Trudy Kerr - Cloudburst

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:21
Size: 150,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:18) 1. Joy Spring
(3:57) 2. Cloudburst
(4:16) 3. The Rabbit
(5:41) 4. Lady Luck
(4:35) 5. Weird Nightmare
(3:40) 6. Funk Evans
(4:10) 7. Somewhere In The Hills
(2:51) 8. Ruby My Dear
(4:02) 9. Come On Home
(5:20) 10. Jeannine
(6:21) 11. Left Alone
(4:53) 12. On A Misty Night - September In The Rain
(4:38) 13. Cinema Paradiso - That Day
(5:34) 14. Up Jumped Spring

Something of a miniature epiphany this. A vocal album sufficiently musicianly, substantial and in the instrumental tradition that it could equally well be filed under mainstream. Think vocal jazz automatically equals jazz-lite? Think again.

Cloudburst is London-based Australian Kerr's fifth album and follows her fine '02 homage to Chet Baker, My Old Flame. This time she puts the Great American Songbook aside and offers fourteen hardcore jazz instrumentals, to which lyrics and/or vocalese have later been added, either by her or by earlier writers. The original composers are Coltrane, Mingus, Monk, Clifford Brown, Gerry Mulligan, Horace Silver, Mal Waldron, Tadd Dameron, Bill Evans, Lerov Kirkland & Jimmy Harris, Duke Pearson, Antonio Jobim, Ennio Morricone, and Freddie Hubbard. To say Kerr does justice to these guys which she does is really to say something. The arrangements are unfussy, and wholly unsweetened, and Kerr's warm and sensuous voice, particularly effective in the midrange, delivers straightforward and engaging readings.

Key to the album's success is Kerr's band, a half dozen of London's finest, who're given plenty of space in which to stretch out and improvise. Dick Pearce (trumpet) and Derek Nash (baritone saxophone) return from My Old Flame, joined by Alan Skidmore (tenor saxophone), Tom Cawley (piano) perhaps best known right now as keyboards player with thrash jazz uber-iconoclasts Acoustic Ladyland Sam Burgess (bass), and Steve Brown (drums).

Tom Cawley's playing here will be a revelation to anyone who only knows him from his Acoustic Ladyland incarnation. Eight of the tracks are just Kerr and piano trio, and Cawley's fleet and glowing solos, out of Bud Powell, Al Haig, and Horace Silver, but fresh with it, are riveting. Skidmore, Nash, and Pearce shine as bright as you'd expect. Nash is compelling on Mulligan's "Bunny," here retitled "Rabbit," and Waldron's "Left Alone," as is Skidmore on Coltrane's "Moment's Notice," here retitled "Lady Luck," and Mingus' "Weird Nightmare." Pearce's dueting with Kerr on Dameron's "On A Misty Night" is exquisite. Burgess and Brown each get a couple of solos, with Brown particularly strong on Silver's "Come On Home," developing a series of snare drum press-rolls of barely restrained ferocity.

So, a vocal album for people who don't usually like vocal albums. Kerr is 100% real jazz musician, and Cloudburst is 100% real jazz. Things are looking up.~Chris May https://www.allaboutjazz.com/cloudburst-trudy-kerr-jazzizit-review-by-chris-may

Personnel: Trudy Kerr, vocals; Tom Cawley, piano; Sam Burgess, bass; Steve Brown, drums. Dick Pearce, trumpet, Alan Skidmore, tenor saxophone, Derek Nash, baritone saxophone on "The Rabbit," "Lady Luck," "Weird Nightmare," "Jeanine," "Left Alone," and "On A Misty Night/September In The Rain."

Cloudburst

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Trudy Kerr - The House

Size: 134,6 MB
Time: 57:57
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. The House (3:37)
02. Song Of Life (3:30)
03. Counting Sheep (5:05)
04. Waltz For Debby (5:22)
05. The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener (4:58)
06. Pretty Little Dancer (3:49)
07. Infant Eyes (5:13)
08. Forever Green (3:36)
09. Hold Back The Tears (4:08)
10. Life In A Bubble (5:16)
11. I Have Dreamed (3:43)
12. Crystal Silence (5:24)
13. How Can I Miss You (4:11)

'The House' is Trudy Kerr's 13th album on her Jazzizit Label. The album is a collaboration between Trudy and pianist Andrea Vicari. For the past few years they have been performing duo gigs around London and on hearing Andrea's original compositions Trudy was inspired to begin writing lyrics to her beautiful tunes. The album is a change of direction for Trudy. "Stylistically the tunes are more contemporary sounding and were therefore challenging to sing as well as write suitable lyrics to."

