Album review: Yolee Hyde - Reverie (self released)

Yolee Hyde (vocals); Chuck Findley (trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn on tks 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12); Jesse Snyder (saxophones on tks 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, clarinet on tk 8, drums; Brian McCree (bass); Richard Russell (guitars); Alex Czerny (piano, keys).

One must conclude after listening to Reverie from vocal artist Yolee Hyde that reverie certainly describes both her joy while performing it and ours as receptive audience. Truly artistically embracing a dozen selections from the Great American Songbook, Hyde and a team of stalwart performers gives us an enjoyable and refreshing perspective on the tried and true.

Latin and straight-ahead rhythm bed grooves launch I’ll Remember April. Hyde covers the Gene de Paul, Patricia Johnston and Don Raye 1941 warhorse (from the Abbott and Costello movie Ride ‘Em Cowboy) with elegant taste and she is bookended with tasty solos and fills from jazz master (and brother-in-law) Chuck Findley.

When Sunny Gets Blue is an intimate take with Hyde telling the tale. Hyde’s time and phrasing on this is impeccable, as it is throughout the date. Tenor saxophonist Snyder delivers an appropriately romantically lush solo.

Alex Czerny’s keys lift Hyde off on the exquisitely tasty The Very Thought of You. With such well-recorded selections as these, there’s tendencies that this reviewer has heard where artists attempt to place their “signatures” and, in doing so, actually detract from the original essence and melodic and lyric beauty of the tunes. That’s not the case here and this track is a perfect example of Hyde engaging with melody and lyric in the most respectful and artistic manner. It is a highlight track.

Yolee (Yolanda) has resided in Hawaii for decades and was married to Wrecking Crew trombone ace, the late 'Slyde' Hyde. A well-known and respected Los Angeles vocalist and actress back in the day (her acting manager was Huntz Hall of Dead End Kids/Bowery Boys fame). She is also the granddaughter of vocalist/actress Pilar Arcos, one of the first breakthrough Latin recording stars in the 1920s. With a musical pedigree worthy of a Kentucky Derby winner, Hyde has always been an artist of elegance, grace, and swing. Here her voice, time, phrasing and lyric statements are spot-on. Never over-bearing and intimate to your ear, Hyde is pure vocal appeal.

The pace opens up on Easy to Love. It is a straight-ahead take with Hyde and Jesse Snyder’s brushes stating. Snyder also offers a virile tenor ride. Hyde has deep swing here. Something tells me a scat solo would have been a Hawaiian Surinam Cherry on this tasty cake.

Hyde and crew go soulful on Georgia on my Mind. The track has a nice, laid-back groove with Hyde and Findley alternating statements and the rhythm section well-pocketed. I’m Old Fashioned is another swinger. Hyde again cooks timewise and Jesse Snyder’s clarinet adds a fine touch. The appropriately placed ballad That’s All ends the session with Hyde again impeccable and Findley adding a trombone solo.

Throughout the date the Red Water Trio of multi-instrumentalist Jesse Snyder, bassist Brian McCree, guitarist Richard Russell and pianist/keyboardist, Alex Czerny are stellar supporters.  Reverie is a lovely way to spend a near-hour in a panorama of Yolee Hyde and her compadre’s sublime interpretations and consummate musicianship. Nick Mondello  

Tracks: I’ll Remember April, When Sunny Gets Blue, The Very Thought of You, A Sunday Kind of Love, God Bless the Child, Easy to Love, Georgia, I’m Old Fashioned, Corcovado, Black Coffee, The Nearness of You, That’s All.

BANDCAMP