Search - Mary Stallings :: Spectrum

A Swinging Affair From Mary Stallings

Gary L Connely | Hercules, CA | 08/01/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I won't bother to rehash my lament that so few people are familiar with San Francisco jazz legend Mary Stallings - but if you're interested, you can check out my review of her first Concord Jazz album, "I Waited for You." Instead, let's proceed to her second Concord release, "Spectrum," another set of standards, (including stand-out versions of "Things Are Looking Up," "Soft Winds," "Black Coffee," and "Tears in Heaven").



"Spectrum" is a fine example of Ms Stallings' relaxed, swinging style - harking back to Carmen McRae with, as someone once observed, a dash of Dinah Washington's sass. You'll never find Ms Stallings at the extreme ends of the scale, but she navigates the middle of the register with uncommon good taste and, yes I mean this, grace. Ms Stallings is a class act.



On "Spectrum," Ms Stallings is backed by pianist Gerald Wiggins, (check out his "Live at Maybeck Recital Hall" solo recording if you want a real treat), Ron Escherte, (guitar), Andy Simpkins, (bass), and Paul Humphrey, (drums). And Harry "Sweets" Edison, another legend, shows up to blow trumpet on six tracks. The playing by all concerned is uniformly excellent.



The sonics are Concord's usual quality: Clean, clear and warm."