Beverley Beirne - Dream Dancer

Styles: Vocal
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:51
Size: 125,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:17) 1. Let's Face the Music and Dance
(4:58) 2. Weaver of Dreams
(3:46) 3. Now We're Just Friends
(3:46) 4. Let's Dance
(5:24) 5. Day Dream
(5:53) 6. Temptation
(4:10) 7. Fascinating Rhythm
(3:42) 8. Bill
(2:55) 9. Old Brazil
(4:56) 10. Winter Moon
(6:42) 11. Dream Dancing
(4:16) 12. Pieces of Dreams

Why haven't I heard this great singer before? I've been asleep on the job. This is Ms Beirne's third album, new takes on songs to do with dancing, a very enjoyable listen with a tinge of sadness for the late Duncan Lamont, ace saxman, who features on his own songs Now We're Just Friends and Old Brazil. No messing around, it's straight in from the start, fast drums and bass on Let's Face the Music and Dance, and a rich alto voice which can take higher notes in its stride.

A Weaver of Dreams gives us skilled bass accompaniment and solo work from Flo Moore, which really does flow more (joke, couldn't resist); Lamont's lyrics on Now We're Just Friends are unusual, 'We slashed at our lives, like children with knives'; Let's Dance is a samba with an extended coda, which Bowie, who wrote the song, would have loved.

Temptation is a Latin number with hand drums and voice introduction and a flute solo which reminded me of snake charming; Winter Moon is somewhat menacing, with a slow click on drums, sung feelingly, all about loneliness. The title track Dream Dancing is a swinger with sax and piano solos. Pieces of Dreams, is thought-provoking, apparently about finding an identity, an unusual song for the final track.

Beverley Beirne, a professional singer since the age of 19, began by singing classically, studied acting, completed a degree in English and Drama, worked for BBC Yorkshire TV, had a supporting role in Emmerdale, studied jazz with Tina May and Alan Barnes, performed at festivals and clubs in the UK and Europe and is currently the artistic director for Ilkley Jazz Festival, which is the venue for her next live show.https://lance-bebopspokenhere.blogspot.com/2021/06/cd-review-beverley-beirne-dream-dancer.html

Personnel: Beverley Beirne (vocals); Sam Watts (piano); Flo Moore (bass); Ben Brown (drums, perc, conga); Rob Hughes (sax, flute); Duncan Lamont (sax track 3, 9); Jason Miles (Fender Rhodes, strings, Hammond B3 on various tracks); Romero Lubambo (guitar track 9) Cyro Baptista (perc track 9)

Dream Dancer

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Beverley Beirne - Jazz Just Wants To Have Fun

Size: 104,5 MB
Time: 44:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Come On Feel The Noise (3:26)
02. Prince Charming (2:39)
03. Bette Davis Eyes (4:09)
04. Ghost Town (3:26)
05. Deeply Dippy (3:10)
06. When Smokey Sings (6:57)
07. Cruel Summer (3:02)
08. Pop Muzik (4:48)
09. Too Shy (2:35)
10. Hot In The City (2:55)
11. Waiting For A Man Like You (4:53)
12. Girls Just Want To Have Fun (2:27)

Beverley Beirne is an experienced and respected voice on the UK jazz scene. She is a self-confessed lover of experimentation and has always been drawn to reinterpreting songs from other genres. Jazz Just Wants To Have Fun is the culmination of her interests and abilities, with its confident reimagining of cult classics. The record rollicks, lilts and swings 12 pop songs into jazz territory. The choices may appear daring at first sight, with tracks ranging from Cindy Lauper to Adam & The Ants, but Beverly’s intelligent composition and bravado carries these songs effortlessly. Jazz Just Wants To Have Fun has been co-composed by Sam Watts and features bassist Flo Moore, percussionist Ben Brown, saxophonist and flautist Rob Hughes with guitarists Romero Lubambo and Dean Brown. This energetic group gives the album real depth and sophistication.

This album may be fun-centric but it takes its work seriously, with ingenious instrumentation and composition. Each track brings obvious inventiveness and thoughtfulness. The opening track, Come on Feel the Noize, bridges the gap between pop and jazz beautifully, with classic jazz techniques giving the well-known lyrics a new depth of meaning. Similarly, Beverley’s version of Bette Davis Eyes is an example of this album’s potential. Bette Davis Eyes includes an exceptional saxophone solo by Rob Hughes, restructuring the song and adding new textural layers. Bassist Flo Moore shines throughout Jazz Just Wants To Have Fun, her driving rhythms and tight pizzicato giving these pop tunes integrity in their new found genre. Too Shy is another ambitious composition, with Beverly effortlessly mastering the fast paced tempo. The effect of these interpretations on the song’s lyrics is worth noting. The change of tempo and tone sheds a different light to well-known but often skimmed over lyrics. For example, in Deeply Dippy, as Beverly sings, ‘deeply mad, mad for the fun we had’, this phrase is given a refreshed sensuality and soul which was never there in the original by Right Said Fred.

Beverley Beirne’s honeyed voice appears powerful and impeccably crafted throughout Jazz Just Wants To Have Fun. Her skilful use of scat, such as in Ghost Town, complements the compositions well. Hers is a classic jazz voice, richest in her lower range. Her stylistic capabilities are well flaunted through the record. While her technical abilities are evident, it is her manner which gives Beirne’s voice real strength in this record – she sings with passion and vitality.

Each track on Jazz Just Wants To Have Fun is impeccably mastered, fresh and bursting with energy. Pop Muzik with its swinging melody, scat and excellent saxophone solos, is a highlight on the record. The paraphrased title track, Girls Just Want To Have Fun, does the original justice – bringing real groove to this sing-along classic. The album holds together well as a whole, telling the story of this musically diverse decade in history. High-quality production and an exceptionally talented band make Jazz Just Wants To Have Fun a great listen.

Beverley’s zeal is obvious in this new project. She set out to create something original and fun, goals obviously accomplished in Jazz Just Wants To Have Fun. The perfect balance of boisterous and restrained, this record hits the ground running. Whether you’re an '80s pop tragic, a jazz die-hard or a bit of both, this record is unmissable. ~Brianna McClean

Jazz Just Wants To Have Fun

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