Karen Souza is what we used to call a “CHANTUUUUZEEE.” A modern day Julie London, she uses this disc to essentially create a mood to be wooed. Her voice dynamics range between a seductive whisper and a seductively breathy hush.…
Author: George W. Harris
Caswell Sisters featuring Fred Hersch: Alive in the Singing Air
OK, let’s just get the obvious out of the way, “Sisters, Sisters, There were never such devoted Sisters.” Don’t you already feel better? Now, on to the review-Rachel takes the vocals, Sara grabs the violin, Mama sang bass, daddy played…
JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU’VE HEARD ALL WORTHWHILE MALE SINGERS…David Allyn: ’41-’63 Where You At? ’41-‘63
If you thought having a collecton of Jackie Paris recordings made you a fan of obscure but great jazz vocalists, David Allyn is going to take you to the next level. Mezzo-baritone in voice, sounding a bit like a mix of…
BEST TRIO EVER? Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack Dejohnette: Somewhere (Live in Lucerne 2009)
If they’re not the best, they’ve got to be at least on the same plane with Oscar Peterson’s or Bill Evans’. They’ve sure been around long enough, and Jarrett/Peacock and De Johnette play the standards with a remarkable telepathy. The…
The Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane
Here’s what is as close to a “definitive” documentary of the Rolling Stones as you’re going to get. Produced by Mick Jagger and Victoria Pearman, Crossfire Hurricane includes recent audio interviews of almost all of the Stones through the years…
Michel Camilo: What’s Up?
If nothing else, Grammy winning pianist/composer Michel Camilo is known for his exciting and expressive chops. He’s used them most often in a trio format, but he’s also been successful in doing orchestral works of Gershwin. He’s also done a…
LUTHER HUGHES: LUTHER’S REFORMATION
If someone is a newcomer to jazz, where would you direct him to begin? Miles? Ellington? Armstrong? Mehldau? For my money, forget about artists, and start with years. 1959. Any album, whether it was by Miles Davis or Sammy Davis…
MARY WILSON: SUPREME SINGER
How many of us look back nostalgically to certain periods of our lives, when imagine that we were a) more popular b) better looking c) more athletic or c) richer? Some of us look back at the past and see…
CELEBRATING FATHERS
Let’s face it, if it weren’t for fathers, most of us wouldn’t be around. We’ve all had them, some of us are them, and some of us fathers have been called a “Mother.” Having said all that, the sign of…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Shamie Royston: Portraits
So, sue me. Sue me. What can you do me? I confess! Mea culpa! I took one look at this cover of Shamie Royston, contemplatively looking through a curtain and thought “another singer of the Great American Songbook and best,…