(Reprinted from the April 2021 issue of the New York City Jazz Record)
London’s Edition Records has expanded its roster of select U.S. jazz vocalists—a propitious move. Kurt Elling, who signed to the indie label in 2019, debuted Secrets Are The Best Stories on Edition a year ago this month, taking home a Grammy in the best vocal jazz album category for it earlier this year. Long-time industry favorite Gretchen Parlato chose to launch Flor, her first album as a leader in six years, on Edition just last month. And Sachal Vasandani, the label’s latest vocal signatory, drops Midnight Shelter, his first recording for the imprint, on Apr 23.
Like Elling and Parlato, Vasandani sings with rich expressiveness, never sacrificing the lyric to empty vocal embellishment. Thus, you feel as much as hear the longing in his minimal renditions of covers like the Beatles’ “Blackbird” and Harry Styles’ “Adore You”, remakes of jazz classics like Abbey Lincoln’s “Throw It Away” and Wayne Shorter’s “Dance Cadaverous”, and originals like “Summer, No School” and “One Last Try”. Recorded in Brooklyn last July, with pristine comping by French-born composer/pianist Romain Collin, this duo album isn’t a pick-me-up as much as a cathartic antidote to pandemic stir-craziness.
Begun before and completed during the coronavirus crisis, Allan Harris’ Kate’s Soulfood (Love Productions) celebrates the post-Renaissance Harlem of the guitarist/singer’s youth. These 10 tracks reverberate with gospel-infused inspiration (“Wash Away My Sins”), romantic R&B (“Color of a Woman”), and soul grooves (“I Grew Up (Kate’s Place)”). But while Harris’ deep baritone warms each of these upbeat originals, his subtle lyrics call for social justice. Harris continues the uptown tribute each Tuesday evening with “Harlem After Dark, Unplugged”, streamed live via Facebook from his living room.
Singer/trumpeter Chet Baker came to New York in 1958 to record for the Riverside label, which had started only five years before. Though young, the record company was behind the important reissues of artists like Jelly Roll Morton and Ma Rainey and would go on to produce some of the most influential names in jazz, like Thelonious Monk, Cannonball Adderley and Charlie Byrd. Last month, Craft Recordings re-released four classic Baker albums from the Riverside collection: (Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen to You, Chet Baker in New York, Chet and Chet Baker Plays the Best of Lerner and Loewe. These records, pressed in vinyl from the original analog masters, feature Baker with several fine New York musicians of the day—drummer Philly Joe Jones, pianist Bill Evans and guitarist Kenny Burrell among them. Be forewarned that beloved as Baker’s voice is, the dated arrangements on these albums veer at times toward the treacly. (Then again, sometimes you just want something sweet.)
These days, for all practical purposes, musicians outside of New York are as close as those within; until live stages return to supplant our devices, we might bend this unusual situation to our advantage and discover some non-resident voices. Take singer/pianist Bruce Brown, for instance. Raised in L.A., residing in New Zealand, the recording artist draws vocal inspiration from Chet Baker’s California cool and his songwriting bent from Dave Frishberg’s cleverness. His February release, Death of Expertise (s/p), stands out for its gentle swing (“A Mind Is A Terrible Thing”) and tongue-in-cheek delivery (“Losers Are People, Too”).
Ohio-born, Chicago-based Joanie Pallatto—formerly with the Glenn Miller Orchestra—also turns a smart phrase, both vocally and lyrically. She wrote music and/or lyrics to all but one of the 14 cuts on My Original Plan (Southport Records), demonstrating equal dexterity in jazz and pop idioms. To hear her smooth scatting, listen to the title track, a Latin-feel exposition on the value of accepting change. The new disc hits online stores Apr. 16.
Originally from North Dakota, San Francisco singer Sandra Marlowe brings classical training and big band experience to The Heart Always Remembers (Lovedog! Media). Her strong arrangements provide just the right frame for her luscious tone on tunes like the snappy “Fascinating Rhythm”, Irene Kral’s charming “Nice Weather for Ducks”, and the elegant title cut.
Estonia native and violinist/singer Ingrid Hagel just launched New Beginnings (WinterDreamMusic), nine compositions of restless beauty performed by her skilled sextet of Baltic musicians. For a teaser, listen to their eerily satisfying tune, “Breathless”, on YouTube. In explaining the song title in an email, Hagel wrote: “During the last year, the events and pandemic have left me, many times, breathless”. She is not alone.