What impressed me most about this new CD is the clarity of the voice! The voice belongs to Debbie Deane, and she is a powerhouse of a jazz singer! The CD is titled DEBBIE D…
26 Mar
Oh What a Thrill by Barbara Sfraga
Sunday, 26 March 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Making an exceptional debut as a leader, versatile vocalist Barbara Sfraga engages listeners straightaway with her multi-faceted style on 12 jazz/pop standards and original…
17 Mar
Stay The Night by Cassandre McKinley
Friday, 17 March 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
When this CD arrived in the mail, my wife read over the tune list, handed me the recording and said "Cassandre McKinley made this CD just for you". Puzzled, I looked at the…
16 Mar
Live At HotHouse Cafe by Brenda Carol & ClaireVoyance
Thursday, 16 March 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
It is not too often that jazz listeners get an opportunity to hear such a great live performance as is found on LIVE AT HOTHOUSE CAFE with jazz vocalist Brenda Carol & Clai…
Barber's sometimes gets more attention for her primitive cool aloofness than for the sheer artistry of her vocal phrasing and, especially, the drama of her pianism. Her voi…
12 Mar
Let There Be Love by John Pizzarelli
Sunday, 12 March 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
On his second session for Telarc, John Pizzarelli, picked 15 great numbers from the ranks of America's finest songsmiths. I was delighted to discover Irving Berlin's "I'm P…
11 Mar
I Can See Clearly Now by Dena DeRose
Saturday, 11 March 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Here's a CD that belongs in the collection of lovers of small group jazz. I was delighted to find it in my mailbox, having heard it on my favorite jazz radio program. De…
Pittsburgh vocalist, Lisa Hindmarsh makes her solo debut with her CD titled "Know I Know." Having earned a Master's Degree in voice in the early 1990s, Lisa joined the a ca…
The Manhattan chanteuse, Lisa Kirchner comes by her musical talents naturally. Her mother was a coloratura soprano who entertained in New York supper clubs and her father i…
Film buffs will know Stacey Kent as the big band singer in the movie "Richard III". Others who get up early to watch Sunday morning television know of her improbable story …
This is the sixth CD from three-time Grammy nominee, Nnenna Freelon, and has been eagerly awaited by her many fans. Her rather eclectic tastes lead to a very pleasant blend…
Tina Lear’s new release is a truly refreshing approach to a blend of jazz and modern folk music. The accompaniment varies considerably from track to track and includes trio…
22 Feb
Live at the Discovery Theatre by Bill Dowdy Jazz Trio plus Dee Dee McNeil
Tuesday, 22 February 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
In his over 40 years of playing professionally, drummer Bill Dowdy has worked with such jazz greats as Nat Adderly and Coleman Hawkins in addition to teaching at Michigan S…
20 Feb
Never Neverland by Jane Monheit
Sunday, 20 February 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Monheit has a sensuality that?s top-notch for female jazz vocalists. The first track ?Please Be Kind,? is a spirited plea for the lover to be gentle to the heart. She expre…
18 Feb
Bill Henderson: His Complete VeeJay Recordings, Volume Two by Bill Henderson
Friday, 18 February 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Koch Jazz deserves a hearty round of applause for bringing out this Volume 2 collection of jazz ballad singer, Bill Henderson. These are his classic renditions, recorded du…
16 Feb
Things I Gave Away by Molly O'Brien
Wednesday, 16 February 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
The eclectic among you may know Mollie O'Brien as a "folk" singer, and she is, but that's only part of her story. I'd say that O'Brien is simply a singer, and with THINGS s…
14 Feb
Hearts and Minds by Susannah McCorkle
Monday, 14 February 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Gosh! Has it been that long? Susannah McCorkle has been recording since the mid ‘70s and this is her 18th album. Happily, fifteen of her CDs are still available on Concord …
The Toronto based vocalist was born in British Columbia thirty years ago. With her jazz group, Cash Cow, Jennifer Ryan has appeared at jazz festivals in Canada and the USA.…
Here's a very nice CD from Minnesota vocalist, Sue Tucker. The session was recently recorded in Minneapolis and is quite a delight. Sue has chosen to perform ten standar…
01 Feb
For All We Know by Hayati Kafe
Tuesday, 01 February 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
From Sweden, comes an unusual and well-crafted CD titled "For All we Know" featuring the smooth jazz vocals of Hayati Kafe. Kafe has a smooth, emotional voice, and one will…
Brenda Conti's first jazz CD release, "Catharsis," is an enjoyable journey. Conti is a singer as well as the writer of the music & lyrics. She has a sweet, soft jazzy voice…
Tina Lear’s new release is a truly refreshing approach to a blend of jazz and modern folk music. The accompaniment varies considerably from track to track and includes trio…
27 Jan
Elvis Sinatra: (Mostly) Live! by George Leonard
Thursday, 27 January 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
ELVIS SINATRA; (MOSTLY) LIVE! is a lot of fun, and enjoyable! This is a DVD video. Filled with surprises, all good, this DVD will entertain you with the voice of George Leo…
22 Jan
Being Alive by Alexandra Billings
Saturday, 22 January 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
BEING ALIVE marks the debut of a new jazz vocalist whose voice is both sensual and sensitive, alive and emotional, and clear and articulate! The singer is Alexandra Billing…
15 Jan
Let There Be Love by John Pizzarelli
Saturday, 15 January 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
