25 Jun
Nina Simone Live At Montreux 1976 (DVD) by Nina Simone
Sunday, 25 June 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Known as the High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in music and humanities. Beginning her life as one of seven siblings of a poor …
Known as spontaneous, engaging and exuberant, award winner George Evans is a favored vocalist on the Canadian music scene. Evans’ creativity keeps him in the limelight on s…
21 Jun
Jazz Vocalists—Hear and Now by Various Artists
Wednesday, 21 June 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
This is a listener-friendly, two-disc set that was released on April 25, 2006 by the Jazz Alliance International. It contains 36 standards and Contemporary classics by t…
19 Jun
A Lot Of Livin To Do by Jonathan Poretz
Monday, 19 June 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Jonathan Poretz swaggers into our living rooms and hearts with "A Lot Of Livin’ To Do," the title and opening track from his debut album consisting of standards by some …
18 Jun
Wild Women Never Get The Blues - Well Almost Never! by Marguerite Mariama
Sunday, 18 June 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Ida Cox (1896-1967) walked into the Paramount studios in Chicago during the summer of 1924. During the session the legendary blues artist waxed four takes of her own compos…
Grady Tate: Drummer. That’s how most jazz listeners characterize him. But Tate has alternated between drumming and singing throughout a career that spans almost half …
14 Jun
Open by Dominique Eade + Jed Wilson
Wednesday, 14 June 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Dominique Eade’s influence extends beyond her memorable recordings to her success in teaching another generation of jazz singers during her 22 years on the faculty of the N…
Just Smile is the debut album of the 25 year old singer Matteo Brancaleoni.Although he was born and bred in Italy, Brancaleoni brings a distinctly American …
10 Jun
Jimmy Scott--Milestone Profile by Jimmy Scott
Saturday, 10 June 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Formerly known as ‘Little’ Jimmy Scott, this seasoned performer is back, after passing into obscurity for nearly a decade. Born in 1925, Scott lost his mother early in l…
09 Jun
Blues in the Night by Ann Hampton Callaway
Friday, 09 June 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Haunting, scintillating, infectious Blues In the Night shows off Ann Hampton Callaway’s perfect pitch and three octave range vocals, along with her ability to mast…
08 Jun
Just Smile by Matteo Brancaleoni and Sellani
Thursday, 08 June 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Just Smile' is the sensational debut album of the 25 year old singer Matteo Brancaleoni (pronounced Brankaleeonee), one of the younger generatio…
07 Jun
Avenue of The Americas by Tom Lellis
Wednesday, 07 June 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Tom Lellis brings his many talents, moods, and interests to his latest release, Avenue of the Americas. The 11-track CD is a mix of original compositions, reworke…
Produced by Tommy LiPuma and Phil Ramone, Before Me, is a poignant, heartfelt tribute to stellar female artists - Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaugha…
07 Jun
Summer Me, Winter Me by Jan Eisen
Wednesday, 07 June 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Jazz diva Jan Eisen recorded this session live in the studio sans booths, headphones or added frills. That’s where recording engineer Dick Hamilton uses his ears and kno…
06 Jun
I'll Take Romance by Michele Thomas
Tuesday, 06 June 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Vocalist Michele Thomas is one of those new artists that you anxiously wait to hear more from, after their first CD has been released. Indeed, if larks could record CDs,…
31 May
From This Moment On by Diana Krall
Wednesday, 31 May 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Once Diana Krall’s career started to climb, it never stopped gaining altitude. Even now, a leveling off from the strictly vertical climb does not seem to be imminent. Movin…
Roberta Donnay is an uncommon jazz singer with an extensive background voicing soundtracks for film, television and awards programs as well as performing in the rock mus…
Dreams, we all have them, but what are they and what do the mean? Many experts disagree on exactly what the purpose of our dreams is and how they relate to our awaken st…
Vocalise music has an appeal for everyone. Lise Vachon reveals an inventive patchwork of vocal jazz rhythms coupled with World Music which is definitely worth che…
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of picking up a CD by one Chris Camozzi, a fantastic guitarist being produced by keyboard mastermind, Jeff Lorber. It was truly one of t…
09 May
Givin It Up by George Benson/Al Jarreau
Tuesday, 09 May 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Once upon a time in the kingdom of jazz, the term "legend" meant that an artist’s contribution to his chosen craft was significant enough to change the overall sc…
06 May
Two White Mothers by Liz Magnes and Sandra Bendor
Saturday, 06 May 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
With a title like Two White Mothers, it’s hard to know what to expect. Social satire? Comedy? Rap? Folk? In this case, it is a release from jazz duo Liz Magnes and S…
Dreams, we all have them, but what are they and what do they mean? Many experts disagree on exactly what the purpose of our dreams is and how they relate to our awakened…
03 May
I Love Being Here With You by Dione Taylor
Wednesday, 03 May 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
The second album by Canadian songstress Dione Taylor, I Love Being Here With You, finds Taylor in fine form and backed up by an orchestra of top rated, world-c…
03 May
San Francisco Bay Jazz by Johnny Smith
Wednesday, 03 May 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Armed with an air of casual cool, Johnny Smith puts a new spin on a set of well-chosen jazz standards. First of all, the trio that appears on San Francisco Bay Jazz
