Vanessa Rubin - I'm Glad There Is You : A Tribute to Carmen McRae

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:28
Size: 131,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:00) 1. Yardbird Suite
(6:59) 2. I'm Glad There Is You
(5:36) 3. Midnight Sun
(5:32) 4. Inside A Silent Tear
(5:59) 5. No Strings Attached
(6:29) 6. Alfie
(6:43) 7. Speak Low
(6:05) 8. Easy Living
(3:50) 9. A Child Is Born
(6:12) 10. Send In The Clowns

This Vanessa Rubin release is a tribute to Carmen McRae. Although she cites McRae as a major influence, Rubin actually does not sound much like her and leans as much toward middle-of-the-road music as jazz. Also, not all of these songs are really identified with McRae (most notably "Send in the Clowns" which was largely owned by Sarah Vaughan). The ballad-dominated set does have a reasonable amount of variety, Rubin gets off some fine scatting on "Yardbird Suite" and she introduces an excellent original in "No Strings Attached."

A variety of guests (including Grover Washington, Jr., Frank Foster, Antonio Hart, Cecil Bridgewater, Kenny Burrell and Monty Alexander) only appear on one or two songs apiece and do not make that much of an impression. However Vanessa Rubin's attractive voice is strong enough to carry the music and this release is a step forward for her. By Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/im-glad-there-is-you-a-tribute-to-carmen-mcrae-mw0000113171?1664031000028

I'm Glad There Is You: A Tribute to Carmen McRae

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Vanessa Rubin - Soul Eyes

Styles: Jazz, Vocal

Year: 1992

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 53:11

Size: 122,1 MB

Art: Front

(5:18)  1. I've Got The World On A String

(3:16)  2. When We Were One

(5:51)  3. Soul Eyes

(8:13)  4. Tenderly

(4:00)  5. Giant Steps

(4:47)  6. Autumn

(6:35)  7. Willow Weep For Me

(6:01)  8. Voyager II

(5:24)  9. Wait For Love

(3:42) 10. Dearly Beloved

Vanessa Rubin at the time of her Novus debut had been a high-school English teacher for seven years. This CD was a good start for her singing career although the results are a little mixed. Rubin displays an attractive voice (sounding great when holding long notes) but at this point in time ballads were not her strong point (on "When We Were One" she recalls Barbra Streisand). In addition, producer Onaje Allan Gumbs cannot resist gumming up the works in a few places with phony strings from his keyboards; he funks up what may be the initial vocal version of Mal Waldron's classic "Soul Eyes" along with a slower-than-usual "Giant Steps." On the plus side, Rubin's workout on a flagwaving "I've Got the World on a String" is enjoyable, the backup crew (which includes pianist Kirk Lightsey, trumpeter Eddie Allen and saxophonist Roger Byam) get occasional solos and the singer does a fine tribute to Sarah Vaughan on "Tenderly." This was a worthwhile debut but Vanessa Rubin's best work would be in the future. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-eyes-mw0000273378

Personnel: Vanessa Rubin (Vocals); Eddie Allen Trumpet, Flugelhorn;  Roger Byam Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor);  Kirk Lightsey Piano;  Cecil McBee Bass;  Lewis Nash Drums

Soul Eyes  

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Vanessa Rubin - The Dream Is You: Vanessa Rubin Sings Tadd Dameron

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:40
Size: 128,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:42)  1. Lady Bird
(2:34)  2. Kitchenette Across the Hall
(7:10)  3. If You Could See Me Now
(3:34)  4. Weekend
(4:17)  5. On a Misty Night
(4:04)  6. Never Been in Love
(5:18)  7. Next Time Around
(3:05)  8. Good Bait
(3:51)  9. Reveries Do Come True (The Dream Is You)
(5:07) 10. Whatever Possessed Me
(5:29) 11. You're a Joy
(3:23) 12. I Think I'll Go Away