On his second session for Telarc, John Pizzarelli, picked 15 great numbers from the ranks of America's finest songsmiths. I was delighted to discover Irving Berlin's "I'm P…
11 Jan
Love Happened To Me by Phillip Manuel
Tuesday, 11 January 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
In its sixth vocal jazz issue, Maxjazz offers Phillip Manuel with his debut album for their label. Phillip performs a nice blend of originals and standards in his unique ja…
Sometimes a new face just seems to come out of the blue. A talent that wasn't there and just then was. For Debbie Deane, as with most talents, it was the usual decade plus …
05 Jan
Destination Moon by Clairdee
Wednesday, 05 January 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Had Nat King Cole been born a woman, he might well have chosen the voice of Clairdee for his voice! Please allow me to introduce you to one of the finest jazz/blues singers…
04 Jan
Live At HotHouse Cafe by Brenda Carol & ClaireVoyance
Tuesday, 04 January 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
It is not too often that jazz listeners get an opportunity to hear such a great live performance as is found on LIVE AT HOTHOUSE CAFE with jazz vocalist Brenda Carol & Clai…
03 Jan
Live At Yoshis by Dee Dee Bridgewater
Monday, 03 January 2000
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
This is the most exciting release by Dee Dee Bridgewater ever to grace my collection. The singer is at her very best on this live session recorded at Yoshi's in Oakland on …
29 Nov
Crazy Eyes by Mary Foster Conklin
Monday, 29 November 1999
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
She's standing there on the cover, lovely black and white photograph, big smile, looking to the heavens. You know what this is; you turn it on. "You got a blue eye", sings …
For those of you in the jazz audience who enjoy the intricate piano stylings of Hank Jones, you are in for a special treat with the CD collection, TAKE TWO, as he joins jaz…
A vocalist Sweden can be proud of, Agneta Baumann loves to sing. Her sense of joy is one of her trademarks when listening to her material. Covering standards with style as …
01 Aug
Autumn Leaves: The songs of Johnny Mercer by Jacintha
Sunday, 01 August 1999
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
AUTUMN LEAVES is an enchanting set of vocals saluting the lyrics of Johnny Mercer. The CD collection contains 12 memorable songs. Among these songs are "And The Angeles Sin…
This new CD was nicely compiled by Eric Miller for Pablo and is drawn from alternate takes and previously unissued material. Sassy Sarah is presented in varied formats incl…
One of the great joys in listening to Jazz interpretations are the many variations offered up by musicians. Even though you may have heard Round Midnight a hundred times, b…
My advice for these dog days of summer is to grab a cool beverage, get in front of a fan, and just veg to Private Wars. This is the perfect music for days when any unnecess…
19 Jul
Youd Be So Nice To Come Home To by Christine Hitt
Monday, 19 July 1999
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Here is a young vocalist/pianist who will be placing a bit of heat on Diana Krall. The Minnesota born artist raised within a musical family. Christine holds a Bachelor's De…
Regardless of their reasons for playing music, the chances of a musician forging a successful career are astronomical. I've watched many talented musicians struggle for yea…
Beautiful voice, gifted pianist: That is how I would define jazz vocalist, Dena DeRose. Her collection of 10 selections in the CD titled ANOTHER WORLD is outstanding! J…
Flawless, entertaining, excellent are the three words I would use to define Nika Rejto and her CD titled LIQUID LOVE featuring the piano stylings of Taylor Eigsti. A fine c…
24 Jun
Words and Music by Joanie Pallatto
Thursday, 24 June 1999
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Joanie Pallatto is always a special treat to listen to her vocalizations, and her voice is wonderful in this release! The CD has 15 selections, and the musicians accompanyi…
Libby York is a New York born jazz vocalist now residing in Chicago. Blue Gardenia is her first CD and hopefully, not her last. The smokey voiced singer reaches back to the…
There is something wonderfully special in the direct manner which Rose Bonanza delivers a jazz vocal. The best way to explain it is to listen to her version of Cole Porter'…
This isn’t a record; it’s a conversation. Barbara Morrison talks to her band, her duet partners; most emphatically she talks to you, in a piercing style hard to forget. Whi…
26 May
Straight From The Heart by Sweet 'N Jazzy
Wednesday, 26 May 1999
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
This CD has a lot of romantic feel to it, and has a definite 1940s touch of elegance to it! Barbara Folden on vocals, Michael Raphael on vocals and piano, David Cleveland o…
The great jazz divas displayed a number of qualities. Ella -swinging agility; Betty Carter and Carmen McRae- inventive rhythmic phrasing; Sarah Vaughan-that incredible rang…
06 May
Take the High Road by Linda Ciofalo
Thursday, 06 May 1999
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Linda Ciofalo opens her CD with Cole Porter's "You Do Something To Me," and you know immediately here is a jazz vocalist that has style, energy, and emotion! Mike Capoblanc…
My gosh, another Texan! There's a lot of nice talent emerging from the Lone Star State recently. Janice Garner is a new young Dallas vocalist who fits perfectly into the to…
21 Apr
Peggy Cone Sings by Peggy Cone
Wednesday, 21 April 1999
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
This debut recording heralds a bright new vocalist. Peggy Cone is a native New Yorker and appears here with a small group including Andrew Hall, bass; Vincent Jacqz, piano;…