26 May
Black Coffee With Peggy Lee by Peggy Lee
Wednesday, 26 May 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Peggy Lee's "Black Coffee" is as good today as when it was released a half century ago. Time hasn’t diminished any of the late-night sultry appeal that Lee squeezed into ev…
She's sultry, assertive, compelling.............And, nice looking too!Oregon based Jazz singer Belinda Underwood comes to us multi-honed.......A double threat..........She …
First, it's always nostalgic to review an artist from my roots. And,seeing the name Peter Kontrimos, a bass player extraordinaire as well as consummate recording engineer, …
With all the modern ingredients of jazz, time, phrasing, taste,incandescence, et al.........jazz chanteuse Alma Micic steps up to the vocal plate & hits a home run with her…
23 May
I'm Not A Sometime Thing by Carol Mennie
Sunday, 23 May 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Little did listeners of Dom Minasi’s Time Will Tell CD realize, when they heard Carol Mennie sing "Round Midnight" as a haunting rendition of sometimes indeterminate…
23 May
Frank Sinatra The Christmas Collection by Frank Sinatra
Sunday, 23 May 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Now that Christmas songs are pounding our ear drums from the time we are still trying to find creative ways of finishing all that left over turkey until December 26th. It i…
22 May
Dreamtales by Claudia Villela with Kenny Werner
Saturday, 22 May 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Complete, total improvisation is not everyone's cup of Earl Grey -- not even to experienced improvisers, who (if they have any humility or self-awareness) realize that i…
Linda Pettersson is a vocalist with a bright future. Following in the steps of other Swedish singers such as Alice Babs, Pettersson's easy going style is sure to appeal to …
21 May
The Christmas Collection by Frank Sinatra
Friday, 21 May 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
The chairman of the board, old blue eyes, the entertainer of the century-those are a few of the things people think of when Mr. Frank Sinatra comes up in a conversation.
Elegant, stylish, filled with charm...this best describes the lovely voice of Adele Nicols performing on NEVER LET ME GO. There is a straight-forward feel to her vocals tha…
The husky-sweet voice of Lynette Washington lights up the night with a collection of American Standards that is sure to please the jazz listening audience. Direct, warm, im…
19 May
You Don't Know Me by Faith Gibson
Wednesday, 19 May 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
A lively collection of blues-tinged jazz vocals make this an entertaining and enjoyable listening experience. Every song is a delight. Ten songs make up the collection.…
19 May
Live: A Fortnight in France by Patricia Barber
Wednesday, 19 May 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Patricia Barber continues to prove she is a jazz artist with a vision and a true passion for her art. Live: A Fortnight In France is her newest 2004 release for Blue…
Words of Wisdom is a blend of smooth jazz and traditional jazz with Fred's voice bringing it all together like a fine meal!! Fred Wisdom has a unique style which set…
Now that Fay Victor has stopped residing in the Netherlands, she has started recording songs about her experience there. As a person who neither was born nor stayed there, …
Ann Austin is recording her first CD at the encouragement of well-known New England pianist John Harrison III, and the result is the introduction of a vocalist with a style…
With a plethora of Grammy awards and other accolades under their collective belt, The Manhattan Transfer scores yet another winner with their new release, Vibrate.
Too short but very cool!In the grand institution of style with great vocalists of cool such as Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Al Martino, Len Guardino offers his vocal …
Again the signature string style of Tuck Andress mixed with wife and partner Patti Cathcart has produced a gift that the jazz society can embrace. A Gift of Love released i…
11 May
The Complete Improv Recordings by Tony Bennett
Tuesday, 11 May 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
There was a period in the mid-1970’s when Tony Bennett, disillusioned with a change of management at Columbia Records, struck out with a business partner to start his own r…
Quality through and through, The Manhattan Transfer delivers powerful and exciting performances in their VIBRATE, a fine collection of jazz vocals. Great music from an endu…
Not bad! Not bad @ all!! With some potent influence from both Sarah & Shirley, jazz singer Judy Bady spills out her vocalisecogently to a discerning world. And, I'll tell y…
05 May
Christmas Time Is Here by Dianne Reeves
Wednesday, 05 May 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Dianne Reeves has recorded her first, and hopefully not her last, Christmas CD, and no doubt it will be one of the best-received albums of the season. For the Christmas rec…
04 May
The Story Goes On by Alexandra Billings
Tuesday, 04 May 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Recorded live at the Theater Building Chicago, this collection features topnotch performances by Alexandra Billings. Her voice will attract a large listening audience. …
04 May
Speak Beak by Regina "Beaky" Johnston
Tuesday, 04 May 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
This is a new singer on the block, and she is very good with the American Songbook. Beaky is the name she goes by, and with SPEAK BEAK, she brings the jazz audience a nice …
03 May
The Principle of Uncertainty by Mark Quint
Monday, 03 May 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Mark Quint is a singer/songwriter that brings to mind other vocalists in the jazz realm such as Mark Murphy, Kurt Elling, Bob Dorough, Mose Allison, Dave Frishberg, and esp…