Tadd Dameron is regarded as the great romantic of bebop-era jazz composers, a writer with a talent for creating smooth, memorable melodies that could evoke real emotion. Most of his works are known mainly as instrumentals but Vanessa Rubin has compiled lyrics written for some of his tunes, had new lyrics written for others and even provided words to one herself. This recording of her efforts is, surprisingly, the first ever all-vocal set of Tadd Dameron's music.  Rubin's singing is classy throughout, with hints of the subtle swing of Carmen McRae. She benefits from the backing of an eight-piece band playing charts by several of Dameron's friends and disciples, Frank Foster, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, Willie Smith and Bobby Watson. There are several familiar pieces like "Lady Bird" and "On A Misty Night" on hand, all played with swinging assurance. Willie Smith's version of "Good Bait," in particular, comes off breezily hip with the horns tightly arranged to sound like a much larger band. Benny Golson gives the classic ballad "If You Could See Me Now" an elegant arrangement, with the reeds and piano flowing gently behind Rubin's velvety voice, and Eddie Allen and Clifton Anderson taking pretty solo turns.  Lesser-known compositions are treated with the same care and style as the familiar ones. "Never Been In Love" is an elegant Latin-flavored ballad given a smoky, romantic sheen in Bobby Watson's arrangement, while "Weekend" is a swirling waltz sporting a brassy horn arrangement by Frank Foster not too far from some of the arranging on Dameron's own recordings. "You're A Joy" is a lush ballad with an unidentified flautist fluttering through the ensemble, and "Whatever Possessed Me" may be the single most beautiful track on the CD, thanks to Rubin's angelic singing and the swooning horns in Jimmy Heath's arrangement. Alex Harding's baritone is a secret weapon of this and many other tracks in the way his sax wraps around the horn ensembles like smoke, giving them a lush gravity. On the ballads "Reveries Do Come True," a romantic tango with Rubin's own lyrics, and "Next Time Around," a vocal version of "Soultrane," the horns lay out and Rubin is backed only by the rhythm section. John Cowherd's piano, Kenny Davis' bass and Carl Allen's drums all shine on these tracks with Cowherd's touch on "Next Time Around" being particularly lovely. Tadd Dameron is something of a neglected figure today but this set reminds us of the beauty and depth of his music, and shows how well it adapts to vocal treatments. It is also a reminder of how good a singer Vanessa Rubin is. ~ JEROME WILSON https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-dream-is-you-vanessa-rubin-sings-tadd-dameron-vanessa-rubin-nibur-records-review-by-jerome-wilson.php

Personnel: Vanessa K. Rubin: vocals; John Cowherd; piano; Kenny Davis: bass; Carl Allen: drums; Eddie Allen: trumpet; Patience Higgins: tenor saxophone; Bruce Williams: alto saxophone; Clifton Anderson: trombone; Alex Harding: baritone saxophone.

The Dream Is You: Vanessa Rubin Sings Tadd Dameron

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Vanessa Rubin - Girl Talk

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:16
Size: 117,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:15)  1. Comes Love
(3:41)  2. Matchmaker, Matchmaker
(7:08)  3. Whatever Happens
(5:32)  4. But Not for Me
(7:51)  5. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)
(4:25)  6. You'll Never Know (Until You Let Go)
(4:21)  7. Loving You
(4:34)  8. Girl Talk
(2:22)  9. Sex Is a Misdemeanor (The More You Miss de Meaner You Get)
(3:07) 10. Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You
(2:46) 11. Won't Have to Say Goodbye
(2:10) 12. If You Ever Go Away

This, Vanessa Rubin's second album for Telarc, is one of her best. The play list is varied and the arrangements allow plenty of room to strut her personality and versatility. There's a "that's all folks" scat coda on "Comes Love". "Matchmaker" is a swinging waltz with Eric Alexander's Coltrane influenced sax delving in and around the melody line. She dubs herself in as a backup vocalist on a having some fun "Sex Is a Misdemeanor (the More You Miss De Meaner You Get)" done with just Lewis Nash's drums helping out. Etta Jones guests with Rubin on a couple of tracks. Her Esther Phillips like nasal quality is put to good use on a "But Not for Me" which also features the tenor of Javon Jackson and the special piano of Cedar Walton. The two go to town on the blues classic, "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You" ending with some jiving girl talk with each other. Jones also did a guest stint on Jeannie Bryson's latest release, Deja Blue. A premier track is the lovely lilting "Whatever Happens", a Vanessa Williams favorite.

Rubin caresses a ballad as well as anyone in the business.Rubin doesn't set the world on fire with this album, nor does it appear that her intention. Rather the album is a platform for Rubin's straight forward jazz singing where she recognizes that lyrics she can also be concerned with lyrics to earn the sobriquet "jazz singer." The voice doesn't always have to be just an instrument. Rubin's vocalizing meshes well with the instruments with words delivered with intelligent emotion. Telarc has surrounded her with top level support with the sidemen on this set befitting for a singing personage of Rubin's stature. It's a no brainer to highly recommend Girl Talk. ~ Dave Nathan  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/girl-talk-vanessa-rubin-telarc-records-review-by-dave-nathan.php

Personnel: Vanessa Rubin, Etta Jones - Vocals; Eric Alexander, Javon Jackson - Tenor Saxophone; Steve Davis - Trombone; Lewis Nash - Drums; Cedar Walton, Larry Willis - Piano; David Williams - Bass

Girl Talk

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Vanessa Rubin - Pastiche

Styles: Vocal, Swing
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:14
Size: 122,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:24) 1. In a Sentimental Mood
(4:29) 2. Simone
(5:22) 3. I'm Just a Lucky So and So
(5:30) 4. When Love Is New
(4:46) 5. Black Nile
(3:32) 6. I Only Have Eyes for You
(4:02) 7. Mosaic
(4:40) 8. Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti
(4:21) 9. Weekend
(5:51) 10. A Certain Love
(4:12) 11. Arise and Shine

An appealing singer who does not improvise much, Vanessa Rubin recorded several fine albums for Novus. She studied classical music but switched to jazz early on. Rubin sang with and managed the Blackshaw Brothers (an organ quartet from Cleveland). After working with several groups locally (and recording with the Cleveland Jazz All-Stars), in 1982 Rubin moved to New York. She worked with Pharoah Sanders, Frank Foster's Loud Minority, and the big bands of Mercer Ellington and Lionel Hampton, and studied with Barry Harris in addition to teaching in the N.Y.C. public school system. In 1992 she signed with Novus and her releases for the label are quite enjoyable, including a fine tribute to Carmen McRae. ~ Scott Yanow https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vanessa-rubin/366318

