Search - Ayelet Rose Gottlieb :: InTernal-ExTernal

Liner Notes by Andrey Henkin (All About Jazz-NY) If jazz is dying, then vocal jazz is probably already cold. but if this is all nonsense, and it is, then Ayelet Rose Gottlieb is jazz vocals' vibrant beating pulse. Upon hearing her debut effort, I was struck by many things: Her ability to assimilate all the masters of the form, not stopping at Billie Holiday but going on forward to Jeanne Lee and beyond; Her understanding of musical composition; and her courage in investing every note of her songs and delivery with her wit, heritage and personality. Gottlieb's Internal- External is a far cry from today's average vocal record. Of the outside sources she chooses, Ornette Coleman's "Peace" is almost a standard in certain circles though not for singers and Mingus' "Portrait" is one of the bassist's more obscure compositions. But the strength of Ayelet Rose Gottlieb is not in her ability to interpret other people's work but to creat her own. Throughout the record, she is in the musical trenches with her companions, talented players of a couple of generations. Rather than being borne aloft by a backing band, she is fully integrated into the complex and robust compositions. Gottlieb is not another singer who felt that jazz would put her in the spotlight. Rather, she is an accomplished musician and writer who understands that the voice was the first instrument and that she has a long heritage not only to uphold but also to continue.