Stanley Abernathy - It Ain't Easy Bein' Me is a reflection of the times, traveling, and personal beliefs, each of which has shaped the music and the person behind Stanley Abernathy. The release is a little bit of blues, a little bit of jazz, and a whole lot of Stanley's horns.  

Stanley Abernathy - It Ain't Easy Bein' Me                   

It Ain't Easy Bein' Me: Pictures, Hordias Podock; Love You More; One I'm Sorry Too Many; Istanbul; And Then There's You; It Ain't Easy, Bein' Me; I Belong To You 

Personnel: Stanley Abernathy: Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Keyboards; Carl Stuart: Guitar; John Saunders: Keyboards, Programming; Tamala Vaughan: Vocals; Michael Jordon: Additional Keys 

It Ain't Easy Bein' Me, released on the Endys Alyad Music label, is the second solo release by the well-traveled songwriter and musician Stanley Abernathy. Stanley is well-know as the lead trumpet for the legendary B. B. King and as such, he has seen the world so many times he has lost track, and his vast travels and influences has shaped the release It Ain't Easy Bein' Me. To read a review of Stanley's first release, see the Music Scene section for Stanley Abernathy - Only When I Think of You.  

Always putting the other person first, Stanley truly believes that it is better to give than to receive, and he gave his all while pouring his soul into the songs on It Ain't Easy Bein' Me. Stanley's father taught him to respect and always look to obtain a balance in life, and Stanley achieved his balance producing It Ain't Easy Bein' Me. The release opens with the track Pictures, an easy listening jazz track that set the musical symmetry for the entire release. 

The track Hordias Podock pushes the tempo and opens up the lines of music between the guitar work of Carl Stuart and the keyboards and percussion programming of John Saunders; an infectious track that rings with a silky sound. The track Love You More carries blues overtones from Stanley's flugelhorn and it brings an emotional element to the audience. 

One I'm Sorry Too Many is a soft melodic track that rides on the superb horns (trumpet and flugelhorn) complemented by a programmed rhythmic bass beat holding the line; easy listening but with a kick. The track Istanbul is a short mystical arrangement. And Then There's You is a song that will grab you from the first set of flugelhorn notes, there is a magical balance rendered from this dramatic arrangement.  

The title track It Ain't Easy Bein' Me builds from the opening horn section and layers in the vocals of Tamala Vaughan with a metrical baseline formed from the keyboards and programming; just like Stanley, a bit complex, a bit mystical, but always with a sense of stability. The release closes with the track I Belong To You, a straight ahead easy listening "love" song that in Stanley's hands, and through his lips, is heartrending.       

Websites where you can procure Stanley Abernathy - It Ain't Easy Being Me are CD Baby, CD Universe, JPC, CDON, and Amazon.