Album review: Duchess: A Marvelous Party (ANZIC Records)

Duchess: Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner, Melissa Stylianou (vocal trio) + Michael Cabe (piano); Jesse Lewis (guitar); Matt Aronoff (bass); Jared Schonig (drums); Erica von Kleist (alto/soprano sax); Jason Rigby (tenor sax); Owen Broder (baritone sax); Summer Camargo (trumpet); Nick Finzer (trombone); Oded Lev-Ari (piano tk 8)

Think of the Boswell Sisters, the Andrews Sisters, the Keynotes and, more recently, the Puppini Sisters. Girl vocal groups whose harmonies defined the times be it the Wall Street Crash, World War ll or its aftermath.

Duchess have absorbed all of those elements as well as adding a few distinctive harmonic touches of their own on this, their fourth release.

It's a concept album. Once upon a time you had to have a gimmick. These days you have to have a concept. In this case the concept is a party and given credibility by stringing together a dozen loosely related lyrics that form the basis of A Marvelous Party. 

So, let the party begin.

This Could be the Start of Something Big: A swinging start. Great vocal arrangement over classic biggish band chart.

Lucky Day: Baritone, trumpet and trombone boot it along before the girls hit lucky.

Are You Having Any Fun?: Trombone has a lot of fun whilst the girls make their play.

Ain't That a Kick in the Head: They're in love and so am I with this group.

Enjoy Yourself: A philosophy I heartily go along with. 

Hey Look me Over: A Cy Coleman song, nice relaxed tenor solo, some nifty guitar licks and the girls making an offer I couldn't resist.

It's All Right With me: Alto enhances the vocal (and vice-versa).

I Went to a Marvelous Party: A marvelous lyric by Noël Coward and the girls are in recitation rather than singing mode - it's a hoot!

Champagne: "I'm never gonna drink again" How many of us haven't said that after a party? Baritone solos soberly. Cork pops at the end - deservedly so.

Put on a Happy Face: The party's fizzling out although the horns keep it going and the girls do what it says on the label.

Is That All There is?: Peggy Lee made this Leiber and Stoller song her own which is no reflection on Amy, Hilary and Melissa - I think  Peggy would have approved.

Danke Schoen: A bitter sweet ending to a must have album that vocal group groupies, irrespective of gender, will be adding to their bank holiday lists unable to wait until Xmas.

To sum up - A Marvelous Party. Lance