In one of the rare genre’s dominated by women, it’s always encouraging to come across male jazz singers. Here are a couple newer voices…
Jamison Ross’ debut disc Jamison got a nod for a Grammy nomination, and this followup is a fun and successful soulfest. He plays drums as well as handles the vocals, so he fits in perfectly with his team of Chris Pattishall/p, Rick Lollar/g, Barry Stephenson/b and Cory Irvin/B3-key. Ross has an upbeat and infectious voice and delivery, always eager to please, and it works well whether on the swampy R&B of “A Mellow Good Time” or the Nashville tender “Away,” which is a heartfelt anthem for working fathers. Pattishall shows some nice jazzy guitar work on the gospel-grooved “Keep On” while Irvin’s B3 gets ominous and harrowing as Ross shouts it out on the modal title track. Ross can get tender with nocturnal piano on a gentle “Don’t Go To Strangers” and displays a rich strong voice on the lilting “Tears and Questions” while preaching from the pulpit on “Let’s Sing Together.” Winning ways!
Vocalist and songwriter Peter Harsfall takes you to the corner of Heartache and Vine on this collection of late night/last call mooded pieces. Along with Ferg Ireland/b, Pedro Segundo/dr, Joe Web/p and Giacomo Smith/as, Harsfall uses his hushed and shadowed voice to create reflective moods as on the reflective “Then I Saw You,” a sighing “Secretly” that coalesces with Smith’s alto, and a dreamy “Paradise.” The band adds to the lonely atmosphere with a handful of laconic instrumentals, and Harsfall’s lyrics are for telling a story to the guy next to him at the bar, as on “This & Goodbye.” A Millennial take of Sings for the Lonely.