Pamela Luss - Your Eyes

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:55
Size: 119,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:22)  1. Baby, Don't You Quit Now
(4:06)  2. Our Day Will Come
(3:32)  3. How Do You Keep the Music Playing?
(3:14)  4. Get Here
(4:01)  5. In Passing Years
(5:12)  6. Over the Rainbow
(4:37)  7. Your Eyes
(5:04)  8. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
(3:13)  9. Wild Is Love
(5:39) 10. Send in the Clowns
(4:16) 11. Look of Love
(4:32) 12. Those Who Were

Pamela Luss' Your Eyes seems to feature two distinctive singers in one. On the midtempo material, Luss shows that she is a superior jazz singer, whether being sensual on "Baby, Don't You Quit Now," finding surprising life in a faster than usual "Over the Rainbow," or swinging on "Our Day Will Come." However, on ballads, her renditions are mostly very straight, closer to cabaret and even light pop than jazz, as if she is fearful of straying from the lyrics and the melody line for more than a moment. Quite a few of the younger jazz-inspired singers have difficulty making ballads their own and finding ways to improvise on slower material while also paying respect to the songwriters' intent. Luss' ballad renditions are listenable but not at all adventurous, and one wonders why "Send in the Clowns" was revived for the umpteenth time. On the plus side are four guest appearances apiece from tenor great Houston Person and altoist Aaron Heick, while Hendrik Meurkens is featured on harmonica on one of the few ballads that works on this set, "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye." Overall, this is a mixed bag. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/your-eyes-mw0000746671

Personnel:   Pamela Luss - vocals;  Houston Person - Saxophone;  John Di Martino - Piano;   Aaron Heick - Saxophone, Flute;   Richie Goods - bass;  Greg Hutchinson - drums.

Your Eyes

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Pamela Luss With Houston Person - Sweet and Saxy

Styles: Vocal And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:38
Size: 102,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:34)  1. Canadian Sunset
(4:08)  2. You Better Go Now
(3:44)  3. Star Eyes
(3:26)  4. Can't Get Out of This Mood
(3:28)  5. Why Was I Born?
(5:42)  6. Maybe You'll Be There
(3:56)  7. Nice 'n Easy
(5:31)  8. You Belong To Me
(2:18)  9. Don'cha Go Away Mad
(2:42) 10. Ain't No Sunshine
(5:04) 11. It's Too Late

Through three fine recordings, jazz vocalist Pamela Luss has stayed the course singing standards in her own inimitable, alluring fashion. Blessed with a solid vocal instrument that at-times wavers with a girlish fascination for pure or unrequited love, Luss gives it another go on this, her fourth album, backed up by Houston Person's working band featuring the excellent pianist John DiMartino, and at times guitarist James Chirillo. The lust Luss is able to conjure is hard to resist, as she stands tall and lean among these well-known songs, interpreted with just a dash of sass, a large portion of confidence, a slight vibrato, and an at-times lissome eye toward a hopeful future. 

Person works well with most singers (i.e. Etta Jones) but here he seems to feed off of the vocal lines Luss dishes out. They're clearly having fun trading phrases on occasion, or in retort when the vocalist makes statements like the come-and-run-away ballad "You Better Go Now," the light bossa nova take of "Can't Get Out Of This Mood," or the sensual, samba-tinged "You Belong to Me." Chirillo is particularly tasteful on the five numbers where he's added on, strumming like the seasoned Freddie Greene during "Nice & Easy," and diving into the shuffle "Teardrops from My Eyes" - more of this one please Ms. Luss! DiMartino is also the arranger of these selections, increasing the sophistication of tracks like the temptation calypso "Canadian Sunset," controlling the swing factor of "Star Eyes," or enhancing a bluesy feeling to "Why Was I Born?".

Perhaps the single track where Luss comes a bit out of her comfort zone is the playful "Don'tcha Go Away Mad," always a tongue-in-cheek favorite, as those asking for forgiveness while looking for an amicable exit from confrontation can relate to. This is a good combination of vocalist and backup band, one that could, at some point in time, explore a more down-home blues approach. While hers is a voice that does take some getting used to, she's refining her method with each recording, becoming a true professional interpreter of the tried-and-true American popular songbook. ~ Michael G.Nastos http://www.allmusic.com/album/sweet-and-saxy-mw0000824422

Personnel: Pamela Luss (vocals); James Chirillo (guitar); Houston Person (tenor saxophone); John Di Martino (piano); Willie Jones III (drums).

Sweet and Saxy

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