Lighten Up
Aimee Nolte’s fourth album, Lighten Up, released on April 24, 2020 does exactly what the title suggests, which is to lighten the mood, brighten your day, and illuminate possibilities within songs that are already widely known and loved.
"It’s a return to what I’m most at-home doing; playing songs that I know like the back of my hand with people who inspire me.”
Aimee’s refreshing new arrangements are brought to life with the help of band mates, Mike Scott, James Yoshizawa, and Bruce Lett, who comprise The Aimee Nolte quartet.
Let the soulful singing, stellar piano solos, brilliant interplay and excitement of spontaneous creation take you for a ride as you listen to Lighten Up
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Aimee Nolte
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Mike Scott
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Bruce Lett
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James Yoshizawa
Track List [click titles]
1. Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
James Yoshizawa: drums
[Composer: Elliot Lurie, Arranger: Aimee Nolte]
There's a port on a western bay
And it serves a hundred ships a day
Lonely sailors pass the time away
And talk about their homes
And there's a girl in this harbor town
And she works layin' whiskey down
They say, Brandy, fetch another round
She serves them whiskey and wine
The sailors say, "Brandy, you're a fine girl" (you're a fine girl)
"What a good wife you would be" (such a fine girl)
"Yeah, your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea"
Brandy wears a braided chain
Made of finest silver from the North of Spain
A locket that bears the name
Of the man that Brandy loved
He came on a summer's day
Bringin' gifts from far away
But he made it clear he couldn't stay
No harbor was his home
The sailors say, "Brandy, you're a fine girl" (you're a fine girl)
"What a good wife you would be" (such a fine girl)
"But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea"
At night when the bars close down
Brandy walks through a silent town
And loves a man who's not around
She still can hear him say
She hears him say, "Brandy, you're a fine girl" (you're a fine girl)
"What a good wife you would be" (such a fine girl)
"But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea"
It is, yes it is
He said, "Brandy, you're a fine girl" (you're a fine girl)
"What a good wife you would be" (such a fine girl)
"But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea"
2. All The Things You Are
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
James Yoshizawa: drums
[Composer: Gerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II]
You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song
You are the angel glow that lights a star
The dearest things I know are what you are
Some day my happy arms will hold you
And some day I'll know that moment divine
When all the things you are, are mine
You are the angel glow that lights a star
The dearest things I know are what you are
Some day my happy arms will hold you
And some day I'll know that moment divine
When all the things you are, are mine
3. Where Or When
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
James Yoshizawa: drums
[Composer: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers]
It seems we stood and talked like this before
We looked at each other in the same way then
But I can't remember where or when
The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then
But I can't remember where or when
Some things that happened for the first time
Seem to be happening again
And so it seems that we have met before
And laughed before, and loved before
But who knows where or when
Just as softly as the gently falling snow
4. If I Shoud Lose You
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
James Yoshizawa: drums
[Composer: Ralph E Graham]
If I should lose you
The stars would fall from the skies
If I should lose you
The leaves would wither and die
The birds in May time
Would sing a lonely refrain
And I would wander around
Hating the sound of rain
With you beside me
No wind in winter would blow
With you beside me
A rose would bloom in the snow
I gave you my love
But I was living a dream
And living would seem in vain
If I lost you
5. Moon River
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
James Yoshizawa: drums
[Composer: Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini]
Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
6. Moonlight
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
James Yoshizawa: drums
[Composer: John Williams, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman]
In the moonlight
When the shadows play
When the thought of what could happen
Takes your breath away
Sighs and whispers
Quiet laughter in the air
Unspoken invitations everywhere
In the moonlight
All the words you say
Make it relatively easy
To be swept away
In the half light
Can we trust the way we feel
Can we be sure that anything is real?
Stars keep secrets as they wander indiscreetly
While the echoes of a song go drifting by
We must be careful not to lose our way completely
Or the magic that we seek here
We can't be sure will be here
In the morning
With the moon away
And if in each other's arms
Is where we're meant to stay
In the love light
When our eyes have grown accustomed to the daylight
We'll see what waits for us to share
For all the things we've dreamed of in the moonlight
Will be there
7. Skylark
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
James Yoshizawa: drums
[Composer: Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer]
Skylark
Have you anything to say to me
Won't you tell me where my love can be
Is there a meadow in the mist
Where someone's waiting to be kissed
Skylark
Have you seen a valley green with spring
Where my heart can go a-journeying
Over the shadows and the rain
To a blossom covered lane
And in your lonely flight
Haven't you heard the music of the night
Wonderful music, faint as a will o' the wisp Crazy as a loon
Sad as a gypsy serenading the moon
Skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there
Skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there
8. Old Devil Moon
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
James Yoshizawa: drums
[Composer: Elliot Lurie, Arranger: Aimee Nolte]
I looked at you and suddenly
Something in your eyes I see
Soon begins witching me
It's that old devil moon
That you stole from the sky
It's that old devil moon deep in your eyes
You and your glance makes this romance too hot to handle
Stars in the night blazin' their light can't hold a candle
To your razzle dazzle
You've got me flyin' high and wide
On a magic carpet ride
Full of butterflies inside
I wanna cry
Wanna croon
Wanna laugh like a loon
It's that old devil moon deep in your eyes
Just when I think I'm free as a dove
Old evil moon deep in your eyes
Blinds me with love!!