Joining them on the album are bassist Geoff Gascoyne and Martin Hathaway playing sax, flute and clarinet. This drummer-less quartet is more chamberlike in quality, the melodies are haunting the arrangements have strong counterpoint lines.

There are six original compositions on the album, four by Andrea and Trudy. The title track "The House" is a piano and voice duet. The lyrics are about Trudy's childhood house in Australia, a photo from the house taken in the 60's appears on the front cover. "The lyric is about how I felt the last time I returned to the house, and how all my childhood memories both good and bad came flooding back to me" says Trudy. "Counting Sheep" is a beautiful but simple song written by Andrea, Trudy has taken a more singer songwriter approach to the lyrics with a repetitive chorus. "Pretty Little Dancer" has a fun township groove and is about Trudy's ballet dancing daughter. "Hold Back the Tears" has a beautiful fluid solo by Andrea and Trudy's lyrics are about her son having to learn lessons in life and begin to stand on his own two feet.

"How can I miss you if you Never Go Away" is a lovely ballad with words and music by Andrea about love and life.

Trudy and Geoff have continued their songwriting partnership with a great song called "Life in a Bubble". A love song about the frailty of love and how it's good to live in the moment.

The other songs on the album have been arranged by Geoff Gascoyne using the instrumentation and reharmonisation to reinvent the songs. "Infant Eyes" by Wayne shorter is in 5/4 and has lovely interplay between Trudy and Martin on the solo. "Waltz for Debby" by Bill Evans has the added extra of Trudy's vocalese written to the Cannonball Alderley solo. The lyrics continues Gene Lee's story of a little girl growing up. Chick Corea's "Crystal Silence" is sad and reflective and Trudy has added some improvised lyrics to the end of the piece. There is an uplifting version of Fred Hersch and Norma Winstone's "Song of Life", "The Other Man's Grass" by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent has been completely rearranged by Geoff and makes the listener hear the lyrics in a new way. "I Have Dreamed" by Roger's and Hammerstein has a beautiful sax solo by Martin and "Forever Green" is a lesser known Jobim tune which also features Ruby Gascoyne and her friend Grace Freeman singing backing vocals.

Trudy says "I really wanted the challenge to sing and write something stylistically new and Andrea's songs were the perfect vehicle. The lyrics I write are about people and places in my life and I hope my honesty will resonate with my audience and perhaps make them reflect on different aspects of their own lives."

The House

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Trudy Kerr - Trudy Kerr

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:13
Size: 141,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:41)  1. Just One of Those Things
(5:12)  2. Get Out of Town
(3:03) 3. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Love
(4:04)  4. A Touch of Paradise
(6:16)  5. My Foolish Heart
(4:46)  6. The Song Is You
(4:41)  7. Stars In Your Eyes
(4:00)  8. Chega de Sandade (No More Blues)
(5:01)  9. Go Away Little Boy
(5:21) 10. Music
(3:07) 11. There's No Such Thing As Love
(6:12) 12. Since I Fell for You
(3:46) 13. As Long As Your Eyes Are Blue

Trudy Kerr is the first singer produced by the British record company Jazzizit, and their lack of experience in producing a vocal album is, regrettably, evident. The producers apparently felt compelled to make Kerr as appealing to as wide an audience as possible, including pop and rock devotees. Perhaps that's the reason why most of the instrumentalists on this album are from the rock and/or pop schools. The result is a case of musical schizophrenia with performances divided into two categories. The first is where Kerr tries to be more than she is and thus her vocalizing seems unnatural and contrived. This category is illustrated by "Just One of Those Things" where the main culprit is the soprano sax of Mornington Lockett, whose solo seems to have no musical objective other to demonstrate his fingering dexterity. "As Long as Your Eyes Are Blue" is an out of place foray into the realm of pop, which doesn't come off well. 

