Trudy Kerr - Carol Kidd - René Marie

Trudy Kerr My Old Flame (Jazzizit JITCD 0228)  *  Trudy Kerr & Ingrid James Reunion (Jazzizit JITCD 1054)
The first of these CDs is a very well conceived and beautifully executed tribute to Chet Baker, which draws upon the arrangements of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet. Trudy and bass player Geoff Gascoyne have crafted intelligent, melodic and subtly swinging charts that recapture the grace of the originals while simultaneously making their own statements. Trudy's singing voice, ringing and eloquent, is ideally suited to the atmosphere and she further displays her skills with the vocalese lyrics she has written for 'Bernie's Tune' and 'Look For The Silver Lining'. Exemplary accompaniment comes from baritone saxophonist Derek Nash, pianists Phil Pesket and Steve Melling, and drummer Sebastiaan De Krom. Also on hand for two duets with Trudy is veteran Georgie Fame. The second CD presents Trudy with an old friend from her Australian homeland, singer Ingrid James, in a fine selection of standards from the pop and jazz scenes. The two singers blend with subtle ease and once again Geoff is a key factor in supplying the framework for their graceful work.

Carol Kidd & Nigel Clark Tell Me Once Again (Linn AKD 377)
In the long gap since her last recording, Carol Kidd's vocal sound has taken on a subtle maturity that sits very well indeed with her ability to reach the heart and soul of any song she sings. Her recent return to the scene has also brought another change; now, she works in duo with the fine guitarist, Nigel Clark. As Carol's many fans will recall, she always offered a few moments during her concerts when she sang with only guitar accompaniment and the delight this brought to audiences has now been built upon with enormous success. Carol's repertoire here, as always, presents a comfortable mix of mainly standards with a few items of the best of contemporary pop. There is also an original, composed by Nigel to Carol's lyric, 'Tell Me Once Again', and very good it is too. Carol's lovely vocal sound has never been better and is superbly showcased by Nigel's fluent guitar.

René Marie How Can I Keep From Singing? (MaxJazz MXJ 109)  *  Vertigo (MaxJazz MXJ 114)  *  Live At Jazz Standard (MaxJazz MXJ 116)  *  Serene Renegade (MaxJazz MXJ 120)  *  Voice Of My Beautiful Country  (Motéma 233279)

Supremely talented, singer René Marie delivers on How Can I Keep from Singing) a pleasing mix of mainly standards with a few of her own compositions. Her daring combining of 'Dixie' and 'Strange Fruit' on Vertigo borders on the miraculous. Throughout these CDs, René delivers a striking lesson in the art of contemporary jazz singing that is thoroughly grounded in the best of the past. Impressions of her live dates can be gained from the third CD, which was recorded live at a New York club, where she offers a richly varied and always stimulating programme of songs. On the aptly titled Serene Renegade, René gives full rein to her songwriting talent. All but two of the tracks are her original songs and very good they are too.

Only a very tiny percentage of today’s jazz singers measure up to the giants of the past. René Marie is one of this distinguished minority. She always displays her credentials with seemingly effortless flair and poise; it is an inescapable fact that she is an artist to savour and admire. Central to her latest release is the suite, ‘Voice Of My Beautiful Country’ in which familiar songs central to American culture (and history and politics) are arranged by Marie, sometimes moving far from the original melodies, into a telling whole. Pointed though the lyrics of some of her songs might be, they are always melodic and overflow with invention. If you happen to have missed Marie before now, do take this opportunity to join an ever-widening audience. You won’t be sorry.

*****

Spike Robinson
 
(original painting by Bruce Crowther)

Claire Martin - Sandi Russell

Claire Martin A Modern Art (Linn AKD 340)  *  Claire Martin & Richard Rodney Bennett Witchcraft (Linn AKD 359)
Claire Martin has never made an album that was less than excellent and A Modern Art, released late in 2009, somehow manages to improve even upon the extraordinary qualities of those that went before. With an intriguing and exploratory repertoire, she offers witty, wry and thought-provoking songs that are simultaneously entertaining and filled with examples of her subtle skills. She is aided here by a fine backing band that includes Gareth Williams, Phil Robson, Laurence Cottle, James Maddren, Chris Dagley, Mark Nightingale and Nigel Hitchcock. All the compositions are treated with care and respect, the material being delivered with elegant yet deeply-rooted jazz sensibilities. An admirable set that should appeal to all who love superior jazz singing.
On Witchcraft, Claire teams up with classical composer Richard Rodney Bennett in a thoroughly enjoyable set of songs composed by Cy Coleman. Claire and Richard, unlikely musical companions on paper, have performed together for several years, delighting audiences in London and New York (and beyond) with artful explorations into many aspects of popular song. With this set, released in early 2011, they vividly demonstrate how skilled musicians from whatever field can work together with superb results when hearts and minds are in the right place. There is not a weak moment on this CD, whereon Claire and Richard sing some songs separately and others in duet and in all cases provide what must surely prove to be lasting interpretations.

