Home » Music » Song of the Day

Smile by Bill Warfield

From the album

Album Title: Smile
Label: Planet Arts Records
Released: 2020

Listen

About the Album

On their exciting new album, Smile, Bill Warfield and the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra not only fire on all cylinders, they run every yellow caution light. What other band would take on such stylistically disparate tunes as Booker T. and the MGs’ “Hip Hug-Her,” Weather Report’s “Cucumber Slumber,” the Eurythmics’ “The City Never Sleeps,” and the Charles Chaplin evergreen, “Smile”?

For listeners, the risks are amply rewarded. For Warfield and his one-of-a-kind little big band, all that matters is that the music cooks. “We had so much fun making this album, and I think it sounds it,” said the storied trumpeter and arranger. “For me, that’s what it’s all about.”

"Smile" features vocalist Julie Michels.

Tracks

Smile; Cucumber Slumber; Hip-Hug-Her; Ode To Billie Joe; First Time On A Ferris Wheel; Dance of the Coal Cars; Mad Dog; Rainbow Connection; I’ve Got To Use My Imagination; Theme From Law and Order; This City Never Sleeps; Smile

Personnel

Bill Warfield

trumpet

Julie Michels

vocals

Bill Warfield and the Hell's Kitchen Funk Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra

John Eckert

trumpet

Andrew Gould

saxophone

Jane Stuart

vocals

Dave Riekenberg

woodwinds

Steve Count

bass

Paul Shaffer

keyboards

Cecilia Coleman

keyboards

Matt Chertkoff

guitar

Lou Marini

saxophone

Matt Hong

saxophone, baritone

Scott Neumann

drums

Carolyn Leonhart

vocals

Additional Personnel

Bill Warfield: leader, arranger, trumpet, flugelhorn Jane Stuart: vocals (tracks 4,5 and 9) John Eckert: trumpet, flugelhorn Andrew Gould: alto sax, flute Dave Riekenberg: tenor sax, baritone sax, flute, clarinet Matt Hong: baritone sax, alto sax, flute Blue Lou Marini: tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, clarinet Matt Chertkoff: guitar Cecilia Coleman: piano Paul Shaffer: Hammond B-3 organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano Steve Count: electric and acoustic bass Scott Neumann: drums Julie Michels track 1, Carolyn Leonhart track 8: guest vocalists

Reviews

Smile by Jack Bowers

Date featured

July 1, 2020

This song appears by permission of the contributing artist and/or record company.
It is for personal use only; no other rights are granted or implied.

< Previous
Stratosphere

Next >
Paradise