The second category proves the saving grace of this album. Here Kerr gets the chance to show how good a singer she is, which is quite good. This batch of tunes is typically comprised of offerings where Kerr is provided minimal accompaniment, both in terms of numbers of players and their style. Fortunately, this second set of tunes dominate the proceedings. "My Foolish Heart," "A Touch of Paradise," "Stars in Your Eyes," and Anthony Newley's "There's No Such Thing as Love" are good examples. Also in this classification is a very engaging Kerr duet with the dean of British clarinet players, Acker Bilk, on "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me." Bilk also contributes a chorus on his clarinet, with its very recognizable sound. Trudy Kerr has excellent diction, fine phrasing, and a very pleasant singing voice when it is allowed to be used in its natural state. She scats with intelligence and has excellent interpretive instincts. Hopefully, her next album will place grater emphases on these qualities. ~ Dave Nathan  http://www.allmusic.com/album/trudy-mw0000725774

Trudy Kerr

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Trudy Kerr - My Old Flame: Remembering Chet Baker

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:28
Size: 130,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:35)  1. My Old Flame
(5:13)  2. I Remember April
(3:38)  3. Do It the Hard Way
(3:59)  4. While My Lady (Baby) Sleeps
(2:45)  5. Get Happy
(4:56)  6. You Make Me Feel So Young
(4:58)  7. Makin Whoopee
(4:03)  8. Tea for Two
(5:08)  9. But Not for Me
(6:08) 10. Love for Sale
(5:09) 11. My Heart Stood Still
(3:25) 12. Bernie's Tune
(2:25) 13. Look for the Silver Lining

Trudy Kerr is renowned as one of the UK's finest jazz vocalists. Mojo Magazine says of her singing "Trudy Kerr is the genuine article - She is a Joy!" All About Jazz has described her as "100% real jazz musician with fluid phrasing and a mellifluous, warm and sensuous tone." Born in Australia, Trudy moved to the UK in the early 1990's to pursue a career in Jazz. She got her big break when Ronnie Scott asked her to perform at his Club and Trudy's career grew from there. She has performed at many major venues and festivals in the UK as well as engagements in Europe, her homeland Australia and the Far East. To date Trudy has released ten albums on the Jazzizit Record Label (The Rhythm of Life 2012, Reunion 2010, Like Minds 2009, Deja Vu 2007, Jazz for Juniors 2006, Cloudburst 2005, My Old Flame 2001, Day Dream 2000, Trudy 1998 and Sweet Surprise 1997) and has collaborated both live and in the studio with world class musicians including Mulgrew Miller, Jan Lundgren, Georgie Fame, Bob Dorough, Michael Garrick, Acker Bilk, Jamie Cullum, Geoff Gascoyne (her husband), Tom Cawley, Seb de Krom, Jim Mullen plus many more. 

To celebrate her extensive discography reaching double figures, Jazzizit Records have just put the finishing touches to a Trudy Kerr Compilation called Contemplation. It consists of fifteen tracks of some of Kerr's greatest recorded moments and will be available for a Christmas release. On a live performance you'll hear "her highly skilled nimble voice" (Steve Rubie, 606 Club, Chelsea, London) deliver a diverse repertoire that could include compositions by Chick Corea, Horace Silver, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Fats Waller, Bill Evans, Antonio Carlos Jobim and of course the Great American Songbook standards.

She is fast becoming a prolific lyricist having penned many vocalese (putting words to instrumental solos). Her performance of vocalese has been described by Jazzwise Magazine as "stunning and virtuosic with machine-gun fire delivery of the melodic line." Trudy's recent album with Geoff Gascoyne, The Rhythm of Life, was also full of exciting new repertoire penned by the husband and wife team. Jamie Cullum describing the songs as "new standards of today". Trudy is currently working on an original song project with pianist Andrea Vicari and hopes to release the album in the summer of next year. She is also a very successful vocal coach holding teaching posts at Trinity Laban, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Chichester University and London Centre of Contemporary Music where she coaches the up and coming vocal stars of tomorrow in various genres. As well as performing an eclectic mix of music on her gigs, she also performs an outstanding set celebrating the music of Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan with her regular trio, Tom Cawley (piano), Geoff Gascoyne (bass) and Sebastian de Krom (drums), alongside two of the UK's finest musicians, Dick Pearce (trumpet) and Derek Nash (tenor saxophone). 

