27 Feb
Tales Of Wonder by Nnenna Freelon
Wednesday, 27 February 2002
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Nnenna Freelon is on a roll.Her last CD, "Soulcall," earned a pair of Grammy nominations, the fourth and fifth of her 10-year recording career.As a follow-up, Freelon…
27 Feb
Bittersweet by Carmen McRae
Wednesday, 27 February 2002
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Carmen McRae had a voice made for ballads, sad ones.It was like an eggshell, simultaneously tough and fragile. This unique quality comes through on the CD release of "Bi…
New Directions is the debut Release of Vocalist Isis, an Arturo Sandoval Discovery. After a lifetime in and out of music, this Cuban born artist was heard singing at a part…
Vikki True's new album, her fifth, will have listeners shaking their heads. Some will shake them rapidly signifying "too far out." And then there's that very slow shake acc…
21 Feb
Thad Jones - Mel Lewis - Ruth Brown by Thad Jones - Mel Lewis featuring Miss Ruth Brown
Thursday, 21 February 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
It was June 1968. Some two years earlier Thad Jones, the Basie trumpeter, and Mel Lewis, noted for his drumming with Kenton, had formed an all-star band to play a regular M…
19 Feb
Free to Dream by Patrice Williamson
Tuesday, 19 February 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Patrice Williamson has a lovely, warm voice, perfectly suited to jazz ballads. Born and reared in Memphis, she became accomplished as a performer on violin, piano, and flut…
13 Feb
Tales Of Wonder by Nnenna Freelon
Wednesday, 13 February 2002
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
In what she said was the first public performance of the songs on Tales Of Wonder, Nnenna Freelon explained that she has been listening to Stevie Wonder’s music most…
13 Feb
Secret Heart by Curtis Stigers
Wednesday, 13 February 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Curtis Stigers surprised more than a few people with Baby Plays Around, his first Concord CD. While Stigers spent a decade recording pop tunes and gaining a high deg…
12 Feb
Belly of the Sun by Cassandra Wilson
Tuesday, 12 February 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Cassandra Wilson is a jazz vocalist who has burned bright her own path through the music - whereas most other jazz singers perform (to death) the Great American Songbook, i…
10 Feb
The Best Of - The Prestige Singles by Etta Jones
Sunday, 10 February 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Etta Jones wasn’t as well known as her contemporaries; just the same she was a standout vocalist with the prowess and class of an Ella Fitzgerald. This woman was a very suc…
09 Feb
A Man Like My Guitar by Robin Lee Berry
Saturday, 09 February 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Robin Lee Williams sent along her recent release and it’s a pleaser. I can’t tell you anything of the Michigan performer’s history as a b…
07 Feb
Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
Thursday, 07 February 2002
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
By now, even if you haven’t heard Norah Jones sing, you’ve most likely heard of Norah Jones. She’s cut a few tracks on a few albums, been enjoying airplay and appearances o…
05 Feb
Live in Montreux 1991-97 by Rachelle Ferrell
Tuesday, 05 February 2002
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Rachelle Ferrell doesn’t like to call herself a jazz singer. She released her debut CD, First Instrument, in 1990 in Japan specifically to avoid being pigeonholed as…
31 Jan
Change is Good by Lonie Walker
Thursday, 31 January 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Lonie Walker is one of those performers that works better with a live audience. The Chicago-based singer owns The Underground Wonder Bar in the Gold Coast neighborhood and …
29 Jan
It Started With A Dream by Cy Coleman
Tuesday, 29 January 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Cy Coleman is known as a "permanent jewel in Broadway’s musical crown." His songs have graced several Broadway musicals such as ‘Sweet Charity,’ ‘The Will Rogers Follies,’ …
Born in 1958 at Kansas City, Missouri, Kevin Mahogany attended the Charlie Parker Foundation and he was teaching clarinet by the age of 14, later going on to master piano a…
27 Jan
Rhythm of Life by Claudia Acuna
Sunday, 27 January 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Two years after her successful debut CD, Claudia Acuna releases "Rhythm of Life."The Chilean vocalist once against delivers her unique sound that blends languages and cr…
27 Jan
From Moment to Moment by George Evans
Sunday, 27 January 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
George Evans’ "From Moment to Moment" is a welcome surprise.Just when it looked like young male jazz singers were a threatened species, Evans proves there’s life out the…
Singer Kathy Kosins writes new songs that sound old.Her latest CD, "Mood Swings," features seven original compositions, including the dreamy "Paradise" that’s reminiscen…
22 Jan
Live In Montreux 91-97 by Rachelle Ferrell
Tuesday, 22 January 2002
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Nobody can break glass with the sound of a voice like Rachelle Ferrell. Not even the sadly missed Minnie Ripperton--who caused pop radio listeners in the 1970's to swoon wh…
22 Jan
Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
Tuesday, 22 January 2002
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Nothing causes jazz writers to bare their fangs as much as a pretty young singer does when a major label signs her to a high-profile contract. Little Red Riding Hood had no…
As anybody who’s read my reviews/rants will attest, I’m generally not a big fan of jazz vocalists. Too many of ‘em seem stuck in a Great American Songbook time-warp, singin…
20 Jan
Kissing Jessica Stein by Various Artists
Sunday, 20 January 2002
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
I own only three soundtrack recordings. Two are Henry Mancini scores for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Two For the Road" which reflect my respect for Mancini and my long lo…
17 Jan
Soul on Jazz by Philip Bailey
