Nancy Osborne - Hot Swing, Cool Jazz

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:22
Size: 112,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:20)  1. I Love Being Here With You
(3:36)  2. Mister Sandman
(2:57)  3. Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead
(4:08)  4. I've Got You Under My Skin
(2:49)  5. It's De-lovely
(2:12)  6. Something's Gotta Give
(4:41)  7. Only You
(3:13)  8. And the Angels Sing
(3:26)  9. All That Jazz
(2:27) 10. He's a Tramp
(2:19) 11. Pardon My Southern Accent
(2:26) 12. Two Lost Souls
(3:08) 13. Gypsy in My Soul
(4:24) 14. Georgia On My Mind
(2:33) 15. Hallelujah I Just Love Him So
(1:36) 16. As Long As I'm Singing

I'm in a quandary to describe this album of big band jazz vocals from Nancy Osborne as anything more than "pleasant." Through no fault of the singer or the top-flight band of West Coast musicians like Pete Christlieb, Gary Herbig, Charley Loper and Tom Ranier or the arrangements of Bob Florence, Paul McDonald, Lon Norman, Jonathan Barick or Dave Wolpe this album cannot be lifted into a higher category. The best summary I can offer is that the album offers "safe" middlebrow jazz music. Several of the tunes are currently overexposed per the Great American Songbook (eg. "I've Got You Under My Skin," "It's Delovely," "Georgia On My Mind") and deserve at least temporary retirement. Osborne's voice is fine, with a bright quality that emphasizes the lyrics and hits a balance with the orchestrations, so that both are heard to their advantages.  However, this is a big band vocal album, not a jazz-oriented vocal occasion. There are a few false starts. "It's De-Lovely" begins with the opening riff of "Milestones" and "Something's Gotta Give" begins with Osborne's vocalese matching the horn lines, but this is a introductory tease for both songs. Nancy Osborne also provides effective vocalese on the instrumental break of "Gypsy In My Soul." I'd suggest that this is an excellent choice for afficianados of big band music in a contemporary setting. Let's look at a few more positives. 

Osborne opens with a saucy version of Peggy Lee's "I Love Being Here With You" and concludes with Bobby Darin's signature song, "As Long As I'm Singing," which he usually used to close sets. "Pardon My Southern Accent" is an obscure Johnny Mercer tune from 1934 and "Two Lost Souls," borrowed from the Broadway musical Damn Yankees, is a nifty duet with Ned Rifkin. Osborne's take on "He's A Tramp" (from the Disney film Lady and the Tramp) once again emulates the style of writer and performer Peggy Lee. 

~ Michael P.Gladstone https://www.allaboutjazz.com/hot-swing-cool-jazz-nancy-osborne-self-produced-review-by-michael-p-gladstone.php

Personnel: Nancy Osborne: vocals; Charlie Davis, Ron Barrows, Mike NcGuffy, Barbara Laronga: trumpet; Charlie Loper, Paul Young, Linda Small, Bryant Byers: trombone; Pete Christlieb, Gary Herbig, Darryl Winseman, Andrew Martinez, Cindy Bradley, Mike Acosta: reeds; Jim Cox, Tom Ranier: piano; Ron Hershewe: guitar; Geo Valle: bass; Sammy K: drums; Ned Rifken: guest vocalist.

Hot Swing, Cool Jazz

---

Nancy Osborne - Songs In The Key Of Love

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:55
Size: 117,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:22)  1. I Concentrate On You
(4:11)  2. Tenderly
(3:03)  3. My Funny Valentine
(3:36)  4. Like A Lover
(3:37)  5. Moonglow
(4:03)  6. Laura
(3:35)  7. Wichita Lineman
(3:08)  8. Old Devil Moon
(3:22)  9. That Old Black Magic
(4:25) 10. I Never Meant To Hurt You/One Less Bell To Answer
(4:57) 11. Mean To Me
(4:29) 12. Speak Low
(4:01) 13. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life

Nancy Osborne seems to have that rare ability to make each song her own. Each offering sounds fresh and sparkling. And she really seems to enjoy what she's doing. Her enthusiasm is soooo infectious. As I said before, this set has a song for any and every mood and I bet that once you come to track 16, you'll be swinging....To paraphrase Cole Porter, Nancy Osborne, you're
de-lightful, you're de-licious, you're de-lirious, YOU'RE DE-LOVELY.~ Hadley Tituss, Jazz Rendezvous

Her years as lead vocalist for both the Nelson Riddle and Tex Beneke Orchestras have obviously taught Nancy Osborne a lot about making a song-listener friendly, and she applies her knowledge to the 16 tracks on "Hot Swing, Cool Jazz" for irresistibly entertaining results. ~Jeff Rossen, After Dark,  Arts & Entertainment Magazine

It sounds like much more than a debut recording as she sings with an abundance of confidence.~ D. Oscar Groomes, O's Place

What do I mean by vocally smiling? Adding little nuances such as laughing while singing, playful glissandos at the beginning and end of phrases, vocal growls and an overtone of someone singing while smiling, one knows when talking to someone on the phone if the other person is talking while smiling, and one gets that same message throughout the CD while listening to Osborne sing. ~ H. Allen Williams, Jazzreview

 Not only is Osborne infectious but her vocal delivery is superbly rich in tone and delivery. Osborne is back by a plethora of seasoned professional that make this recipe "De-Lovely" ~ Constance Tucker, All About Vocals

A big band and a swinging singer are the ingredients for a super album, and here it is for you to enjoy, from steamy ballads to up tempo rockers...So, for a hot and cool treat, this album will do the trick for you connoisseurs of swinging jazz. ~ John Gilbert, EJazz News

If you're not old enough to have experienced the "big band with a gal singer" era, this will give you an idea of what it was all about.~ George Fendel, Jazzscene

She's a talented entertainer with a gifted voice. Groove with a strong cocktail to this vocal jazz number with boisterous swing numbers abound! ~ J. Sin, Smother Magazine 
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/nancyosborne2

Songs In The Key Of Love

---