Additionally, she has developed a Children's Show called Jazz for Juniors and has toured schools, festivals and venues around the UK. Trudy also presented The Jazz Hour weekly on BBC Radio Southern Counties alongside veteran presenter Roger Day. ~ Bio  http://www.trudykerr.com/profile/biography

My Old Flame

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Trudy Kerr - Day Dream

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:22
Size: 145,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:53)  1. Polkadots & Moonbeams
(3:49)  2. That Old Black Magic
(5:10)  3. I've Got the World On a String
(5:19)  4. Day Dream
(4:56)  5. Small Day Tomorrow
(5:33)  6. You Don't Know What Love Is
(3:59)  7. I've Got Just About Everything
(6:54)  8. The Masquerade Is Over
(7:25)  9. Mad About the Boy
(4:47) 10. Star Eyes
(4:56) 11. Glad to Be Unhappy
(4:36) 12. I Get Along Without You Very Well

Always in possession of impressive technique and a powerful voice, singer Trudy Kerr brings to her third album greater assurance, more sophisticated phrasing and interpretative qualities gained through experience. She has also moved away from that Chaka Khan approach to singing which characterized earlier recordings. Despite her strong voice, she doesn't overdo it as she moves from up tempo enthusiasm to husky torch singing. Listen to "That Old Black Magic" which starts out just above a whisper but throughout moves up and down the dynamics scale. 

The same is true for "I Get along without You Very Well" as Kerr works with the drummer who uses cymbals and rolls to underscore the musical message she is making with the lyrics. Nice job. It puts a burden on the listener to stay tuned in. Miss a measure or two and you'll miss an inflection, a slight change of tempo, an unusual accent. Kerr respects the words, turning to scatting infrequently. On those tunes when it seems she is about to launch into a scat, she teases and backs away. Another feature of the album are the unique arrangements. Unfortunately no credit for that good work is given. Nevertheless, because this is an album of practically all standards, it was important that the arrangements avoid well trod interpretative paths. 

This is accomplished through the interplay of Kerr with the musicians, for instance between her and Geoff Gascoyne's bass and Sebastiaan de Krom's drums on I've Got the World on a String". Kerr also engages with some clever vocal noodling to end the tune. But it's the presence of one of the top jazz pianist on today's scene, Mulgrew Miller, which is the icing that makes this CD especially appetizing. His dedication to the music and to Kerr's vocal phrasing is critical to the success of this album. This is a vocal set of constantly changing moods, expressions of fresh ideas and solid musicianship. Recommended. ~ Dave Nathan  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/day-dream-trudy-kerr-jazzizit-review-by-dave-nathan.php

Personnel: Trudy Kerr - Vocals; Mulgrew Miller - Piano; Geoff Gascoyne - Bass; Sebastian de Krom - Drums; Guy Barker - Trumpet

Day Dream

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Bob Dorough - Small Day Tomorrow

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:02
Size: 140,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:14)  1. Small Day Tomorrow
(5:25)  2. Marilyn, Queen of Lies
(6:44)  3. Antiquated Lore
(3:56)  4. Harry In the Night
(5:11)  5. The Winds of Heaven
(4:12)  6. Feet, Do Your Stuff
(3:31)  7. On Top of Mount Tipsey
(6:45)  8. New Song
(6:35)  9. The Ballad of the Sad Young Man
(4:12) 10. Nothing Like You (An Extravagant Love Story)
(5:06) 11. Never Had the Blues At All
(5:06) 12. Evenin' Wearies

