Ladies that carry on a rich vocal tradition…
If anyone is qualified to give tribute to the quirky but swinging Blossom Dearie, it is the quirky but swinging ex-Hot Lick Roberta Donnay. She’s joined by a mix and match of Mike Greensill/p, Ruth Davies/b, Mark Lee/dr, Jose Neto/g, and some cameo guests for some well chose and delivered Dearie delights. She swings it with Neto plugged in on “The Party’s Over” as well as looking good in nylon strings for “Inside A Silent Tear”. She knows how to have fun, digging into “Roberta’s Blues” and bouncing with Davies on”Just One Of Those Things”, even snapping her fingers to “Put On A Happy Face”, while glowing on “You Fascinate Me”. Blossom flowers here.
Molasses toned Samara Joy oozes relaxed style and warm with her core team of Ben Paterson/p, Pasquale Grasso/g, David Wong/b, Kenny Washington/dr in cut and paste style. On the one larger scale tune with horns, she is bold and ebullient on an alluring read of “’Round Midnight” with cozy and cooing with just Grasso on the porch for “Someone To Watch Over Me”. Her vibrato is a gorgeous ripple, delicate with the “oohs” of “Misty, and reclining on “Nostalgia”. Her tone is reminiscent of the lower register of the clarinet ,warm and woody on “Can’t Get This Out of My Head” and calm on the still waters of “Sweet Pumpkin”. 90% dark chocolate flavor with every bite.