Here are a couple vocalists that take on swing and bop with style.
Whitney Marchell sings as well as plays piano on this soulful disc with guests including Clark Terry/tp, Wycliffe Gordon/tb and Jeremy Pelt/tp. She knows how to bop it as she tackles “Suddenly In Walked Bud” and “Charlie Parker’s Chicken” like she was bred for it, and her piano chops on “The Monk Swing” is an absolute delight. There’s even a hip read of “Giant Steps” which includes “Kofie Burbridge’s flute and some clever lyrics, while her delivery of “Hope” along with a harp support is a jaw dropper. She sings like she means it, and she means a lot!
Dale Head has a Rat Packer of a heart on this disc as he teams with Rory Snyder’s Night Jazz Band. He sticks to the standards, but has some fun with them as the team charges forward with a hip alto solo by Snyder on “It’s All Right With Me” and a rapid fire “My Favorite Things.” Head does some interesting lyrics with a twisty “Blue Rondo a La Turk” while sounding cozy and assured on “Teach Me Tonight,” where he also takes a flugelhorn solo. A real crowd pleaser, with a two drink minimum
Blu Jazz Productions