Polly Gibbons - Is It Me?

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:57
Size: 137,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:47)  1. Ability To Swing
(4:06)  2. You Can't Just...
(5:24)  3. Sack Full Of Dreams
(4:15)  4. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
(5:58)  5. Wild Is The Wind
(5:46)  6. Basin St. Blues
(3:45)  7. Midnight Prayer
(4:57)  8. Is It Me...?
(5:41)  9. Pure Imgination
(5:09) 10. Dr. Feelgood
(4:38) 11. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
(4:27) 12. Don't Be On The Outside (Bonus Track)

With half a dozen albums to her name, British vocalist Polly Gibbons has no need to prove her worth but that hasn't inhibited her from pulling out all the stops on her second album for Resonance following on from 2014's My Own Company. Thomas Dolby's "Ability To Swing" proves just that, courtesy of a first class powerhouse of an American horn section (the album was recorded in the States where Gibbons plays gigs with increasing frequency, such is her in-demand status). The brass also acts as a sonic turbo-charged engine on the funky "You Can't Just...," one of three songs penned by Gibbons and her pianist/arranger and fellow Brit, James Pearson. The pair also co-wrote the wistfully lyrical title track. "Basin Street Blues" is given an up-tempo makeover but there are sultry soul-infused numbers such as "Midnight Prayer" (another Gibbons/Pearson original) and Gary McFarland's "Sack Full Of Dreams." There are also quartet backed numbers like "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams" and the ruminative ballad "Wild Is The Wind." 

The uncompromising soul/blues outing "Dr Feelgood" with the horn section in attendance contrasts with standards like Duke Ellington's "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart" which is afforded a straight-ahead treatment elevated by a touch of accelerando mid-way through. The final track, "Don't Be On The Outside" is denoted as a bonus track since it's the only live track on the album, setting it apart from the preceding 11 numbers. In 2016, Gibbons supported George Benson and Gladys Knight on their sell-out tours including two nights at London's Royal Albert Hall. Those prestigious concerts were just another sign that her star is rising. Possessed of a powerfully soulful voice, she is undoubtedly maturing into one of Britain's finest singing talents and this album, replete with stellar arrangements, is another testament to that fact. ~ Roger Farber https://www.allaboutjazz.com/is-it-me-polly-gibbons-resonance-records-review-by-roger-farbey.php

Personnel: Polly Gibbons: vocals; Tamir Hendelman: piano; James Pearson: piano; Shedrick Mitchell: Hammond Organ; Graham Dechter: guitar; Kevin Axt: bass; Ray Brinker: drums; Willie Murillo: trumpet; Vinny Dawson: trumpet; Bob McChesney: trombone; Andy Martin: trombone; Bob Sheppard: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute; Brian Scanlon: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute; Keith Bishop: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute; Tom Peterson: baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone.

Is It Me?

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Polly Gibbons - What's the Real Reason?

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:53
Size: 93,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:11) 1. Toy Shop
(4:34) 2. Are You Okay?
(4:20) 3. Pray
(3:39) 4. Your Faith
(3:52) 5. Colourfield
(4:03) 6. Give & Take
(3:40) 7. So Unreasonable
(4:40) 8. Thought It Was About You
(3:50) 9. The Game
(3:59) 10. I'll Be Here

Polly Gibbons is a growing presence in the UK Jazz scene. She has already been nominated twice as “Best Jazz Vocalist” by JAZZ FM and the BBC. Fully embracing the inspiring expansiveness of American Jazz, Blues, Soul and R&B, her career as a vocalist, composer and live performer is influenced by these genres. But Polly is hesitant to define her music as strictly Jazz; her eclectic repertoire and the ease and style with which she performs it, have led her to appear at a variety of music festivals and venues: from the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London opening for George Benson and Gladys Knight, or for Bozz Scaggs at the famous Montreal Jazz Festival. Equally, her fans might find her performing a weekly residency with her band at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in NYC, Ronnie Scott’s in London or at the funky new venue Rudy's down in Nashville. Her music and her voice have a broad appeal to music lovers - and her ongoing touring over the last few years in the USA has garnered her many new fans.

One might ask how a farmer's daughter (one of seven siblings), who grew up in a small market town in Suffolk, England, came to sing in some of the greatest venues in the world? Polly grew up in a family that loved various types of music and although acting was her first love, she first began to experiment with vocals at 13; and the well-known British vocalist, Ian Shaw, helped her secure her first gig in London at 17. Then she was off! She released her first album, My Own Company in 2014, and soon afterward she was contacted by the American producer, George Klabin, President of the established USA label, Resonance Records, a division of the non-profit RISING JAZZ STARS, INC.