At a party to celebrate his 100th birthday, pianist Eubie Blake, a glass of whiskey in one hand, a cigar in the other, is reported to have observed: "If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself." Way to go. (Blake died five days later but he'd made his point.) At 82, it sounds like Bob Dorough really has taken care of himself. He's lived in the fast lane since the '50s, but he whoops, hollers, soars and romances through this album like someone half his age, and attacks the piano with the same voracious gusto. It's a remarkable, still out there, high tide performance. Small Day Tomorrow is lifted further above the ordinary by its material. Subtitled Fran Landesman Revisited, the album features twelve top-drawer, mainly mid- to up-tempo songs, all with lyrics by New York-born cafe, cabaret, counter culture, and demi-monde queen Landesman (now 78 and based in London for many years). Some of the songs are well known, others less so. All are wonderful. Landesman's effortless hipness and expressive genius make her the jazz world's answer to Dorothy Parker, and her lyrics are treasures of elegance and insight. Dorough has collaborated with Landesman since the '50s, and he co-wrote "Small Day Tomorrow" and "Nothing Like You (An Extravagant Love Song)."

Dorough is brilliantly served by a demonic band Jamie Cullum's backline of Geoff Gascoyne (bass) and Sebastiaan de Krom (drums), unleashed and on the town, plus tenor saxophonist Derek Nash each of whom plays with electrifying energy and joie de vivre. Nash is massively enjoyable. A chameleon-like musician at home in a variety of styles, he here adopts, with complete conviction, the persona of a bar-walking throwback from the swing/rhythm & blues nexus of the '40s and '50s, fleet-footed, roaring or caressing as required, and totally undemanding of everything but your soul. Gascoyne's partner, Trudy Kerr, who duets ravishingly with Dorough on the bitter sweet "On Top Of Mount Tipsey," takes solo vocal on "Nothing Like You," which recently gained new currency when it was restored to Miles Davis' Sorcerer, in an inferior version sung too fast and too high by Dorough over an arrangement by Gil Evans. If this is old age, bring it on (but not yet). ~ Chris May  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/small-day-tomorrow-bob-dorough-candid-records-review-by-chris-may.php

Personnel: Bob Dorough: piano, vocals; Geoff Gascoyne: bass; Sebastiaan De Krom: drums; Derek Nash: tenor saxophone; Trudy Kerr: vocals (7,10).

Small Day Tomorrow

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Trudy Kerr - Like Minds

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:40
Size: 129.7 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[5:12] 1. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
[4:24] 2. Prelude To A Kiss
[4:44] 3. I'm Beginning To See The Light
[4:37] 4. October Woman
[3:23] 5. Do Nothing 'till You Hear From Me
[4:12] 6. In A Sentimental Mood
[3:20] 7. Heaven
[3:23] 8. Respondere Amour
[5:33] 9. Mood Indigo
[4:29] 10. Song By The Sea
[5:12] 11. Sophisticated Lady
[4:21] 12. Down On Your Knees
[3:44] 13. Lush Life

Trudy Kerr is renowned as one of the UK's finest jazz vocalists. Mojo Magazine says of her singing "Trudy Kerr is the genuine article - She is a Joy!" All About Jazz has described her as "100% real jazz musician with fluid phrasing and a mellifluous, warm and sensuous tone."

Born in Australia, Trudy moved to the UK in the early 1990's to pursue a career in Jazz. She got her big break when Ronnie Scott asked her to perform at his Club and Trudy's career grew from there. She has performed at many major venues and festivals in the UK as well as engagements in Europe, her homeland Australia and the Far East.

On this album Trudy is accompanied by the respected British jazz pianist Michael Garrick and it is mostly a duo album. It mainly features songs composed by Duke Ellington but given a more contemporary feel, and also includes some of Michael's original compositions.