Out of the depths of what sounds like a 'Verdi Baritone,'comes vocalist Danny Barrett with his innate & natural sense of the interpretation of a song's lyric. Danny coaxes,…
Vocalist Sue Giles has been raised on a steady diet of big band jazz, Broadway tunes, Burt Bacharach, rhythm & blues and swing. Since then, she has come into her own by reg…
29 Apr
Accentuate The Positive by Al Jarreau
Thursday, 29 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Accentuate the Positive, Al Jarreau’s latest CD and his third with the GRP label, is exactly what the title implies: a positively good time by one of the world’s pre…
The opportunity to experience the sensuous and melodic voice of Marilyn Scott is an opportunity that should not be missed. With a style that is etched in the annals …
Bob Dorough’s 80?That’s hard to believe. His voice is just as hip and quirky and distinctive as ever. His songs are just as engaging as ever, with that outsider’s view o…
22 Apr
New York After Dark by Frank Jackson
Thursday, 22 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
I have to confess that I'm grooving as I review & totally imbibe the towering talents of Ron Carter-bass, James Williams (RIP)-piano, Billy Pierce-reeds, Kenny Washington-d…
22 Apr
Make Believe by Jessica Molaskey
Thursday, 22 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
You just can't go wrong with the musical collaboration of JessicaMolaskey & jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli. The definition of 'swing' is manifest in their combined musical …
21 Apr
Aces Back To Back by Bobby Darin
Wednesday, 21 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
It's so easy when you know how and so pretty when you do it right...This album is not only packaged beautifully, it contains 20 tracks from live performances and liner note…
20 Apr
A Lot Of Livin by Deborah Tranelli
Tuesday, 20 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Deborah Tranelli comes across with style and emotion in A LOT OF LIVIN'. She has a voice that is clear and projects with much feeling. There are thirteen songs on this …
20 Apr
Make Believe by Jessica Molaskey
Tuesday, 20 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Jessica Molaskey has given us another excellent collection of jazz vocals. For those jazz listeners who enjoyed the previous CDs, PENTIMENTO and A GOOD DAY, this collection…
17 Apr
Scores: Songs from Copacabana and Harmony by Barry Manilow
Saturday, 17 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
For jazz fans of Barry Manilow, Concord Records has brought out the wonderful SCORES, a collection of songs from Copacabana and Harmony. The music is fresh, innovative, and…
15 Apr
You Don't Know Me by Sofia Laiti
Thursday, 15 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
The seductive Finnish vocals are almost Dietrich-esk as Sofia Laiti introduces you to her distinct interpretation of jazz vocals with "You Don't Know Me" released by Midnig…
15 Apr
Vibrate by The Manhattan Transfer
Thursday, 15 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
The Manhattan Transfer has maintained its popularity to a dedicated core of fans throughout its 30 years of existence by continuing to evolve eclectically even as it has re…
14 Apr
Notes On The Bridge by Mariah Picot
Wednesday, 14 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
It's a wonderful rumination to ponder what God & spirituality can spawn for such an animated jazz project. Vocalist Picot & her triounder the tutelage of Bill Peterson, del…
Anita’s back.How many times has an article or broadcast segment announced Anita’s Baker’s return with those words? But they’re natural because her music was such an o…
13 Apr
Opportunity Please Knock by Teraesa Vinson
Tuesday, 13 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
In her eponymous Opportunity Please Knock, Teraesa Vinson has released a mainly intimate affair with small swinging combos that amply display her velvety cool vocals, versa…
13 Apr
Taking A Chance On Love by Jane Monheit
Tuesday, 13 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Already a sensation at the age of 26 and the subject of a continuing stream of magazine and newspaper articles, Jane Monheit has moved her career up another notch by signin…
When last we heard from Judi Silvano, she was putting her heart in her music by recording a duo CD, Riding A Zephyr, with Mal Waldron, one of his last that was recor…
12 Apr
Vibrate by The Manhattan Transfer
Monday, 12 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
A few months ago my wife and I saw The Manhattan Transfer in concert and though they sounded great, the performance had a "by-the-numbers" feel of dispassionate professiona…
11 Apr
Sing It To Me Anyway by Nadine Goellner
Sunday, 11 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
The release of Nadine Goellner’s new CD " Sing it to me Anyone" was as much of a delight to hear, as it was to review. The CD was a mixture of sensuality, and high-spirited…
With the level of musicianship I'm hearing both vocally &instrumentally on this disc........I'm thinking.....'Top Chops.'Vocalist Judi Silvano & her musical entourage deliv…
Peter Cincotti’s first self-titled CD, released by Concord, was an unqualified success. As a result, he joined the growing list of jazz/pop singers who possess the talent, …
05 Apr
Live: A Fortnight in France by Patricia Barber
Monday, 05 April 2004
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Patricia Barber along with Kurt Elling, one of the jazz finds from Chicago who have broadened the musical palette of Blue Note is recording her first CD solely for Blue Not…
Dealing within the lexicon of the American Songbook, is the conservative way to create a viable CD project. Jazz singer Karen Manion has accomplished such..........Her repe…