It was at Resonance Records Beverly Hills studio where Polly recorded Many Faces of Love, released in 2015. Touring the country from Oklahoma City to Minneapolis to New York City in support of that CD began a new career phase for Polly. She soon returned to the States in the Autumn of 2016 to begin work on her second album for Resonance: Is It Me…? The album was released in April of 2017 and several new touring periods (in the USA, EUROPE and ASIA) began, attracting critical acclaim from many music critics and periodicals; for example, the American music magazine, DOWNBEAT, compared Polly to a female version of the highly acclaimed vocalist, Gregory Porter.

In the Summer of 2018 the dynamic young vocalist spent three months in NYC exploring both the eclectic music scene in the city and some of its best musicians, as well as taking on the challenge of her first live recording - her third for Resonance. It took place over two days in June at the famed Powerstation/Berklee NYC, and was staged in front of a live audience. It was an exciting event, made even more special by the presence of several All-Star Band members who have worked with Polly on both the East Coast and West Coast, as well as in London: the keyboards were represented by the remarkable musicians Tamir Hendelman and James Pearson on the acoustic piano, and Shedrick Mitchell held court on the Hammond B3. The rhythm section featured Polly’s long time guitarist, Paul Bollenback, along with the versatile drummer Mark McClean and Richie Goods who performed on both electric and acoustic basses. The repertoire chosen for the new 12-track CD represents the vocalist as both a singer and a songwriter, and features her original title track, “All I Can Do”, as well as another track co-written with the pianist and Polly’s long-time collaborator, James Pearson, entitled “If You Had The Chance”. The remainder of the album features tunes as diverse as Prince’s “Nothing Compares to You”; a very unusual and delightful version of the great Cole Porter standard, ”Anything Goes”; and the Duke Ellington classic, “I’m Just a Lucky So and So”.

All I Can Do will be released in February of 2019, and will be supported initially by a tour of the West Coast, followed in the early Spring by performances in both the Midwest, the East Coast and the UK. As Polly reflects on her career so far, she says, “it's a fascinating journey that's constantly in flux, there are always exciting new goals to work towards.” The vocalist and songwriter is definitely on that road, and with All I Can Do out soon, she is on the way to new and extraordinary musical destinations. Stay tuned!! https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/polly-gibbons

What's the Real Reason?

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Polly Gibbons - All I Can Do

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:06
Size: 157,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:08)  1. Permit Me to Introduce You to Yourself
(6:28)  2. Good Hands Tonight
(4:21)  3. Beautiful Things
(5:21)  4. If You Had the Chance
(6:36)  5. Some of My Best Friends Are the Blues
(4:30)  6. Anything Goes
(5:39)  7. This Is Always
(5:03)  8. All I Can Do
(7:23)  9. Everything Must Change
(5:48) 10. I'm Just a Lucky so and So
(6:24) 11. Nothing Compares to You
(5:20) 12. Sugar in My Bowl

It is enough to listen to some songs by the English Polly Gibbons to let yourself be taken by her exuberant feeling. Nothing to do with the many vocalists who have invaded the scene with a mediocre and plasticized synthesis of pop, jazz and soul. The young woman discovered by producer Ian Shaw is something special. His tone is deep, the vocal technique is sparkling and supported by musical impetus and imagination: qualities that bring him closer to the great jazz vocalists. But the artistic identity of Polly does not belong only to this musical tradition and ranges in balance between past and present. Can make credible soul themes like "Dr. Feelgood" by Aretha Franklin , folk ballad like "All I Want" by Joni Mitchelland ranges from Leonard Cohen , Prince , Marvin Gaye and D'Angelo . Other privileged areas are the blues and the classics of American song. Born into a Suffolk (England) family of farmers, she took her first steps in the colorful London music and her recording debut ( My Own Company , Diving Duck Recordings 2014) recorded it at Ronnie Scott's, with the trio of James Pearson. Soon afterwards, the contract came with George Klabin's Resonance, which is now releasing his third album.In this recording at the New York City Power Studio in front of a small audience, Polly Gibbons ranges between genres with the usual flexibility, in an effective calibration of swinging, intimate or blues-soaked atmospheres. 

The opening song "Permit Me to Introduce You to Yourself" is an incisive soul by Horace Silverand has nothing to envy to the vocal version of Dee Dee Bridgewater ; they follow the warm blues atmosphere "Good Hands Tonight" taken from the repertoire of Al Jarreau and the pop cover "Beautiful Things" of Leslie Bricusse . Having established the first reference coordinates, the singer passionately interprets "If You Had the Chance," a ballad written by her together with James Pearson. Alongside the imaginative exuberance fully evident in "I'm Just Lucky and So-So-So" - it is precisely in the intimate themes that Polly expresses the most intense moments: the ballad "This Is Always" which reminds us of Chet Baker , the poignant torch song "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Prince and the torrid blues "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl," a tribute to Bessie Smith and Nina Simone.~ Angelo Leonardi https://www.allaboutjazz.com/all-i-can-do-polly-gibbons-resonance-records-review-by-angelo-leonardi.php

Personnel: Polly Gibbons: vocals; Tamir Hendelman, James Pearson: piano; Shedrick Mitchell: hammond organ; Paul Bollenback: guitar; Richie Goods: bass; Mark McLean: drums.

