Alison Ruble - This Is a Bird

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:32
Size: 121,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:08)  1. Interlude
(5:29)  2. So in Love
(4:30)  3. If I Had You
(5:34)  4. Skylark
(4:41)  5. Always Something There to Remind Me
(3:48)  6. We Kiss in a Shadow
(4:32)  7. Lazy Afternoon
(2:53)  8. It's Magic
(4:48)  9. Something in the Way She Moves
(5:55) 10. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes
(3:09) 11. This Nearly Was Mine

It's amazing that out of the clutter of an industrial urban center like Chicago, a voice as serene and unruffled as Alison Ruble's can exist. For her debut recording, the opulent vocalist teams up with guitarist extraordinaire/producer John McLean for an intriguing journey through a collection of timeless American classics. The song selection, a mix of standard jazz fare and modern pop numbers, seems to suit Ruble's understated approach. McLean's acoustic guitar and stripped-down arrangements present fresh takes on the familiar and not-so-familiar. The opening "Interlude" invokes a Brazilian vibe, while Cole Porter's "So In Love" has a subdued hypnotic effect courtesy of McLean's droning accompaniment. 

The funky groove on "If I Had You" shows off Ruble's swinging capabilities. "Skylark" floats along with a carefree momentum. Jim Gailloreto's well-placed alto flute fills complement Ruble's unhurried phrasing and McLean's sympathetic comping. "Always Something There to Remind Me" opens with percussionist Geraldo De Oliveira's fine-tuned congas before Ruble explores the familiar Burt Bacharach staple. 

The tension-building, folk-rock sensibilities of "Lazy Afternoon" contrast nicely with the straight-ahead, strolling duet between Ruble and bassist Larry Kohut on "It's Magic." Kohut's playing throughout is inventive while maintaining solid support. Pianist Jo Ann Daugherty adds a lyrical presence, especially on the sensitive piano/voice duet "This Nearly Was Mine." Drummer Tim Davis provides a solid, low-profile pocket. This Is A Bird is an impressive debut from a fresh voice worthy of wider recognition.~ John Barron http://www.allaboutjazz.com/this-is-a-bird-alison-ruble-origin-records-review-by-john-barron.php

Personnel: Alison Ruble: vocals; John McLean: guitar; Jo Ann Daugherty: piano; Jim Gailloreto: soprano saxophone, alto flute; Larry Kohut: string bass, chapman stick; Tim Davis: drums; Geraldo De Oliveira: percussion.

This Is a Bird

---