Search - Robin Mckelle :: Modern Antique

With Her It's The Fab Band!

H. L. Dietor | Greensburg, PA | 10/21/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It seems to me that with many of the talented 'standards' singers we have now, the songs are about only their voice or sometimes you're left thinking, "Didn't much care for the singing, but the band was very good." With Ms. McKelle who has an outstanding voice and wonderful excitment in her enterpretations, I say no either/or here! It's as close as we're going to get to those great Big Band moments that our grandparents were lucky enough to experience. On both of her CDs, Ms. McKelle shares the space with some outstanding musicians who make these tunes more than a great time. So, it's a two-fer, and a grand listening experience. Swing on!"

Modern Antique is the Jumbo Shrimp of Contemporary Classic

Eric C. Sedensky | Madison, AL, US | 12/29/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's old news that when it was released in 1982, Steve Miller's "Abracadabra", with the icy fire of his loud whisper, and the obvious innuendo of the lyrics created a mild sensation. Twenty six years later, Robin McKelle's jazzy remake is the only choice for leading off her interesting recording, Modern Antique. That catchy lead-off was really all I needed to want this recording, but on the whole, I find the entire CD exuberant and invigorating. Robin's sound is as attractive and flowing as the pretty pink dress in the liner notes, and her professional approach can be appreciated even in the absence of a single defining characteristic of her music. She's scats with enthusiasm, takes a pleading tone, mocking tone, or whatever each song calls for. She's multiple muses all in one. Seriously, she's efficient and accurate, and when singing the jazz standards that make up most of the rest of this recording, like Comes Love, Lullaby of Birdland, Lover Man, and Cheek to Cheek, that is really what demanded. It also helps that she has the equivalent of a big band supporting her, which keeps the excitement level high and the music robust and full throughout. I suppose Robin will never be accused of being a genuine imitation, even if she almost exactly duplicates some of the original copies of other singers that came before her. But that's why when other performers are found missing, Robin can act naturally and pull off a terribly pleasing piece of vocal jazz.

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