Like Minds

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Trudy Kerr - Déjà Vu

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:08
Size: 133,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:16)  1. Out Of This World
(4:21)  2. Déjà Vu
(3:24)  3. The Nearness Of You
(5:06)  4. Two Kites
(4:43)  5. They Say It's Wonderful
(6:00)  6. Dream Of The Elders
(4:50)  7. Up Jumped A Bird
(4:50)  8. Destination Moon
(3:47)  9. The Summer Knows
(4:49) 10. You're Gonna Hear From Me
(4:04) 11. Witchcraft / You Fascinate Me So
(6:51) 12. You Go To My Head

“A typically classy offering from Kerr. A lovingly crafted selection of songs beautifully sung and flawlessly played”. This is a typically classy set from the Australian born Kerr, now established as one of the UK’‘s most accomplished jazz vocalists. An otherwise diverse twelve song collection is united by a common theme; each tune has a strong link with Kerr’s past-hence the title. Kerr’s husband Geoff Gascoyne handles bass and arranging duties and is joined in a quality rhythm section by swinging drummer Steve Brown. Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren (recently heard in a totally different setting on the ACT album “Mare Nostrum”) is the album’s chief instrumental soloist and his resourceful, colourful playing is a big factor in the album’s success. Some titles feature the Juno String Quartet playing Gascoyne’s arrangements. The strings are judiciously and tastefully utilised and add appropriate shade and colour to the instrumental palette. Kerr opens with Arlen and Mercer’s “Out Of This World” which showcases her clear, well articulated vocals.

But she also exhibits a real talent for genuine jazz phrasing, something the swinging accompaniment positively encourages. Lundgren solos at length here and his sparkling playing is a delight. The title track is a soul ballad co-written by the great Isaac Hayes that Kerr used to sing in her first band at the age of seventeen. It benefits from Gascoyne’s low key string arrangement and articulate bass playing. Hoagy Carmichael’s “The Nearness Of You” is tackled in a playful up-tempo style. Lundgren shines again, Brown’s nimble drumming is full of delightful details and everyone sounds as if they’re having a ball. Jobim’s mildly salacious “Two Kites” was introduced to Kerr by Norma Winstone and throws a Brazilian flavour into an already diverse mix. The strings feature on Irving Berlin’s “They Say It’s Wonderful” but the real highlight is the pairing of Lundgren’s lyrical piano and Kerr’s warm, conversational vocal. Kerr added her own lyrics to Dave Holland’s “Dream Of the Elders”. 

Appropriately Gascoyne’s resonant bass is at the heart of the instrumental arrangement. The words were inspired by a period Kerr spent living in Vanuatu and complement Holland’s beautiful melody perfectly. The playful mood returns as Kerr duets with Bob Dorough on Dorough’s tune “Up Jumped A Bird”. Kerr’s honeyed tones and Dorough’s fragile voice dovetail on tongue twisting hipster lyrics.Gascoyne appropriates the bass line from the old Police hit “Walkin’ On The Moon” and grafts it on to the standard Destination Moon”. It’s an inspired piece of thievery and the whole track is great fun with Kerr supplying topical additional lyrics. Michel Legrand’s “The Summer Knows” features Kerr’s sensuous vocal alongside the string quartet in an effective piece of chamber jazz.The string quartet provide the introduction to Andre Previn’s “You’re Gonna Hear From Me” before the orthodox jazz instrumental takes over for a relaxed and swinging take on the tune. Gascoyne’s dexterous bass solo is a particular highlight. Witchcraft/You Fascinate Me So” continues the mood before Kerr concludes the album duetting with Lundgren on a beautiful version of “You Go To My Head”. There is nothing earth shattering about “Deja Vu” but it is a lovingly crafted selection of songs beautifully sung and flawlessly played. An above average offering in an often overcrowded field. 

~ Ian Mann  http://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/trudy-kerr-deja-vu-songs-from-my-past/

Déjà Vu

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Trudy Kerr - Contemplation: The Best Of Trudy Kerr

