Truly a family affair. Mother, father and son, voice, piano and viola respectively, combine on an interesting fourth album.
An extensive range that transcends that of most jazz singers and even operatic divas, Suzanne has been active on the NYC scene for many years. However, some ten years ago her career was put on hold due to serious throat issues that required surgery. Fortunately, as this album proves, she came back better than ever. On Never Never Land Suzanne has an impressive piano solo although not enough to cause any disharmony at the breakfast table. Her C.V. includes performing or recording with iconic names such as Jeremy Pelt, Jack Walrath, Dave Liebman, Buster Williams and John Patitucci among others.
Husband Jeff can also drop a few names: Eddie Henderson, John Handy, Maynard Ferguson, Larry Coryell, Joe Henderson and Kenny Garrett are just some. Apart from his fine piano playing he's also reputedly a Moog virtuoso (it stayed in the trailer for this session) although he did play some tasty chromatic harmonica on It All Goes 'Round and 'Round. He is a tower of strength.
Evan Pittson makes his presence felt, not just by doing some violaing on three tracks but by producing the album at the Samurai Hotel up there in Queens.
Suzanne has wisely avoided the overworked repertoire of so many singers and opted for some (not all) lesser known numbers by Lennon & McCartney, Cole Porter, Stevie Wonder, Bernard Ighner, Oliver Nelson, Carole King, Betty Comden, Vincent Youmans, Slide Hampton, Buster Williams, Wayne Green and Nat 'King' Cole. This last tune, written with Minette Alton as co-pilot, I Get Sentimental Over Nothing (Imagine How I Feel About You) is absolutely beautiful. Great vocal, great piano, great melody, great lyric. This track alone is worth spending your beer money on. In its own way it has the same effect! Lance
Blackbird; Everything I Love; The Secret Life of Plants; It All Goes 'Round and 'Round; Blues and the Abstract Truth; You've Got a Friend; I Get Sentimental Over Nothing (Imagine How I Feel About You); Never Never Land; Without a Song; Love's the Thing; Something More; What Can I Do?
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