(Review by Ann Alex).
After 10 years of performing, studying and teaching, songwriter, arranger and vocalist, Andrea Claburn has finally recorded her first album. ‘Frisco based Claburn studied jazz in California, as well as performing throughout the Bay area and further afield. Nightshade is made up of 5 original songs by Claburn and 7 fresh interpretations of jazz standards and all except 1 track have been arranged by our singer. All the instrumentalists are said to be world-class, and although I’m not familiar with their names, they all sound well up to the mark and beyond.
I was especially pleased with 2 of the numbers, Skylark and Turn out the Stars, and it was good to hear less played standards such as I Can’t Help It (Betty Carter). Ms Claburn was in good voice, especially on the faster numbers where she clearly fitted in many words. Whilst I enjoyed the CD, it did seem to have a familiar sound. Perhaps I’ve just had too many similar albums to review lately!
Skylark has a bass opening and then trumpet and voice seem to fly and soar in the sky, before the voice fades out - a very effective arrangement. Turn out the Stars, a slow ballad of lost love, morphs into a swing with a skilled piano solo. Lionheart (not the Kate Bush number) is a sweet song about Claburn’s younger daughter aged 6 who is talented in martial arts, and Bird on a Wire (Metheny, not Leonard Cohen) is one of the fast vocals. The other tracks are Claburn’s My Favorite Flavor; The Fall Of Man; Colors Of Light and Steal Away (not the spiritual – It’s a good job that song titles are not subject to copyright). The other jazz standards are Infinite Wisdom; After You’ve Gone; and Daybreak.
The CD is due to be released on January 13, 2017. See www.andreaclaburn.com
Ann Alex
Andrea Claburn (vocals); Matt Clark (piano, Fender Rhodes); Sam Bevan (acoustic & electric bass); Alan Hall (drums); John Santos (perc); Terence Brewer (acoustic & electric guitars); Erik Jekobson (trumpet & flugelhorn); Kasey Knudson (alto sax); Terry Raven (tenor sax); Rob Ewing (trombone); Mads Tolling (violin & viola); Joseph Hebert (cello)
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