Zoe Schwarz - Slow Burn

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:49
Size: 145,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:16)  1. The Meaning of the Blues
(4:03)  2. The Blues Are a Brewin'
(4:55)  3. Was It Something You Siad
(2:28)  4. Baby I Don't Cry over You
(5:02)  5. Angel Eyes
(2:57)  6. Bye Bye Baby See You When I Get Home
(5:43)  7. I Cover the Water Front
(4:32)  8. I Can Dream
(4:27)  9. We're Going Wrong
(5:30) 10. Detour Ahead
(3:29) 11. Blues for Mama
(4:32) 12. Stay Away Baby
(5:45) 13. Willow Weep for Me
(4:04) 14. Sinner's Prayer

British singer Zoe Schwarz is a blues singer in the same way that the late Gene Harris was a blues pianist. Harris often referred to himself as a "blues player with jazz chops." Even his jazziest performances are steeped in the vernacular. For an example, see his famous performance from Ray Brown's Bam Bam Bam (Concord, 1988). Schwarz can belt the blues out with the best of them, but she is also a more than competent jazz singer, one who has used the blues to inform her performance and infuse her delivery in the very same way Harris did with his jazz recitals. A considerable amount of Schwarz's oeuvre is down-and-dirty blues. She did release a fine standards recording with guitarist/husband Bob Koral entitled Celebration (33 Records, 2009) that was quite fetching, and to which the present Slow Burn is a logical followup. Schwarz returns to this recital in the close space of a trio, again in the company of Koral and with the addition of tenor saxophonist Ian Ellis Schwarz provides a more homogenous mix of blues and standards (with some originals thrown in) on Slow Burn, mixing things up nicely. 

The addition of Ellis is inspired, his tenor raspy when necessary and sweet-tone when demanded, particularly on the ballads. The spirit of Billie Holiday is in ample evidence, with "The Meaning of the Blues," "I Cover The Water Front" and "Willow Weep for Me" serving as homage to the singer. Schwarz honors Holiday not with a mere imitation, but an honest acknowledgement of Holiday's uniquely odd phrasing and approach around the beat. Also present is Nina Simone, in whose material Schwarz excels with her own approach. "The Blues are A-brewin,'" "Blues for Mama" and "Sinner's Prayer" all seethe with Simone's own slow burn with Schwarz's own fine port tone added. Koral's expert, more-is-less approach carefully paces the pieces, be they the lowdown blues of Jack Bruce's "We're Going Wrong" or the bouncy novelty of the guitarist's original, "Bye Bye Baby See You When I Get Home." Musical Nirvana is reached on "Angel Eyes" and "Detour Ahead." On the former, Koral sets up an uncharacteristic rhythm, establishing a nervous undertow to this classic and dark ballad, allowing Schwarz free rein in singing. On the latter, the trio's efforts are fully realized, with Koral's fractured chords, Ellis' tentative yet confident obbligato and, finally Schwarz, channeling both Holiday and even pianist Bill Evans on an impressionistic performance of this strangely durable and compelling standard. It is in this performance that the trio's efforts and our expectations are fully rewarded. ~ C. Michael Bailey https://www.allaboutjazz.com/slow-burn-zoe-schwarz-33-jazz-review-by-c-michael-bailey.php

Personnel: Zoe Schwarz: vocals; Rob Koral: guitar; Ian Ellis: saxophone.

Slow Burn

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Zoe Schwarz & Rob Koral - Celebration

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:23
Size: 129,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:32)  1. Cry Me A River
(2:21)  2. Don't Explain
(1:49)  3. Let's Fall In Love
(3:18)  4. My Funny Valentine
(3:24)  5. When I Grow Too Old To Dream
(4:15)  6. Let's Explain
(1:59)  7. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby
(3:46)  8. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
(5:12)  9. The Man I Love
(2:58) 10. You Don't Learn That In School
(5:17) 11. Until The Red Thing Comes Along
(3:14) 12. Careless Love
(3:55) 13. Baby Baby All The Time
(2:20) 14. That Old Feeling
(2:55) 15. Empty Rooms
(4:00) 16. Sitting On Top Of The World

Few performance formats can illuminate a talent and facility like the duet. Schwarz and Koral create a certain edgy intimacy on Celebration that is both very contemporary and quite traditional at the same time. Over the course of 16 jazz standards, blues and originals, the pair spin out a well-balanced musical vision, one that is well-conceived and performed. When all of these elements coalesce, exceptional music is made. Heavy on the jazz standards (a swinging "Sitting On Top Of The World" being the sole "blues") Celebration is a jazz vocal lesson.  Jazz needs its standards to remain grounded in where it came from, but also as a vehicle with original compositions to track where it is going. The opening standards "Cry Me A River" and Billie Holiday's sublime "Don't Explain" are preformed simply, even nakedly, exposed. Schwarz's voice balances between angry resignation and despair as is necessary for the lyrics. The inclusion of a Holiday tune is no mistake as Schwarz's delivery bears the influence of that great singer. 

But, Schwarz is no mere imitator of Holiday, only an attentive student with her eye (and ear) on something different, newer, and more revelatory.  Koral proves a grand accompanist for Schwarz. His guitar style is well informed and not plagued by the need to show off every technical arrow that obviously exists in his musical quiver. On "When I Grow To Old To Dream," Koral begins with a single-note choral that is melancholy and virtuosic without being showy. He puts that 1920s-30s vibe on the vocal section of the piece, a vibe he extends through the Louis Jordan classic "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby." The has a great walking-bass facility that makes his support that much more valuable convincing. He co-composes "Let's Explain" with Schwarz, a clever bookend to Holiday's "Don't Explain," that is about Holiday. Where this could often go very wrong, Schwarz and Koral make it all look easy on this breezy, listenable collection. ~ C.Michael Bailey    http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=41964#.Uwf5jIVZhls

Personnel: Zoe Schwarz – vocals;  Rob Koral - guitars

Celebration

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