Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Byron Motley: Jazz & Cocktails

Byron Motley: Jazz & Cocktails

By George Harris
October 28, 2005
View read count

Jazz & Cocktails is great. With a vocal mixture combining the sass of Jackie Wilson, the jive of Louis Jordan, and the vulnerability (a chick magnet) of Smokey Robinson, Byron Motley displays creativity, ingenuity, and dexterity on a swinging and ultra-hip set of standards and dreamy ballads. On the latter, Motley is delicate and breathy with the lyrics, as on "June Night" and "I Wish I Knew."

He's also willing to take chances on well known favorites: on "Lush Life," he weaves his weary reflections with a simple accordion and tenor background. A mere piano and harmonica provide the only backdrop on the lonely "These Foolish Things," and "My Foolish Heart" is a sublime conversation with guitar and piano providing support. All throughout, Motley is a master.

On the up-tempo numbers, he's just as strong. Creatively slipping and weaving through a double-time waltz rendition of "Oh, My Lover" and mixing in Kenton's original vocal and band chorus on "And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine," Motley shows excellent taste, pacing, and delivery. On the full band toe tappers like "Big City" and "I Told Ya I Love Ya," he exudes excellent humor. Motley's delivered a recording worthy of admiration in Jazz & Cocktails.

Visit Byron Motley on the web.

Track Listing

June Night; I Wish I Knew; Oh, My Lover; Lush Life; One Day I'll Fly Away; Waters of March; These Foolish Things; I Ain't Got the Gal; Serenade in Blue; Big City; Dear Heart; I Told Ya; My Foolish Heart; Her Tears Flowed; Alfie.

Personnel

Byron Motley

vocals

Byron Motley: vocals; plus other musicians.

Album information

Title: Jazz & Cocktails | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Cocoa Blu Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Yours
< Previous

Enclave
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.