All I Can Do

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Polly Gibbons - Many Faces of Love

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:04
Size: 152,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:05)  1. Please Send Me Someone To Love
(6:09)  2. Love Me Like A Song
(4:51)  3. So Good
(4:06)  4. Make It Last
(4:49)  5. That's Enough For Me
(6:11)  6. Not Like This
(5:39)  7. City Lights
(4:47)  8. After Hours
(4:43)  9. Since I Fell For You
(5:12) 10. Company
(7:11) 11. I Have the Feeling I've Been Here Before
(6:17) 12. Love Comes and Goes

Polly Gibbons is hardly the first female vocalist to bend an album to the arc of a love affair, but her navigation of an infatuation-to-rebound storyline is among the smartest. Though new to American audiences, the 30-year-old Gibbons, whose dusky style hints at the great Cleo Laine, has deservedly earned hearty kudos in her native England. And she attracts all-star accompanists, including two from the Tierney Sutton Band, drummer Ray Brinker and bassist Kevin Axt; longtime Diana Krall guitarist Anthony Wilson; violinist Christian Howes; and, as leader and sole arranger, pianist Tamir Hendelman. Gibbons is also a gifted songwriter, but here opts for an eclectic assortment of pop, jazz and soul covers. Her romantic loop begins with an Axt-propelled reading of Percy Mayfield’s “Please Send Me Someone to Love,” progressing to the laidback contentment of Al Jarreau’s “So Good” and Bob Haymes’ “Make It Last” and the sensuous fulfillment of Patti Austin’s “That’s Enough for Me.” Breakup ensues, defined by the Jarreau-associated tearjerker “Not Like This” and Dr. John’s drown-your-sorrows “City Lights.” Regret follows, the ebony dejection of “Since I Fell for You” paired with Rickie Lee Jones’ ruminative “Company.” Finally, rounding remorse’s curve, comes the discernment of Roger Kellaway and Alan and Marilyn Bergman’s “I Have the Feeling I’ve Been Here Before” and clear-eyed wisdom of British songwriter Carroll Coates’ “Love Comes and Goes.”~ Christopher Loudon https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/polly-gibbons-many-faces-of-love/

Many Faces of Love

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Polly Gibbons - Bang Bang

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:20
Size: 134,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:16)  1. My Favorite Things
(5:23)  2. Bang Bang
(6:31)  3. You Dont't Know What Love Is
(4:54)  4. You've Got A Friend
(2:24)  5. Speak Low
(4:19)  6. In The Wee Small Hours Of Morning
(4:52)  7. Bridge Over Troubled Water
(3:09)  8. Honeysuckle Rose
(4:00)  9. Ain't That Love
(3:42) 10. Dark End Of The Street
(3:20) 11. You Send Me
(5:25) 12. The Masquerade Is Over
(6:00) 13. The Way

At 25 years old, Polly Gibbons is one of the most talked about young singer/songwriters in the UK – her nomination for a BBC Jazz Award is clear indication of her success, along with ongoing performances at some of the top UK venues and international festivals. Raised with 5 siblings on a musical Suffolk farm, people quickly became aware of her vocal talent. By the age of 5, Polly had already co-written her first song – a song which was selected from thousands to be recorded at Air Studios in London. Polly co-wrote her debut album, “What’s The Real Reason” with Ola Onabule, who also produced it on his label, Rugged Ram Records. A highly anticipated collection of lyrically refreshing songs, the album reflects Polly’s main influences of jazz, soul and hip hop. Polly shimmers in song with an instinctive soulfulness and maturity that belies her years. Her understanding of heartfelt delivery in the tradition of the genre, are notched up a level by the quirky insight of her lyrics. Whilst you’re grooving to the jazz tinged hip-hop beats of her tunes, you will also be taken in by the down to earth British humour in her words. Bursting at the seams with wit, incisive intellect and absolute honesty about Polly and the world she inhabits, her songs are delivered via one of the warmest sultriest voices you’ll hear in a very long time. With an innate vocal versatility, Polly has been invited to record on various projects including a track with hip hop group Vinyl Dialect, on Wall of Sound's Bad Magic label. In addition, Polly has co-written and performed a song on a British Soul compilation album, 'Diggz Presents Random Soul’ on Random Records. Most recently Polly featured alongside such jazz luminaries as Jaqui Dankworth, Ian Shaw and Gwyneth Herbert on an album entitled ‘The Music of BB Cooper’. Polly has spent many occasions over the last 4 years recording and performing with renowned artist and producer, Ian Shaw. http://www.hideawaylive.co.uk/polly-gibbons-quartet-3110

