Return to Ipanema

Personnel: Loris Mechem - piano, Denis Solee - Saxophone and Flute, George Tidwell - Flugelhorn, Pete Huttlinger - Guitar, Roger Spencer - Bass, Chris Brown - Drums, Dann Sherrill - Percussion.
Personnel: Lori Mechem (piano); Pete Huttlinger (guitar); David Davidson (violin); John Catchings (cello); Denis Solee (flute, saxophone); Chris Brown (drums); Dann Sherrill (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Brendan Harkin.
Recording information: Wildwood Recording.
Author: Lori Mechem.
Arranger: Jeff Steinberg.
The Nashville pianist Lori Mechem seems to specialize in tribute albums. She has recorded two Count Basie projects, 2003's SHINY STOCKINGS and APRIL IN PARIS, this last released early in 2009 on the Green Hill label. Later on in 2009, she recorded yet another composer songbook for Green Hill called RETURN TO IPANEMA--THE MUSIC OF ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM, accompanied as usual by her band, Ritmos Picante,s which includes her husband and musical partner, Roger Spencer, on bass. Though very much in the easy-listening mode, RETURN TO IPANEMA falls solidly in the tradition of Jobim's own easy-listening LPs of the '60s and '70s, THE COMPOSER PLAYS and WAVE, as arranged by Klaus Ogerman (still active on Diana Krall's QUIET NIGHTS). Mechem's musicianship is solid, however, and though his solos won't be breaking up any dinner parties, saxophonist and flautist Denis Solee does a fine job of stating these timeless melodies purely and simply.