You and your glance makes this romance too hot to handle
Stars in the night blazin' their light can't hold a candle
To your razzle dazzle
You've got me flyin' high and wide
On a magic carpet ride
Full of butterflies inside
I wanna cry
Wanna croon
Wanna laugh like a loon
It's that old devil moon deep in your eyes
Just when I think I'm free as a dove
Old evil moon deep in your eyes
Blinds me with love
9. Ella's Song
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
James Yoshizawa: drums
[Composer: Aimee Nolte]
It’s never easy walking away from love
It’s never easy, turning away
It’s never easy giving your all to love
to have to feel it slipping away
But she runs so fast
Turns her back to the sand and paddles so hard
Never looking back
There goes my girl
I wasn’t ready, watching her walk away
I wasn’t ready, seeing her go
It feels unsteady, not knowing every day
all of the places and people she’ll know
But she shines so bright
Blows a kiss to the sun and paddles so hard
Never losing sight
There goes my girl
Album Reviews [click titles]
JWvibe
Aimee Nolte - Looking For The Answers
“Listening to the gossamer soul sensuality of Aimee’s vocals - -which compare favorably to Norah Jones and Diana Krall, but truly surpass those greats - and charming, inventive scat will lift the spirit in any time and place. “ Jonathan Widran (JWvibe)
“Listening to the gossamer soul sensuality of Aimee’s vocals - -which compare favorably to Norah Jones and Diana Krall, but truly surpass those greats - and charming, inventive scat will lift the spirit in any time and place. “ Jonathan Widran (JWvibe)
Scott Yanow
“Lighten Up is the type of jazz CD that grows in interest with each listen for it is filled with subtle creativity, quiet joy, and first-class jazz singing.” - Scott Yanow
Spirit lifting brilliant music
By Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews
Spirit lifting brilliant music Aimee Nolte – LIGHTEN UP: If you’re looking for music that is both spirit lifting and brilliant, you’ll totally enjoy Aimee’s fourth release… I first fell in love with her playing when I reviewed her “Looking For The Answers” album, where she got high marks from my ears… to get an up-close-and-personal look at the new recording, be sure to watch Aimee give you her own insights… …since you’re already there, be sure to SUBSCRIBE to Aimee’s YouTube channel, so you can watch all she has to offer… I did.
The album starts off with a vibrant performance from Aimee on Elliot Lurie‘s “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)“… her vocal is full of emotion, and her bandmates (Mike Scott, James Yoshizawa, and Bruce Lett) play very comfortably together in support of Aimee… I predict this tune will be getting constant rotations from DJ’s of all stripes across the globe!
Aimee shows some solid scat lines on the intro for Hoagy Carmichael’s “Skylark“… you’ll find yourself soaring over new horizons and swingin’ right along in the sunshine… lively and FULL of life.
There was no doubt in my mind what my choice for personal favorite would be… Aimee’s vocal on “Old Devil Moon” is (truly, truly) one of the best jazz performances you will hear in 2020 (or any other year, for that matter). It earned a slot on my iPhone player, reserved only for the best tunes!
I give Aimee and her players a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) score of 4.98 for this fine release.
Jazziz
Los Angeles musician, Aimee Nolte is a jazz pianist, vocalist and YouTube star, constantly pursuing new recording, performing, and educational projects. Though primarily a jazz player, she knows over a thousand songs and can play them at the drop of a hat. Aimee’s fourth release, “Lighten Up” showcases her brilliant piano playing and her silky vocals and killer arrangements on 8 familiar standards as well as her original, “Ella’s Song,” released as a single in March. Praised as “beautiful, sonorous and reflective” last year by Downbeat Magazine, Nolte’s latest album promises to deliver.
Tags: cd , Looking For The Answers, Lighten Up