26 Apr
Easy To Love by Roberta Gambarini
Wednesday, 26 April 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
There are many fine jazz vocalists out there but Roberta Gambarini is truly something special. "Gambarini is a true successor to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen …
For her first release in four years, Natalie Cole turns to a group of contemporary songwriters for material. She smoothly covers an unexpected set of songs by Fiona Apple, …
19 Apr
Don't Go To Strangers by Etta Jones
Wednesday, 19 April 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Etta Jones had been singing for years, but it was this 1960 release, her first for Prestige, that helped establish her as a top-notch jazz singer.The album is hig…
A smooth operator, a crooner, a classical jazz vocalist, who mixes it up with a soulful swinging sophisticated style. Evans’ new recording Bewitched, features s…
How gracefully Nancy Wilson ages. Would that everyone could with as much class. I’m sure that Wilson wouldn’t mind my saying that. She says as much through the songs …
Divine, exciting and glorious, are only a few words to describe Glady Knight's latest Verve debut release, Before Me. Sure to become a landmark recording for the c…
From the land of windmills and wooden shoes to the town where Tony Bennett left his heart all those oh-so-many-years ago, vocalist/recording artist, Ellen Honert, inject…
Roger Cairns is a voice activated jazz artist who has recorded a CD entitled A Scot in LA. When listening to Roger’s album, I found his vocal style to be e…
01 Apr
Vintage Pop and the Jazz Sides by Andrew Suvalsky
Saturday, 01 April 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Andrew Suvalsky, began his musical career as part of the Jackie Allen Jazz Group in Chicago. Soon after, he was part of the Old Tow…
West Coast Jazz had its own sound before Ronald Reagan wore diapers or kissed a monkey, back to about when Ullyses S. Grant nearly gave the-entire-country-and-everything…
25 Mar
Some Small Dive by Mark Robinson
Saturday, 25 March 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Breathing new air into classic old standards, vocalist Mark Robinson takes on the world of the Great American Songbook, mirroring the depth of Perry Como, the suave of Tony…
This is the debut CD of Kat Parra. As vocalist and award-winning songwriter, she is sensitive and spirited in this collection of songs. For a first time out attempt, thi…
18 Mar
The Best of Lou Rawls: The Capitol Jazz & Blues Sessions by Lou Rawls
Saturday, 18 March 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Listening to Lou Rawls sing "Something Stirring in My Soul," recorded in 1966 for his Capitol release Carryin’ On, there’s little wonder why he became such an eff…
12 Mar
The River In Reverse by Elvis Costello/Allen Toussaint
Sunday, 12 March 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
British born icon Patrick MacManus as well known as Elvis Costello and his folk tale peer from New Orleans, Allen Toussaint, are kicking hit parades with The River In…
Who did not quiver when first walking into the sole Piazza of Venice? Venetians are special and mysterious characters. Rooted in their strong Byzantine/Renaissance cultu…
08 Mar
Look At Me Now by Laika Fatien
Wednesday, 08 March 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Look At Me Now is a gorgeous album of standards from Parisian chanteuse Laika Fatien. Her tone is graceful and clear, yet nonetheless sultry. She is accompanied…
Nancy Wilson continues to craft some of the most beautiful jazz vocals around. With the musicians on this collection, she is in fine company and her voice is perfect for…
07 Mar
Blues in the Night by Ann Hampton Callaway
Tuesday, 07 March 2006
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Ann Hampton Callaway makes her Telarc CD debut with this memorable collection of songs. The CD is compact, mellow, and a joy to listen to. These twelve songs are enjoyab…
02 Mar
Midnight in Manhattan by Lisa Hilton
Thursday, 02 March 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Angelic fingertips follow the ivory laden road as Lisa Hilton rejuvenates the classic fantasy "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." In her exquisite, but sinfully, sultry mix of…
26 Feb
Brown Baby Girl by Brown Baby Girl
Sunday, 26 February 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Jamie Finegan and Lorenda Robinson make beautiful music together! When this duo wrote their first song together, "Ignorant Bliss," the foundation was laid for Brown Bab…
26 Feb
Avenue of The Americas by Tom Lellis
Sunday, 26 February 2006
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Jazz vocalist Tom Lellis is a purveyor of optimism. Feeling down and lonely? Then it might be a judicious and soul-satisfying move to break out Lellis’ new release, whic…
22 Feb
The Fantasy Sessions by Bobby Sharp
Wednesday, 22 February 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
The Fantasy Sessions is the debut album for 81-year-old Bobby Sharp. He is a well known songwriter, whose "Unchain My Heart" was made famous by the great Ray Char…
From the percussion and bass reed version of the Monk/Ferro song "It’s Over Now (Well, You Needn’t)" and her groove enriched version of the Rogers and Hammerstein clas…
19 Feb
Live at the Kennedy Center by Roseanna Vitro
Sunday, 19 February 2006
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Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
Never have yodeling and the simultaneous prospect of infidelity seemed so appealing. Roseanna Vitro’s Live at the Kennedy Center somehow manages to deliver both in…
18 Feb
I Walk Alone by Ellynne Plotnick
Saturday, 18 February 2006
Published in
Jazz Vocals - CD Reviews
On I Walk Alone, the sophomore release from Ellynne Plotnick, the jazz vocalist delivers of collection of original tunes and some well-chosen classics. Plotnick is a…