Gretje Angell (vocals); Dori Amarillo (guitar, production); Kevin Axt,
Gabe Davis, Chuck Berghofer (bass on various tracks); Michael Hunter (trumpet);
Steve Haas (drums); Kevin Winard (percussion); Orchestra – Budapest Scoring
(track 4)
(Review by Ann Alex)
I'm rejoicing to hear yet another talented woman singer on
her debut CD. Ms Angell hails from Akron, Ohio and her father and grandfather
were both drummers. She played string bass and performed with her father at jam
sessions. She studied classical music and is now part of the Los Angeles jazz
scene, leading her own groups and singing with many other bands.
However, the most surprising thing is that she also sings
soprano with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera Company. I think she must have
two voices, as on this CD she is definitely doing jazz, with a jazz feel and an
alluring tone, a million miles away from sopranoship, if that is a word. It
actually demonstrates how adaptable voices can be. Full marks for that!
The CD title is a compliment to the guitarist, who can
apparently play any song in any key, and also gives us great solos. All the
instrumentalists are well up to the mark. The selection of songs is GASbook and
Latins, including 3 duets with voice and guitar, One Note Samba; Tea For
Two; Them There Eyes. The first of these is with a Spanish guitar feel and
light percussion: the second is slow and with the verse (thankfully); the last
is the final track, very fast, with scat from voice and guitar (can guitars be
said to scat?).
Other tracks are Our Love Is Here To Stay (done as a
bossa, nothing like Sinatra); I'm Old Fashioned; Fever (Latin flavoured
and sultry, such amusing lyrics) Deep In A Dream (accompanied by a 60
piece orchestra, with wordless singing); Berimbau (in Portuguese); Do
Nothing Till You Hear From Me.
A very enjoyable listening experience, which was released on
July 25 on the Grevlinto 00-001 label. Available from Amazon, CDBaby and
iTunes. See www.GretjeAngell.com
Ann Alex
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