating in the exciting "Live at Birdland" CD, released in April 2004 on Summit Records. "The Minute Game," featuring the SWJO West, was released in February 2005, and features Whitfield's groundbreaking composition "Hiccups." More recently, "Diamonds For Nat," released in February 2006, is a special 75th Birthday tribute to Scott's mentor, the late Nat Adderley, featuring the SWJO East once again. The CD skyrocketed to number FIVE in jazz radio airplay in it's THIRD WEEK! Although Scott now makes his home in Los Angeles, he continues to commute to New York for appearances. His writing has been compared to that of some of his biggest influences, including Thad Jones, Sammy Nestico, Bill Holman, Rob McConnell, Bob Florence, and Ernie Wilkins. Jazz gem Ginger Berglund has been crafting a multi-faceted career since her earliest days as cornerstone of her church's children's choir. Ginger has sung with Kenny Rankin, recorded with Steve Allen and pianist Paul Smith, and worked with Brazilian jazz vocal great Flora Purim and premier percussionist Airto Moreira. She is a featured singer with the Jumpin' Joz swing 'n jive band, Pasadena Pops Big Band, Bruce Eskovitz quartet, and the Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra. Whenever she's in town, Ginger stars with the Tracy Wells Big Band at Alpine Village in Torrance, CA every second Monday of every month. In addition to her gigging life, Ginger's talents have led her to have been concurrently involved in other interesting business endeavors such as for Jane Fonda's Workout and the UCSD's new Rady School of Management. While at UCLA's Anderson School of Business, her work with international schools of business afforded her opportunities to sing in many cities around the world. She's worked in commercials (acting and singing), and has her image permanently etched into the artwork of the Pasadena Gold Line, Lake Metro station west. An avid rider herself, she says 'Go Gold!' Ginger was admitted to the Screen Actor's Guild for her work in the comedy movie 'Kiss My Grits.' She also appeared in the Martin Scorsese film 'The King of Comedy' with Jerry Lewis and Tony Randall. Along the way Ginger has worked and sung with one jazz great after another: Jennifer Leitham, Danny Gottlieb, Mark Egan, Kei Akagi, Roy McCurdy, Shelley Berg, and Joe Farrell. Ginger got her first break at 15, debuting with Pasadena's favorite choral director, Jim Coday, and singing with his group Vanity Fair at Ronald Reagan's Gubernatorial Inaugural Ball. Other dates quickly followed, including performances at the Dodger Stadium Fourth of July Family Show and Mitzi Gaynor's Christmas Show at LA's Shrine Auditorium.

1) On a Slow Boat to China
2) Come to Me
3) All My Tomorrows
4) Pardon Me While I Fall in Love
5) Dreamsville
6) Wheelers and Dealers
7) Listen Little Girl
8) You Inspire Me
9) Lorelei
10) Best Thing for You
11) But for Now
12) Dream Dancing/Dancing in the Dark
13) How High the Moon/Ornithology