Four ladies interpreting lyrics…
Kelley Johnson has a sweet and wistful sound, working together with John Hansen/p, Michael Glynn/b, Kendrick Scott/dr and Jay Thomas/ts-ss-tp on standards and obscurities. She winsomely sings and whistles on “Anyone Can Whistle” and is coy with Thomas’ tenor for “Let’s Do It.” A rich opening duet with Hansen on 
“Lullaby of Birdland” eventually leads into a full band” while she is coy with Glynn on a winsome “Tip Toe Gently.” Always in control and in charge.
Vocalist Anne Phillips is caught in concert at LA’s legendary Jazz Bakery, teamed with the class act of pianist Roger Kellaway, bassist Chuck Berghoffer and tenor saxist Bob Kindred. Kindred supplies the obligatos to keep things relaxed and casual, as on the sighing “Embraceable You.” Phillips mixes stories in between songs, working the audience before giving a rich “Another Day Without Him” and slinking with Kellaway on “New York Night Time Blues” and going Broadway on “Watching You Watching Me.” Kellaway and Berghoffer form a great team on “easy Street” and let Phillips bear her emotions on “I’m Gonna Lay My Heart On The Line.” Old School says eternal.
Michelle Lordi sings like she’s telling you a harrowing campfire story along with Donny McClaslin/ts, Tim Motzer/g-el, Matthew Parrish/b and Rudy Royston/dr. Loose moods of bohemia tam Lordi with McCasllin’s thick tenor on her own “Poor Bird” and the dark folksy “Double-Crossed” while a fluid read of “Lover Man” mixes guitar effects to create an almost subconscious atmosphere. Lordi drifts and floats to Motzer’s guitar embellishments on an eerie “Wayward Wind” and paints it black on Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome.” Palpable tones.
Katerina Brown sings modern material and The Great Russian Songbook as she gets support from Adam Shulman/p, Gary Brown/b, Akira Tana/dr, Mads Tolling/vi, Ricardo Peixoto/g and guest horns. In her local language, her nasal tone is luminous on “The Gate” and strong as she holds her own with Angulo on “It’s Snowing.” She has a cabaret style teaming with Kenny Washington on “They Can’t Take That Away From M” in a cozy duet and gets deep with Mike Olmos’ muted horn on “Hearing Ella Sing” as well as on the big beat of “Moanin.” Uptown.