Size: 162,5 MB
Time: 69:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Glad To Be Unhappy (Feat. Mulgrew Miller & Geoff Gascoyne) (4:57)
02. Tea For Two (Feat. Derek Nash, Geoff Gascoyne & Sebastiaan De Krom) (4:04)
03. Poppies (Feat. Tom Cawley, Geoff Gascoyne & Matt Home) (4:38)
04. They Say It's Wonderful (Feat. Jan Lundgren, Geoff Gascoyne & Steve Brown) (4:41)
05. Go Away Little Boy (Feat. Nick Weldon, Andy Hamill & Mark Fletcher) (5:01)
06. Moment's Notice (Feat. Tom Cawley, Sam Burgess, Steve Brown & Alan Skidmore) (5:43)
07. Seconds (Feat. Geoff Gascoyne, Graham Blevins, Jim Mullen & Seb De Krom) (4:26)
08. Sweet Surprisee (Feat. Phil Peskett, Andy Hamill & Mark Fletcher) (5:11)
09. Makin Whoopee (Feat. Dick Pearce, Geoff Gascoyne & Seb De Krom) (4:58)
10. My Foolish Heart (Feat. Phil Peskett, Andy Hamill & Mark Fletcher) (6:16)
11. Save Me (Feat. Tom Cawley, Geoff Gascoyne, Matt Home & Ashley Slater) (4:38)
12. Two Kites (Feat. Jan Lundgren, Geoff Gascoyne & Steve Brown) (5:03)
13. Ruby My Dear (Feat. Tom Cawley) (2:52)
14. Happy Talk (Feat. Tom Cawley, Geoff Gascoyne & Seb De Krom) (2:54)
15. In A Sentimental Mood (Feat. Michael Garrick & Paul Moylan) (4:12)

Subtitled The Best Of Trudy Kerr, Contemplation is a retrospective of the singer's career through selections from her ten album discography.

Contemplation takes in Kerr's career from Blossom Dearie's "Sweet Surprise"—a track from her debut album (Sweet Surprise, Jazzizit Records, 1997)—through to "Poppies," from The Rhythm of Life: Ted And Gladys (Jazzizit Records, 2013), credited jointly to Kerr and her husband and bassist Geoff Gascoyne.

Across these songs Kerr is acompanied by some of the finest musicians in the UK, including Gascoyne, drummers Sebastian De Krom and Matt Home and pianist Tom Cawley. Kerr draws on a wide range of writers, from the pop stylings of Bacharach and David ("Seconds") and Gerry Goffin and Carole King ("Go Away Little Boy") to Duke Ellington ("In A Sentimental Mood," with Michael Garrick on piano) and John Coltrane ("Moment's Notice," lyrics by Kerr).

The range of writers is matched by Kerr's breadth of approaches to performance. "Tea For Two" is an up-tempo, Anita O'Day-style take on the old standard with backing from Gascoyne, De Krom and baritone saxophonist Derek Nash. "Makin' Whoopee" is a sultry, slow burn, number featuring trumpeter Dick Pearce. Kerr's moving performance of "My Foolish Heart" tears at the heartstrings, while her take on Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Two Kites" mixes bossa nova groove with the romance of the Juno String Quartet. There are also a couple of Kerr/Gascoyne originals: "Poppies" and "Save Me." Both are gentle love songs, the latter given a bit of extra edge by Ashley Slater's trombone solo.

Two of the gentler performances stand out for the beauty of both Kerr's vocals and the musical accompaniment. She gives "Happy Talk" a much more reflective arrangement than it usually gets: no forced jollity, more an acknowledgement that life isn't always like you might wish. Cawley, Gascoyne and De Krom pick up on and heighten this feeling. For the Rogers and Hart classic "Glad To Be Unhappy" she's joined by the trio of Gascoyne, De Krom and guest pianist Mulgrew Miller. The pianist fits right in, as though he's been accompanying Kerr for years.

Compilation albums can often create debate and even dissent, mostly about what's not included—for example, there's nothing here from the excellent Reunion (Jazzizit, 2010), Kerr's album with fellow vocalist Ingrid James. Such an absence is an indication of the quality of Kerr's discography: there's much to celebrate about a compilation like Contemplation that doesn't have room for every song deserving of inclusion. ~Bruce Lindsay

Personnel: Trudy Kerr: vocals; Tom Cawley: piano; Geoff Gascoyne: bass; Steve Brown: drums; Sebastiaan De Krom: drums; Matt Home: drums; Dick Pearce: trumpet (9); Derek Nash: baritone saxophone (2); Ashley Slater: trombone (11); Jim Mullen: guitar (7); Mulgrew Miller: piano (1); Jan Lundgren: piano (4); Michael Garrick: piano (15); Juno String Quartet: strings (4, 12).

Contemplation

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