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Joy Mover: Joy Mover

By Edward Blanco
October 18, 2012
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Making a sparkling entrance into the jazz vocal arena on her self-titled debut, Boston native Joy Mover turns a new page in her musical career from years of writing and producing to recording. The music business is a natural environment for the singer, in fact, as she hails from a distinguished musical family that includes her brother, renowned saxophonist

Bob Mover

saxophone
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Mover—who, incidentally, also appears on the album. For this debut, the singer selects an eleven-song repertoire of originals and standards borrowed from the likes of Eden Ahbez ("Nature Boy"),

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Carlos Jobim ("Corcovado") and others.

Helping to propel the music is a cast of twelve superb musicians that, besides brother Bob, also include the great

Ira Sullivan

multi-instrumentalist
1931 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Ira Sullivan on trumpet, sax and flute as well as a cadre of players from Mover's days in Miami that feature among them, bassist

Jamie Ousley

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Jamie Ousley, and pianist

Mike Levine

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Levine. The music begins with the Latin-styled salsa "Have You Ever Loved?," showcasing the percussive prowess of Richard Bravo and drummer

Lee Levin

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Levin along with Boston guitarist John Paul and flautist

Billy Ross

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Ross.

Mover's soothing vocals are a perfect fit for the beautiful soft bossa ballad of "If I Could Tell You." Her vocals then turn decidedly cool which, along with Sullivan's light horn play, makes for one of the best pieces of the album on the smooth-like "Midnight Oil." The singer provides a very sultry treatment of the time-honored classic "Nature Boy"—aided, of course, by supportive tenor lines from her saxophone savvy sibling. Meredith Wilson's pop standard "Till There Was You" is taken for quite a ride on this unique version, starting with a rap intro by the vocalist, and leading to some humbling vocals, Mover's tender tenor solo and

Dan Warner

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Dan Warner's fiery electric guitar riffs.

Jobim would be proud of the way his immortal "Corcovado" (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars) is performed; of all of the renditions ever recorded, this is among the best. Davenport & Cooley's ever popular "Fever" certainly does the trick here too, moving the temperature up on Mover's high-pitched read on one of the best swinging songs of the set.

Closing the project with the familiar "Dream A Little Dream of Me," Mover delivers one very special dreamy debut, full of gorgeous love songs and standards with new twists all forged by a sultry soothing vocal approach that's pleasing to the ear. Mover's debut is a well-conceived, well-done musical endeavor impressive on many fronts.

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Track Listing

Have You Ever Loved?; Maria's Song; If I Could Tell You; Midnight Oil; Only The Wind; Nature Boy; Home Sweet Home; Till There Was You; Corcovado; Fever; Dream A Little Dream Of Me.

Personnel

Joy Mover

Joy Mover: vocals; Ira Sullivan: trumpet, tenor saxophone, alto flute; Bob Mover: tenor saxophone; John Paul: guitars, electric bass, synthesizers; Mike Levine: piano; Richard Bravo: percussion; Lee Levin: drums; Sammy Levine: drums (2, 5, 6, 11); Jamie Ousley: upright bass; Billy Ross: flute; Dan Warner: guitar (8); Javier Carrion: electric bass (1-4, 7, 9); Vinny Damaio: drums (9).

Album information

Title: Joy Mover | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced

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