Personnel: Bass – Tarik Shah; Drums – Aaron Walker; Percussion – Michael Rubin; Piano, Organ – Aaron Graves; Tenor Saxophone – Houston Person (tracks: 9); Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Roger Byam; Trombone – Steve Turre; Trumpet – Cecil Bridgewater (tracks: 2, 11); Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Eddie Allen

Pastiche

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Rodney Whitaker - Cranbrook Christmas Jazz

Styles: Christmas
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:12
Size: 164,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:01) 1. Personent Hodie
(4:55) 2. The Christmas Song
(4:59) 3. In the Bleak Midwinter
(4:41) 4. We Three Kings
(2:54) 5. I Love the Winter Weather
(3:10) 6. Christmas Time is Here
(8:49) 7. Winter Wonderland
(5:35) 8. O Holy Night
(4:52) 9. A Child is Born
(4:44) 10. My Favorite Things
(4:49) 11. It's Easy to Blame the Weather
(5:41) 12. Little Drummer Boy
(4:31) 13. Silent Night
(5:23) 14. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Legendary bassist Rodney Whitaker has been a celebrated force in Michigan's jazz eco-system since returning to develop the world-class program at Michigan State University. Active with numerous jazz legacy institutions, Whitaker has spent five-years as Artist in Residence with the historic Christ Church Cranbrook near Detroit, where its wide-ranging arts and community offerings has afforded Whitaker and choir director Christopher Wells to collaborate, providing rich opportunities to bring together the worlds of jazz and traditional choir music. This recording documents their long-running Sacred Jazz Concerts and features preeminent jazz vocalist Vanessa Rubin, with Whitaker's sextet and the Church's choir, performing arrangements of hymns, Christmas favorites, and jazz standards of the season, including Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" and Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time Is Here." https://www.challengerecords.com/products/16079376420078

Personnel: Rodney Whitaker: Bass; Timothy Blackmon: Trumpet; Len’I McKinney: Baritone & Alto Saxophone; Chris Glassman: Bass Trombone; Vanessa Rubin: Vocal; Rockelle Whitaker: Vocal; Christopher McDole: Vocal; Marc Meyers: Vocal; Kate Lucander: Vocal.

Cranbrook Christmas Jazz

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Vanessa Rubin - Language of Love

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:30
Size: 133,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. Love for Sale
(4:55)  2. I Didn't Know About You
(4:27)  3. The Way He Makes Me Feel
(4:45)  4. Caravan
(4:00)  5. Fantastic Episode
(4:31)  6. Nice'n Easy
(6:11)  7. Early Autumn
(5:14)  8. I Should Lose You
(3:53)  9. Every Time We Say Goodbye
(8:12) 10. Corcovado
(6:45) 11. The Summer Knows

Vanessa Rubin's 1999 album Language of Love features more of her smooth vocal stylings, along with guest performances from Freddy Cole on two tracks, "Nice 'N' Easy" and "Everytime We Say Goodbye." Other standout tracks include "Early Autumn" and "The Summer Knows." ~ Heather Phares https://www.allmusic.com/album/language-of-love-mw0000667213

Language of Love

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Vanessa Rubin - Vanessa Rubin Sings

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:44
Size: 112,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:37)  1. Our Love is Here to Stay
(5:10)  2. It's Probably Me
(4:30)  3. Being Green
(4:22)  4. All For One
(4:45)  5. My Ship
(3:07)  6. Seven Days
(3:36)  7. Once Upon a Summertime
(4:12)  8. Close Enough For Love
(3:07)  9. Morning
(2:54) 10. Unless It's You
(5:27) 11. Black Coffee
(3:52) 12. His Eye Is on the Sparrow

Vanessa Rubin has a lovely voice, but rarely wanders much from the melody. Since many of the songs that she performs on this Novus CD have already been done definitively dozens of times by others (such as "Our Love Is Here to Stay," "My Ship," "Morning," and even "Being Green"), the value of the release is not as high as it should be. Rubin does contribute new lyrics to Wayne Shorter's "Speak No Evil" (renamed "All for One"), her singing is heartfelt on "His Eye Is on the Sparrow," and Steve Turre's four appearances (on trombone and conch shells) are a major asset. But why revive "Black Coffee" (another song that has already been done perfectly) with its self-pitying attitude and dated references to cigarettes. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/vanessa-rubin-sings-mw0000179695

Personnel: Vanessa Rubin (vocals); Steve Turre (trombone, conch shells); Toots Thielemans (harmonica); Michael Lang (piano); Oscar Castro-Neves (acoustic guitar); Kevin Eubanks, Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Bob Hurst, Dave Carpenter (bass); Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Alex Acuna (drums); Morgan Ames, Clydene Jackson, Darlene Koldenhoven, Jim Gilstrap (background vocals).

Vanessa Rubin Sings

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