Sandi Russell Incandescent (Freedom Song FSSR 1001)   *   Sweet Thunder (33 Jazz 165)
For several years, Sandi Russell has successfully toured her one-woman show, Render Me My Song, a history of African American women writers in words and music. On Incandescent Sandi is in excellent form. Mature and fluid in her vocal sound and interpretations, she is a commanding presence and with the backing of some fine musicians the result is an impressive experience. The repertoire is a good mix of popular and jazz songs, with one or two lesser known but attractive items. I had the privilege of writing the liner notes for Sandi's CD, Sweet Thunder, on which Sandi delivers outstanding interpretations of many fine songs. The following is a brief extract from my notes:

Sandi is exceptional because she is a mature, worldly woman with ample experience of music and of life. She knows what to sing, how to sing the songs she chooses, and who to have by her side as she does it.

Sandi’s repertoire is exemplary, blending the familiar with the forgotten, the overlooked with the overused (which she recreates in vibrant fashion), and adding in an occasional example of her own lyric-writing skills.

Mature and confident, Sandi’s vocal sound allows her to bring to her material musical and textual undercurrents that make her interpretations more than merely entertaining songs – although they are certainly that. These performances, rich in musical knowledge and lyrical subtexts, are a joy to hear and will linger for a long, long time when the ephemera that abounds today has been forgotten.

Ian Shaw - Carol Sloane - Marlene VerPlanck

Ian Shaw Soho Stories (Milestone MCD 9316 2) * Drawn To All Things (Linn AKD 276)

A strikingly gifted singer, Ian Shaw, applies his wide ranging vocal sound to a delightfully varied selection of songs on the first of these CDs. More than most of his peers in the crowded world of the jazz singer, Ian is an immensely talented musician who just happens to be a singer. The instrumentalists gathered for this session, which was recorded in New York City, include James Pearson , Eric Alexander, Bob Kindred, Lew Soloff and Cedar Walton. Everywhere on this wholly admirable CD the reason for the acclaim Ian garners from fans and fellow musicians is immediately apparent: Class tells.
The second eagerly awaited CD finds Ian in splendid form and vividly demonstrating his lively sense of adventure by drawing his repertoire from songs not usually associated with jazz. The subtitle of this set is The Songs Of Joni Mitchell and Ian declares his admiration for this artist through his fluent exploration of a singer-songwriter of exceptional talent. On this enjoyable set are many moments of sublime singing and it is clear with every song that this is a major singer at the very top of his game. Fans of Ian will need no urging to buy this CD; those who are unfamiliar with his work or who have yet to pay him the attention he deserves paid should take immediate steps to rectify this omission.

Carol Sloane Dearest Duke (Arbors ARCD 19350) * We'll Meet Again (Arbors ARCD 19400)
A 2007 release, Dearest Duke, is dedicated, of course, to Duke Ellington. Unusually, singer Carol Sloane's only partners here are pianist Brad Hatfield and tenor saxophonist/clarinetist Ken Peplowski. Mostly, Carol has selected ballads, but there are a few tracks with the languid bounce that marked so many of Ellington's compositions. Everything is performed with stylish elegance; the instrumental solos, the accompaniment, and Carol's impeccable singing. On We'll Meet Again, Carol's 2009 release, the singer is again joined by Ken Peplowski, the pair being backed with great empathy by Bucky Piazzarelli and Steve LaSpina. The song selection draws upon familiar yet by no means overused items from Carol's lovely repertoire. The quality of singing and instrumental playing is so high that it would be easy to fall into superlatives. And why not? After all, Carol Sloane is one of the very finest singers of the Great American Song Book active today and we should be grateful for sharing the same time and space. Of all the many jazz singers performing today, very few have the enormous talent that Carol displays in everything that she does. Anything that bears her name is an assurance of jazz singing at its very best. She is, in a word, superb.

Marlene VerPlanck Once There Was A Moon (Audiophile ACD 338)  *  One Dream At A Time (Audiophile ACD 340)
Marlene VerPlanck's albums are never less than very good indeed; often they are breathtakingly excellent. For Once There Was A Moon, Marlene is accompanied by the trio of Tedd Firth, Steve LaSpina and Richard DeRosa. Also present are the imaginative treatments Marlene’s lat husband, Billy VerPlanck, brought to his concepts for the songs. And, as always, these songs are exceptionally well-chosen, if seldom heard gems from some of the classical composers of American popular music. Most recent is One Dream At A Time, released early in 2011. This is the first album from Marlene since the death of Billy VerPlanck. Nevertheless, his importance in the musical structure of Marlene's world is present throughout. Here again, Marlene has selected her songs with admirable care, interspersing standards with overlooked gems from the past and original material presented here for the first time. Marlene's accompanists include Tedd and Steve, for example, as well as Tomoko Ohno and Ed Vodicka. As for Marlene's singing, the way in which she continues to maintain the bell-like freshness that has always marked her work suggests miracles. Indeed, a newcomer to Marlene VerPlanck's work might well expect her to be a new kid on the block. The difference, though, lies in the assured maturity of her interpretations, which are as close to perfection as it gets.

Bruce Crowther - he's ...

... been here and gone.