Album Review: Sharon Sable & Joe Holt - Once Upon a Summertime: The Music Of Blossom Dearie

Sharon Sable (voice); Joe Holt (piano) + Amy Shook (acoustic bass tracks 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11)

I remember listening to Blossom Dearie before I knew about jazz, and being fascinated by her naïve and lovely sound. Readers of BSH don't need me to outline her work of six decades, performing in jazz clubs, cabaret, in Paris, London, NYC, and covering the GASbook and her own material.

These two performers developed this project during the lull of lockdown, twelve tracks including two written by Ms Dearie, Inside a Silent Tear  and I Like You, You're Nice. 

Ms Sable's voice is similar to that of Ms Dearie but after listening to the latter I have to say that Blossom definitely has the edge, but perhaps comparisons aren't appropriate. Joe Holt's piano is superb, adventurous and complementing the singer well, yet never losing the feel of the original tune throughout his improvisation.

Little Jazz Bird is full of delightful fun and Ms Sable gives personality to the song. You Fascinate Me So has a clever piano solo and delightful lyrics such as 'make your sanctimonious little speech to me'. The title song, written by Michel Legrand et al, is suitably slow and sad. They Say It's Spring has a pleasing piano and bass duet. Tea For Two is sung very slowly, just as Blossom Dearie used to perform that song, and the album is rounded off with Dearie's intriguing I Like You, You're Nice, and a more electronic sound on piano.   

Sharon Sable began by singing pop songs in the '90s but later graduated towards other types of music, including performing with top jazz musicians around the Philadelphia area, and she is now a sought-after vocalist. Joe Holt has been playing jazz since the 1970s and is now a revered accompanist and jazz soloist in the Greater Baltimore/Washington region.

The CD is self-released and is available at all fine retailers from April 11. see websites sharonsablemusic.com and joeholtnotes.com. Ann Alex

Little Jazz Bird; You Fascinate me so; Down With Love; Once Upon a Summertime; Letang; They Say it's Spring; Surrey With the Fringe on Top; Inside a Silent Tear; Gentleman Friend; Boom; Tea For Two; I Like You, You're Nice.