LET
IT BE JAZZ - The Remarkable Album
Review from the Sept. '03
issue of "Swing
Journal
The Magazine for Jazz Devotees in Japan
Written byTakao Ogawa
Translated by Takashi Kasai
" LET IT BE JAZZ - The Remarkable
Album, in which jazz singer Connie
Evingson nobly approaches to Beatles' tunes in their late
period"
"This
is the album for the Beatles by the white female singer,
Connie Evingson. She tries to approach to the Beatles' tunes
in the relatively noble way, which leads this album to success.
Without any complicated or exaggerated expression, she sings
the familiar melodies straight with jazzy feelings. I'm impressed
with her high skill.
The main selection
of the tunes from the Beatles' late period is not bad. The
tunes that the Beatles performed in their first period have
the deeper taste of rock music, so I think it difficult to
arrange them for jazz vocal. In this point her selection
is not in
the wrong. But before all,
how great the Beatles are! What a wide range of the tunes
they released! Their talents with broad eyes have brought
great success to them. And Evingson sings their excellent
songs with her excellent voice very politely. What I was
impressed with especially is "Blackbird", "For
No One" and "I
Will". She has made success to make the beautiful
melodies hidden in the original tunes bloom more vividly.
She has
not tried for any exaggeration. She is natural. But she
is impressive
at the same time.
The support of the
backing musicians is also wonderful. Mainly she sings with
the piano trio, but sometimes
adds the other instruments with it. Especially in "Black
Bird" the electronic sitar is
effectively added, which makes the image of the Beatles more
vivid. I also like the guitar in "Wait" and "Fixing
a Hole". I think that these are the typical
examples to keep the vocal part and the instruments' performance
in good balance. Highly recommended!! "
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