The vocal-guitar duo has a long history in jazz with vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass, Rosemary Clooney and Ed Bickert (9 times), Sheila Jordan and Barry Galbraith, Samara Joy and Pasquale Grasso, and other examples. And, it is not every day that an Australian singer flies to Los Angeles to record an album with one specific musician. Well-known vocalist-composer, Michelle Nicolle did just that to record this uniquely fascinating duo album with one of LA’s finest guitarists, Larry Koonse. The album is comprised of 10 selections with eight well-known re-works, a Nicolle original, and a cover of a New Zealand pop group’s hit.
The
album opener, When Your Lover Has Gone has Nicolle and Koonse in a stark
vibe and develops from there. She shines with fine precision then gravitates
from the original melody into an intense scat. Koonse’s backing here is
perfection. I Hope I Never is a cover of an Aussie pop hit. Nicolle is
intense and powerful with the lyrics and Koonse’s multi-tracked background is
perfection. Nicolle sings the intro and breaks into a spectacular take of I’m
Glad There is You. This is vocal intimacy nonpareil. Her timing and dynamic
inflection are superb. Putting It Off, a Nicolle original, is a hip,
almost theatrical bit about procrastination. Her scatting over Koonse’s comps
is feverish. Things build intensely as the guitarist lets fly on a fine solo
before resolving things with the original melody.
Nicolle
has obvious influences from the great vocalist masters, Sara Vaughan, Dinah
Washington and Ella Fitzgerald, in particular. She has a gymnast’s flair in her
melodic approach and embellishment. Further, working with Koonse as the only
accompanist, i.e., rhythm section, her time is both swinging and impeccable.
Larry Koonse is, as always, a stellar performer. However, here the guitarist
takes things to a higher strata of swing, accompaniment, and support.
Rodgers
and Hart’s 1929 classic, With a Song in my Heart has been recorded by
everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to the penguins in Happy Feet (Village
Roadshow Pictures, 2006). Here the tune is taken in triple meter and Nicolle
belts it out of the proverbial park. It’s very much a highlight track. All
the Things You Are is a melodically and harmonically complex tune. After a
rubato solo intro, she and Koonse launch into the “kitchen” to cook. There’s fine
time play here and a hip scat solo from the vocalist. She doesn’t miss across
her very admirable range. It is a playfully enjoyable take. Only Trust Your
Heart from Benny Carter and Sammy Cahn is a lovely laid-back bossa groove.
Koonse and Nicolle really dive into the contrapuntal aspects. Another
highlight. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?, outside of The
Curtain Falls, probably the most apropos closer of this genre of album.
Nicolle’s take is sublime and deeply dramatic. A perfect ending to a fine
overall session.
The
Silent Wish is a not so silent tour de force
of talent, musicianship, and taste. Nick Mondello
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