The nine-strong, mixed-voice American River College Vocal Jazz Ensemble, under the able direction (and production) of Dr. Art LaPierre, brings us the kind of Jazz album that won the group multiple Downbeat magazine awards, including Best Jazz Vocal Group in 2003 and 2004, and solo Collegiate Female Jazz Vocalist awards for two members. Accompanied on most songs by piano, drums & percussion, bass, tenor sax and trumpet, the ARCVJE cooks throughout "Milestones," which refers to the winning new direction the American River College Vocal Jazz Program had taken 7 years before, under Dr. LaPierre. Our favorites among these 10 tunes are Paquito D'Rivera's "Snow Samba," a bluesy a cappella take on Richard Rodgers' "My Romance," Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Desafinado," Earle Hagen's noir, downbeat "Harlem Nocturne," Harry Edison's upbeat "Centerpiece" and Duke Ellington's hip, hot "Bli Blip." Great stuff, and especially amazing because these are all college students!

Songlist: Snow Samba, Walk Between Raindrops, Desafinado, My Romance, Milestones, Harlem Nocturne, Centerpiece, Bli Blip, Cecilia, Virou Areia

The American River College Vocal Jazz Ensemble 2005 wows us with another impressive, mostly accompanied Jazz collection of 6 tunes, under the steady teaching and directing baton of Dr. Lapierre. The accompaniment, smooth and consistent, is from a Jazz ensemble of fellow American River College students. The songs are Airto Moreira, Flora Purim and Jose Neto's lively "Samba Do Cantor," Tony Crombie & Benny Green's breezy title tune, Rosana Eckert's bluesy, romantic "At the End of the Day," a driving, scattish, bluenote take on Stevie Wonder's hit "Go Home," Manning Sherman & Eric Maschwitz' lovely, classic, a cappella "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" and John Birks Gillespie & John Lewis' fast-moving, jazzy "Two Bass Hit." Again, the quality of the Vocal and instrumental jazz here is miles above what one would consider to be "Collegiate"-a fact recognized by awards from DownBeat Magazine to both the ARCVJE and to the talented Dr. Lapierre!

Songlist: Samba Do Cantor, So Near, So Far, At The End Of The Day, Go Home, A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, Two Bass Hit

Another hot collection from Director Art Lapierre and his American River College Vocal Jazz Ensemble, on this CD the 2006 version. The 6 tunes (most accompanied by an excellent student Jazz ensemble, drums, piano and synthesizer) are Rosana Eckert's Pop/Jazzy title tune, Tony Wiliams' mellow "Sister Cheryl," a slow, bluesy take on Bill Withers' Motown hit "Ain't No Sunshine," Art Farmer's scattish "Farmer's Market," Jimmy Van Heusen's delightfully harmonic, a cappella "Like Someone in Love," and Caprice Fox & Jon Werking's surreal, synthesizer-accompanied "Who Knows." Poised, perfect, in-character Jazz that makes it easy to forget that these are all Sacramento college students. Amazing! P.S., the liner notes list

Songlist: You're Makin' Me Crazy, Sister Cheryl, Farmer's Market, Like Someone In Love, Ain't No Sunshine, Who Knows