Thursday, 17 January 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Philip Bailey, co-founder and vocalist for the group Earth, Wind & Fire, has released a nice collection of exciting jazz vocals in the CD, SOUL ON JAZZ. With the input of o…
17 Jan
Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
Thursday, 17 January 2002
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
It seems like I'm familiar with this dance. An album is released by a highly touted young female singer to a blizzard of marketing and PR. While I am almost numb to it by n…
17 Jan
The Edge of the Pond by Marcelle Gauvin
Thursday, 17 January 2002
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Marcelle Gauvin, another of those talented people from Southern New England, is an exciting jazz singer who will capture you with her versatile andexpressive voice. Not too…
16 Jan
I Wish You Love by Janis Siegel
Wednesday, 16 January 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Janis Siegel has had many fulfilling years and bountiful experience with one of the most successful jazz groups ever, "The Manhattan Transfer." As a solo artist she has man…
11 Jan
Essence of Nancy Wilson: Four Decades of Music by Nancy Wilson
Friday, 11 January 2002
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Nancy Wilson is one of the first ladies of jazz. She has some fine company mentioned frequently in the same breath. Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan would be the first tha…
IF I CRIED is an interesting, creative CD. It was composed on the evening of September 11, 2001. IF I CRIED introduces the vocals of composer Sonya Kitchell. There is a…
05 Jan
I Wish You Love by Janis Siegel
Saturday, 05 January 2002
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
This debut CD from Telarc presents the jazz vocals of Janis Siegel. Janis Siegel is part of the group, The Manhattan Transfer, which is well-known to jazz listening audienc…
04 Jan
The Best Of Dianne Reeves by Dianne Reeves
Friday, 04 January 2002
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
How can a CD of 13 tunes attempt to contain "the best of" Dianne Reeves' contributions to jazz singing--and to American song? Reeves touches her listeners on so many heartf…
Just thought you should all know about this new 23 year old "boy wonder". Shawn is backed by an amazing trio in this album lead by Kelly Park who does some amazing arrangem…
07 Aug
Positively Colin Lazzerini by Colin Lazzerini
Tuesday, 07 August 2001
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
A most excellent jazz album. Colin has a distinctive voice and the musicians are excellent and tight making for fine music. Canada and Vancouver in particular are producing…
Lisa Otey is a Tucson, Arizona-based pianist, who's talents as a singer and songwriter are well matched with her amazing piano-playing. Lisa's latest creation is "Hard Work…
04 Aug
Thats The Way It Is by Clare Teal
Saturday, 04 August 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
By mixing Standards with contemporary covers as well as writing original material, Clare Teal totally stole the thunder from her much applauded label mate Stacey Kent, with…
Jazz lovers agree that Suede's "On The Day We Met" CD,released in 2001, is definitely one of the best! AlSantos, from 105.9 WJZW, ranked this CD #1 on histop-20 list for 20…
The title track oozes sensuality. Kari Gaffney truly is "Angel Eyes". Her heart filled emotion and intimate contralto can cause heart palpitations. Gaffney is a true singer…
25 Jul
Go Do Be by Jazztrack & Celine Berman
Wednesday, 25 July 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
For a vocalist one of the weighty ingredients to a successful delivery of a specific performance is aspiration. Aspiration to pour ones full spirit and fire into a tune as …
From the backdrop of some serious, cogent, & gainful mixing & mastering by my good friend Peter Kontrimos, (acoustic bass player, & prolific recording engineer) @ 'PBS Stud…
Well, after listen, after listen, after listen.... .... Priscilla not only proved that she had good music but she has good spirit. Priscilla wrote all of the songs except "…
We’ll Find A Way, the latest release from jazz vocalist Cathy Menard is a good CD. It’s not a perfect CD, but it’s good enough to make me want to hear more from this young …
If you take a bit of Earl Coleman, a taste of Giacomo Gates plus Obie Jessie himself and what you have is a fine vocal artist. Ellington's "Caravan" is treated to Jessie…
13 Jul
Here at the Mayflower by Barry Manilow
Friday, 13 July 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Concord Records and the jazz listening audience have felt the jazz presence in Barry Manilow's musical career for a long time, and now comes the memorable collection of jaz…
11 Jul
This Time Its Love by Patty Carpenter
Wednesday, 11 July 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
As a debut jazz vocal CD, THIS TIME IT'S LOVE will prove a delightful listening experience for jazz audiences. Patty Carpenter has a sensual, sensitive voice that lights up…
Maryland based jazz vocalist Michelle Walker’s self-produced and self-released album Slow Down is a solid, yet predictable collection of jazz standards and smooth…
For a debut jazz vocals CD, SLOW DOWN is excitingly original in concept and innovative approach, and the vocals of Michelle Walker are topnotch. Michelle Walker has a sensu…
07 Jul
On The Ground I Walk by Hydeus Kiatta
Saturday, 07 July 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Hydeus Kiatta is a San Francisco Bay Area-based singer and songwriter. Born and raised in the Monterey-Salinas region, she began performing at the age of three with her sis…
With a perky positive delivery and a rock solid group of musicians, Michelle continues to impress with her latest recording. She swings, and swoons in a way all her own tha…
05 Jul
Yardena and Zona Tropical by Yardena
Thursday, 05 July 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
This is a showcase CD collection for jazz singer Yardena. It contains seven songs written by Mark Holen and Yardena, and each song is a fine visualization of jazz images.
Bobbi Wilsyn teaches voice at Columbia College Chicago and for the past ten years has also been the featured vocalist in William Russo’s Chicago Jazz Ensemble. It’s Abou…