LA’s best studio studs turn out for this session lead by vocalist Julie Kelly, and it was time well spent. She’s got a husky and throaty tone, sort of like a Harmon muted trumpet, and she picks some clever material beyond the Great American Songbook-good call.
The all star rhythm team of Bill Cunliffe/key, Tom Warrington/b, the indefatigable Joe LaBarbera/dr and Walter Rodriguez/perc deliver supple support on material like Phoebe Snow’s lazy and relaxed “Harpo’s Blues” and the samba “For Joni” while Kelly handles the bop beat with perfection on “High in the Sky” and with Nick Mancini’s vibes on “You’re the Dangerous Type.” She gets cozy with Anthony Wilson’s guitar on Dave Frishberg’s “Our Love Rolls On” and glows with Cunliffe’s piano on “I Have the Feeling…”. The horn section of Clay Jenkins/tp, Ron Stout/fh, Bob McChesney/tb, Kim Richmond/as, and Bob Sheppard/ts-ss-fl delivers some excellent punch, with Sheppard’s flute floating on “ I Wish I Could Go Traveling Again.” Sophisticated, original, but even more important, enjoyable!
Jazzed Media Records