Amanda Carr - Tender Trap

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:58
Size: 119.0 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[4:05] 1. Never Will I Marry
[3:35] 2. (Love Is) The Tender Trap
[5:39] 3. I'll Close My Eyes
[3:05] 4. Do It The Hard Way
[3:02] 5. What We Were Asking For
[3:16] 6. Tulip Or Turnip
[4:08] 7. I'll Never Be The Same
[4:15] 8. That Old Devil Moon
[6:45] 9. Throw It Away
[3:23] 10. I Couldn't Live Without You
[4:56] 11. Foolin' Myself
[2:51] 12. What Am I Here For
[2:54] 13. No More Blues (Chega De Saudade)

With so many female vocalists releasing new jazz CDs in a given year, it is extremely difficult to grab one's attention; Amanda Carr's third CD, though released by a small label, has the ingredients necessary to do so. Carr is gifted with a pleasant voice, terrific diction and the ability to pick a wide-ranging program that neither skews to overly familiar standards or a heavy dose of originals. Accompanied by a fine trio led by veteran guitarist John Wilkins (with bassist Bronek Suchanek and drummer Kenny Hadley), her intensity comes across immediately in the stunning opener, "Never Will I Marry." Wilkins' superb guitar and guest Dick Johnson's perky alto sax underscore her lighthearted interpretation of Rodgers & Hart's "Do It the Hard Way." Carr delivers a swinging take of Duke Ellington's infrequently performed "Tulip or Turnip," with a smoking tenor sax solo added by Arnie Krakowsky. Suchanek's burning arco bass (together with Wilkins) introduce her exotic rendition of Abbey Lincoln's powerful "Throw It Away." She also makes her mark as a composer, offering the lively bop vehicle "I Couldn't Live Without You" (jointly written with Suchanek). Amanda Carr deserves greater attention in the jazz world. ~Ken Dryden

Tender Trap

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Amanda Carr - Carr Toons

Size: 102,3 MB
Time: 43:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1997
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. It Ain't The Meat It's The Motion (2:18)
02. Watch What Happens (4:52)
03. We'll Be Together Again (5:36)
04. Maybe (4:48)
05. Lullaby Of Birdland (3:55)
06. Scotch And Soda (2:50)
07. Someone To Watch Over Me (4:10)
08. Mean To Me (5:29)
09. Just Another Spring (5:26)
10. Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree (4:10)

Recorded in 1996, Carr Toons was intended by Amanda Carr to merely test her pedigree and create a modest demo of vocal jazz standards. Formally a rock and pop singer, Amanda finally followed in the musical footnotes of her parents and entered the jazz genre. Weaving in a couple of originals, Maybe, and composer John Kester's string-laden Just Another Spring, this collection is a delightful and varied offering of a singer whose musical growth was to be measured in future recordings. The swinging version of the WWII anthem Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (Andrew Sisters) was a long-running feature in a New England regional television ad campaign which brought Amanda's voice into thousands of homes.

Carr Toons

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Amanda Carr - Live In San Giorgio

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 47:47
Size: 109.4 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[5:36] 1. Sweet Marta
[5:22] 2. That Old Devil Moon
[3:10] 3. The Nearness Of You
[4:38] 4. Watch What Happens
[6:57] 5. Nothing's Wrong
[4:08] 6. They Can't Take That Away From Me
[6:21] 7. Night And Day
[5:02] 8. Save Your Love For Me
[6:29] 9. Take Your Time

"So where is San Giorgio, Italy?.S.G. is a quaint 11th century village just a few miles south of the Italian Alps where the 2,300 local residents peacefully make their living or commute to the larger surrounding cities of Turin, Ivrea or Milan. In 1998, I was performing in Ivrea for the Eurojazz Festival which included appearances in peripheral cities and towns. A good friend of mine, who lives in San Giorgio, proudly showed me around this village and I stayed a few nights with his family... I fell in love with the place: the ancient winding streets, the central square framed by its historic church and the people who were so accommodating and interested in me and my music. After viewing the Teatro Comunale (Central Theater), we decided it would certainly be worth doing a concert there. I contacted Luigi Martinale in Turin and the rest of the trio who agreed to perform in March of 99 when I returned to Italy. The theater acoustics rendered a good opportunity for a live recording and thus, the birth of the CD. The material I chose is a combination of original compositions and American standards that I thought would gracefully cross the language barrier. Limited time with the players and a feeble grasp of Italian was a challenge that created a naturally dynamic environment and , ultimately, an exciting recording. The generous instrumental and solo sections, to me, make for good listening. Live in San Giorgio is the result of four of us whimsically getting together and, transcending mere words, coming up with something delightfully memorable."

Live In San Giorgio

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