“This talent is one in a million... miss her gigs at your peril!” Ian Shaw

“Polly Gibbons’ melismatic, gospel-fired tribute to Ray Charles was remarkable” The Evening Standard (Ronnie Scott’s Review)

“A soulful voice that will capture your heart” Claire Martin

“There’s a rare sense of joy in her voice, not to mention a depth of blues feeling...” Evening Standard (Pizza Express Review)

“A soulful young jazz vocalist destined to be a star!” Time Out

“One of the most auspicious debuts of recent times” Jazzwise

Bang Bang

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Polly Gibbons - My Own Company

Size: 110,3 MB
Time: 47:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Blues Vocals
Art: Front

01. My Own Company (2:28)
02. Miss Celie's Blues (3:52)
03. Almost Like Being In Love (5:04)
04. Don't Explain (6:01)
05. Tenderly (4:36)
06. Midnight Prayer (3:30)
07. All I Want (5:01)
08. I Never Loved A Man (4:09)
09. For All We Know (5:39)
10. Muddy Waters (2:45)
11. What Would I Do Without You (4:05)

Framlingham’s Polly Gibbons is one of the most respected and talked about young singer/songwriters of her generation. Nominated for a BBC Jazz Award back in 2006 with no album release to her name, was an early and clear indication of just how special a singer and performer Polly’s talents. Much esteemed by her contemporaries, Polly has built a reputation as being an original and gifted voice. With warm, rich, soulful vocals and an innate blues sensibility, Polly has been likened to many of the jazz and soul greats bringing her own storytelling and earnest depth alongside unique humour and fun to performances. Having developed her craft over the past decade, Polly has performed at all the leading UK jazz clubs, international festivals and is a regular at Ronnie Scott’s performing with the All Stars. This is first UK jazz album with James Pearson, Musical Director of Ronnie Scott’s and pianist with the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars – long overdue, yet not before time, with Polly sounding more beautiful and rarer than ever. With an innate vocal versatility, Polly is much sought-after as a session, backing and featured singer and has been invited to record on various projects including a track with hip hop group Vinyl Dialect, on Wall of Sound’s Bad Magic label, also co-writing and performing a song on British Soul compilation album, ‘Diggz Presents Random Soul on Random Records. Polly featured alongside such jazz luminaries as Ian Shaw, Jacqui Dankworth and Gwyneth Herbert on an album entitled The Music of BB Cooper and has spent many occasions recording and performing with renowned artist and producer Ian Shaw.

Musicians: Polly Gibbons, James Pearson, Arnie Somogyi, Sam Burgess, Chris Higginbotham and Sam ‘Jeeps’ Roan

My Own Company

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Polly Gibbons - Moanin'

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:23
Size: 147,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:42)  1. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
(5:52)  2. Black Coffee
(5:49)  3. Don't Explain
(5:17)  4. Something Real
(7:29)  5. God Bless The Child
(5:47)  6. Moanin'
(5:37)  7. Everything Must Change
(4:40)  8. Hallelujah
(4:30)  9. Saving Grace
(4:07) 10. Comes Love
(4:31) 11. Happies Day
(3:57) 12. Tell Me Who's Wrong

Polly Gibbons is a talented, 24-years-old British jazz/soul singer who received the prestigious BBC Jazz Award in 2006. With her powerful, soulful voice, she is already performing at some of the top UK venues and international festivals. Quick to find new talent, Japanese producer Makoto Kimata invited to come to Italy and record her Japanese debut CD with young, talented Italian musicians. Gibbons agreed on the condition that she would bring her trusted musical partner and pianist Tim Lapthon with her. 

From the beginning of the opener, James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," the listener would realize that she is a real vocal talent. Her voice is powerful, soulful, bluesy and emotional. She bravely tackles Billie Holiday's  her main jazz influence classics "Don't Explain" and "God Bless The Child," and impressively, she more than stands on her own. The straight-forward but tasteful, contemporary arrangements by Lapthon and the cast of Italian musicians support Gibbons effectively. This CD is a real find: I'm sure this will be remembered as one of the best vocal albums of 2008, and we will be hearing a lot more from Ms. Gibbons in the future. Very highly recommended!  

http://www.eastwindimport.com/product-info.asp?CategoryName=Gibbons%2C+Polly&ProductID=518

Personnel : Polly Gibbons (vocal); Antonio Iasevoli (guitar); Stefano Cantarano (bass); Alessandro Marzi (drums); Marcello Allulli (tenor sax); Francesco Fratini (trumpet)

Moanin'

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