29 Jun
New York City Drag by Lorraine Feather
Friday, 29 June 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Fats Waller was a swinging striding piano virtuoso and an engaging singer with a sly wit. On this CD the piano mastery is served up by Dick Hyman (also Mike Lang on three t…
28 Jun
Memories of Loves Refrain by Patty Carpenter
Thursday, 28 June 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Patty Carpenter is a first class act, her voice rich with expression and keen understanding of each song she sings, and she has clear voice. This 8 song collection will del…
Free spirited vocalist Catherine Dupuis delivers a fun and upbeat recording thanks to her joyous delivery as well as an all star band.A pensive and somewhat introspectiv…
Armi Grano brings a lush and sensitive intimacy to her vocals for the jazzy LATIN COLOR collection. There are 11 songs on the CD. Armi Grano has a voice that lingers in…
24 Jun
We Got By by Ray Greene and Michael Nickolas
Sunday, 24 June 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Two longtime collaborators in the Boston music scene have released their first CD as a duo."We Got By" is an intimate musical affair, featuring only Ray Greene’s soulful…
23 Jun
Jazz for Kids - Vocalese by Lisa Yves and The Young Beboppers
Saturday, 23 June 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
There are children singing on this CD. Now if you have had enough of precocious tots belting out that "Annie" anthem, "Tomorrow," not to worry! The kids are hip. The music …
21 Jun
At Long Last Love by Trish Colter
Thursday, 21 June 2001
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Trish Colter is no one's cooing songbird. The bulk of At Long Last Love finds the Canadian singer fearlessly belting out standards with a full, brassy voice. The CD …
RITE OF PASSAGE is a sweet knockout of great jazz vocals, a winner in the first category! Sunny Sumter adds a special touch of class and sensitivity to anything she sings, …
18 Jun
Playin With My Friends by Tony Bennett & Friends
Monday, 18 June 2001
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
It doesn’t get much smoother ‘n cooler than this kids. Backed by the venerable Ralph Sharon Quartet (Sharon-piano, Clayton Cameron-drums, Paul Langosch-bass, and Gray Sarge…
Priscilla, accompanied by pianist Jim Lester, give the listening audience some fine renditions in the CD collection titled, BACK IN THE DAY. Voice and piano are a perfect d…
Jacintha continues to build a solid repertoire, not to mention reputation, with her third Groove Note release "Lush Life."This time she wraps her sensual voice around a …
08 Jun
All That Glitters... by Tonia Woods
Friday, 08 June 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
For a debut CD collection, ALL THAT GLITTERS... is a pleasant surprise, filled with the great talent of newcomer Tonia Woods, and featuring her in a lively blend of jazz an…
07 Jun
It's Wonderful by Susie Arioli Swing Band
Thursday, 07 June 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
The Susie Arioli Swing Band was filmed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and I happened to catch the performance recently on TV. I found the little group to be en…
Please allow me to introduce you to a new listening talent, a woman whose jazz vocals and sensual voice will define a new, pleasing form of mellow sound for those who come …
Whenever I have an opportunity to explore vocalese I get very excited, especially in the realm of jazz. In addition, if the artist has been around 30 years or more, I am th…
The name, Pastiche is French for "a combination of many styles and influences making up a single work of art." The opening song, "Don't Lose your Cool," is upbeat, Latin li…
24 May
Yardena and Zona Tropical by Yardena
Thursday, 24 May 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
This CD is my introduction to the New York based singer/lyricist, Yardena. As a vocalist, she has appeared at all the New York hotspots from The Apollo, Blue Note, Birdland…
One of the most compelling recordings to come out is on Rene Marie’s stellar "Vertigo" CD.The singer-songwriter transforms an a cappella "Dixie" into an unlikely, but po…
20 May
Remembered Faces/Private Places by Ben Black
Sunday, 20 May 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Newcomer Ben Black distinguishes himself from the rest of the pack.First, there is his hauntingly beautiful voice capable of hitting high notes that most male singers ne…
20 May
Were Live by Oscar Brown Jr. and Maggie Brown
Sunday, 20 May 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
The legendary Oscar Brown, Jr. treads a fine balance between jazz vocalist, playwright, poet, and social activist. As a vocalist and student of vocalese he rarely gets ment…
San Antonio based vocalist Ken Slavin is one of the most popular singers in that Texas town, and the hardest working. Since he started his singing career at a relatively la…
Ja (Ja Franco) has one of the most intoxicating, sensual voices in Latin jazz now recording, a voice that is uniquely fitted to these jazz motifs. 11 selections are feature…
14 May
You The Night And The Music by Kathy Fry
Monday, 14 May 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
YOU THE NIGHT AND THE MUSIC featuring the jazz vocals of Kathy Fry will find a ready audience with jazz listeners, for it has a singer whose seductive singing will captivat…
After paying her dues in the 1980's by working as a singer with Frank Foster's and Lionel Hampton's bands, all the while teaching school, Vanessa Rubin began to gain public…
Now on her second album, Jody Sandhaus is making clear that hers is a voice that wraps itself around a tune with just enough strength to obtain its essence and to earn the …
That little gal from Philadelphia has done it again. Denise King has followed up her 1998 "Simply Mellow" album with the brand new CD titled "Fever." We loved her then and …
