A Special Stylist Who Covers the Gamut of Fine Blues and Jaz
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 06/17/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Carla White is a very personal singer: what comes from her throat obviously is filtered through her heart and head and is offered to us as the experiences of a woman who has experienced life - in all its pixels. This recording is as much a presentation of a fine jazz group as it is a springboard for a vocalist of importance.
Joined with John Hart on electric and acoustic guitar, Dean Johnson on bass, Matt Wilson on drums and music box with the happy addition of Claudio Roditi on trumpet and flugelhorn, Carla White seems more intent on being apart of the whole than as just a singer with backup. On many of the songs each of the ensemble is allowed equal time as a soloist. And the result is some dazzling jazz playing.
Carla White's style is one that hovers around pitches, a seductive maneuver that pulls the listener into the process of finding center while she plays with the periphery. Her voice is like plush velvet when she wants to sing to us about intimate things and on other songs she demonstrates that she is a mistress of scat like few others. Songs on this CD include 'It's Kind of Lonesome Out Tonight', 'May I come In?', 'Sweet and Slow', 'What are you doing for the rest of your life?', a spectacular 'Your Mind Is On Vacation' - a total of 13 works on this 63 minute concert. The repertoire contains a terrific sample of what this group can do.
There is an intimacy that is palpable here, an atmosphere of relaxed comfort that we are sitting in on a session among a few very talented friends. This is a classy collection and well worth the attention it is bound to gain. Grady Harp, June 06"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1