Kelley Johnson - Make Someone Happy

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:42
Size: 148,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:13)  1. How Long Has This Been Going On?
(5:27)  2. Moment To Moment
(6:02)  3. I Haven't Got Anything Better To Do
(5:55)  4. Recorda Me
(5:24)  5. Solitude
(5:20)  6. Stompin' At The Savoy
(4:46)  7. A Little Tear
(2:47)  8. Falling In Love With Love
(4:58)  9. So Many Stars
(4:54) 10. September In The Rain
(5:08) 11. Throw It Away
(5:28) 12. The Maestro
(3:14) 13. Make Someone Happy

Kelley Johnson's CD is full of surprises. She sings her own lyrics to Joe Henderson's "Recorda Me," arranges several of the pieces, and holds her own with an impressive group that includes either Fred Hersch or John Hansen on piano and several different horn players (including altoist Steve Nelson). Although the repertoire contains quite a few standards, each treatment sounds fresh, with some rhythmic displacement of the melodies, unusual frameworks, and consistently mature singing. Whether it be a faster than usual "How Long Has This Been Going On," "Stompin' at the Savoy," Abbey Lincoln's "Throw It Away," or an introspective version of "Make Someone Happy," this is a CD that rewards repeated listenings; it introduces a potentially significant new voice in the Seattle-based Kelley Johnson.~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/make-someone-happy-mw0000043495

Personnel: Kelley Johnson (vocals); Steve Wilson (alto saxophone); Brian Lynch (trumpet); Greg Gisbert (trumpet, flugelhorn); Mike Davis (trombone); Fred Hersch, John Hansen (piano); Paul Myers (guitar); Michael Davis (trombone);

Make Someone Happy

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Kelley Johnson - Music Is The Magic

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:44
Size: 129.9 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[4:54] 1. Lucky To Be Me
[4:13] 2. Tea For Two
[5:06] 3. Without A Song
[3:19] 4. The Tender Trap
[6:13] 5. Old Devil Moon
[4:20] 6. Moon And Sand
[8:37] 7. Music Is The Magic
[7:38] 8. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime
[5:37] 9. When Springtime Turns To Fall
[6:42] 10. What The World Needs Now Is Love

Kelley Johnson reaches her audience with storytelling, subtlety, soulfulness and swing. Twice chosen to be a Musical Ambassador abroad, her quartet auditioned live and was chosen by Wynton Marsalis and Lincoln Center in 2007, and the Kennedy Center in 2004 for lengthy tours for the US State Department. Kelley is the 2003 first place winner of the International Jazzconnect Vocal Competition, and the Jazz Education Journal listed her “Live at Birdland” as a Blue Chip Jazz Vocal album of 2004. Most recently, the CD recording “Music is the Magic” with it’s passionate world-view and original spoken-word, rose to#15 on the national jazz radio chart, Jazzweek. Kelley’s lithe velvety voice mixes with a feisty delivery, tricky colorful arrangements and spirited players like Geoffrey Keezer, Ingrid Jensen, John Hansen, and Brian Lynch. The result is music that is personal and moving.

Recording Date: June 17, 2002 - June 18, 2002

Music Is The Magic

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Kelley Johnson - Home

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:03
Size: 137,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:55)  1. Should've Been
(4:24)  2. Be Careful, It's My Heart
(5:04)  3. Home
(4:59)  4. The Sweetest Sounds
(7:52)  5. Wouldn't It Be Loverly - Living Room
(4:22)  6. A Lovely Night
(6:32)  7. Moon River
(2:57)  8. (Looking at the World Through) Rose Colored Glasses
(5:06)  9. From Here - Where Do You Start
(4:52) 10. For An Hour
(3:25) 11. Love Walked In
(5:28) 12. Even You and I

Kelley Johnson is a veteran vocalist with an expressive alto who is willing to give a fresh sound to familiar songs while also tackling overlooked gems. Utilizing two different pianists including the brilliant Geoff Keezer (who has been very effective with singers) and the underrated John Hansen, two different bassists (Nathan Peck or Paul Gabrielson), and three drummers (Matt Jorgenseen, Jon Wikan, and Julian MacDonough), plus brass and reedman Jay Thomas as a guest on three tracks, Johnson has put together a delightful set. 

Her own arrangement of Abbey Lincoln's infrequently performed "Should've Been" has shades of Carmen McRae, while her medley of the show tune "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" (from My Fair Lady) and Lincoln's "Living Room" is very playful. "Moon River" has been recorded so often that it is in danger of overexposure, though the colorful backgrounds arranged by Wikan and Ingrid Jensen bring new life to this old chestnut. Johnson also proves her merit as a songwriter, penning or co-writing three songs, highlighted by her expressive, bluesy "Home." ~ Ken Dryden   

http://www.allmusic.com/album/home-mw0000793637

Personnel: Jay "Bird" Thomas (horns); John Hansen (piano); Matt Jorgensen, Jon Wikan (drums); Kelley Johnson (Vocal)

Home

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