In a musical climate where press goes to who is the most fervently hyped it is refreshing to hear someone like Canadian vocalist Melissa Walker, who has blossomed at her ow…
Who is the real Harry Connick, Jr.? Is he a big band singer, a gifted pianist, a purveyor of New Orleans funk, or an introspective crooner? The answer is somewhere in the m…
I've said it before and I'll say it again: "J.D. Walter is a one-of-a-kind jazz vocalist awaiting discovery by a wider public." It seems that the inner circle of jazz music…
Listening to Jody Sandhaus sing on her CD titled I THINK OF YOU is an enchanting, entertaining journey through some exceptional songs. Jody Sandhaus has a voice that is sub…
Does anyone remember the retro swing craze from six or seven years ago? Spearheaded by the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Squirrel Nut Zippers, and Capitol Records' "Ultra-Lounge"…
Miki Howard is a jazz singer with style, and sensitivity. Her new CD collection, THREE WISHES, fits her voice perfectly, allowing her to soar and reveal her many vocal gift…
One learns to expect nothing less than perfection from Shirley Horn and this CD lives up to her well earned reputation. Produced by Johnny Mandel, this session was recorded…
30 Apr
Live At The Village Vanguard by Mary Stallings
Monday, 30 April 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Maxjazz continues to surprise us with their top quality vocal jazz series. This time it's Mary Stallings in the spotlight at the Village Vanguard. Both Stallings and her mu…
As is what seems to be the case with talent on smaller labels, they have the freedom to find their voices. The labels allow the artists to let their talents come to the for…
27 Apr
Jazz Casual by Mel Tormé and Carmen McRae Jimmy Rushing
Friday, 27 April 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Rhino Home Video hit a splendid chord with the release on DVD of some of Ralph Gleason's "Jazz Casual" television programs from the early 1960s. This particular issue c…
23 Apr
Wish I Knew by Cynthia Kaay Bennett
Monday, 23 April 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Nashville vocalist has just released a fine debut jazz CD. The Ohio born singer has experimented with various music styles, finally settling with jazz. I think she made a w…
When I reviewed Tierney Sutton's Telarc debut CD a year ago, it generated more email from our audience than any other review. Several readers wrote to say that they agreed …
18 Apr
Over The Rainbow by Jimmy Scott
Wednesday, 18 April 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
I'd like to acknowledge jazz journalist J. Robert Bragonier and Dr. Billy Taylor, whose writings were invaluable in preparing this review. Jimmy Scott recorded this CD l…
15 Apr
The Starlit Hour by Rebecca Kilgore and Dave Frishberg
Sunday, 15 April 2001
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Rebecca Kilgore and Dave Frishberg .... .... ..a match made in heaven! Here are two natural performers. Both carry out their swinging duties without any apparent ef…
10 Apr
Sweet Melody by Rosemary Clooney
Tuesday, 10 April 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Although Rosemary Clooney was primarily a pop singer in the 1950’s, she recorded with some fine bands. Rosemary aged gracefully and leaned more toward the jazz idiom. Some …
08 Apr
New York City Drag by Lorraine Feather
Sunday, 08 April 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Just when Fats Waller fans are starving for something new, this timely release from Lorraine Feather arrived. Within an entirely new concept, Lorraine sat down and wrote ly…
Jazz vocalist Jenny Evans comes up with another winner in the pleasing collection titled GONNA GO FISHIN' and it is highly enjoyable jazz! With pianist Walter Lang giving h…
04 Apr
Teri Thornton Sings Open Highway by Teri Thornton
Wednesday, 04 April 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
The late, great jazz vocalist Teri Thornton left us way too soon after a valiant battle with cancer that finally claimed her life on May 1, 2000 at the age of 65. After nea…
03 Apr
Catch Me If You Can by Laurie Krauz
Tuesday, 03 April 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
New York vocalist Laurie Krauz's debut release is called "Catch Me if You Can." For me, I hope I won't catch it. Even though she shows promise in her 13 tracks, she still h…
31 Mar
Fever....and other symptoms by Jerry Grillo
Saturday, 31 March 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Jerry Grillo has created a jazz vocal showcase for himself with such classics as "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise," Cole Porter's "Get Out Of Town," Jobim's "How Insensitive…
28 Mar
Conviction - Thoughts of Bill Evans by Roseanna Vitro
Wednesday, 28 March 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Roseanna Vitro's vocal talents are legendary. In fact, a day will come when she will be highlighted as one of jazz's finest female voices. Having begun her career singing b…
27 Mar
A Foolish Thing To Do by LaVerne Butler
Tuesday, 27 March 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
New items from Maxjazz never disappoint. The young independent label from St. Louis always amazes me with their new talent. The jazz vocal series began with LaVerne Butler'…
23 Mar
Left Coast Life by Kitty Margolis
Friday, 23 March 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Kitty Margolis has returned to give jazz listeners another great CD collection, this time with LEFT COAST LIFE, a celebration of life and song with 11 selections. These sel…
21 Mar
The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan by Dianne Reeves
Wednesday, 21 March 2001
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Dianne Reeves is very comfortable in performing a tribute to Sarah Vaughan, having been a great fan of the late "Sassy." She learned from Sarah Vaughan and Betty Carter tha…