Search - Kelley Johnson :: Music Is the Magic

A GREAT VOICE!! A WONDERFUL JAZZ SINGER!!

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 02/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Five JAZZY Stars!! Discovering the marvelous singer Kelley Johnson is a wonderful experience. This Kennedy Center Ambassabor and award-winning singer's third CD is totally enjoyable. Her yearning, clear voice is amazing, her diction is impeccable, her low notes are engaging, she knows when to drop in a surprising 'blue note', and her vibrato is 'to-die-for'. That vibrato suspends notes at the end of a phrase and enjoyably takes them far beyond the point where most singers have released and moved on: great attention to detail. And she is daring in many places, taking chances that are impressive as in "What The World Needs Now" delivered as a dark, beautiful nuanced ballad.



The 'Pieces De Resistance', the best of the best, begin with a great, loping version of "Without A Song" that would probably bring a smile to Sonny Rollins' face, where Kelley starts her colorations from the very beginning. "Tea for Two" is totally enjoyable 'gear shifting' pleasure. Other standards, "The Tender Trap" and "Old Devil Moon" are engaging renditions that are fresh with great instrumental solos. And there is an interesting melding of "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" and "God Bless The Child" that totally works. Let's hope Kelley gains a wider audience because she is a wonderful jazz singer with great versatility, lots to say, and who runs with a sterling, fiery jazz group (Brian Lynch on trumpet, Geoffrey Keezer on alto, John Hansen or Steve Wilson on piano, Essiet Essiet or Daryl Hall on bass, Jon Wikan on drums, and Renato Thomas on percussion) that solos and supports at a high level. Highly Recommended!! Five SWINGING Stars!!



(This review is based on an ITunes digital download.)"