Wendy Kirkland Quartet - Piano Divas

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:50
Size: 105,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:34)  1. Come Dance with Me
(4:01)  2. Bahia
(3:27)  3. Slow Boat to China
(4:43)  4. Some Other Time
(3:45)  5. Hey Good Lookin
(5:15)  6. It's Not Unusual
(1:53)  7. Be Nice
(3:15)  8. Samba Chica
(3:57)  9. Don't Worry Be Happy
(4:07) 10. Cheek to Cheek
(4:12) 11. My Baby Just Cares for Me
(3:36) 12. Meet Me Midnight

This is Wendy’s first recording and the results heard promise a bright future. She has a good jazz voice which she uses to effect on a variety of material here, most of it, as it goes, alien to jazz tradition but she manages to integrate it into the language, so to speak. 'Slow Boat To China' was recorded by Charlie Parker but seen as an unlikely novelty choice at the time; here Wendy gives it a swinging treatment, her voice bright, the piano accompaniment spot on in this version. Paying tribute in a brief sleeve note to other singer/pianists, Wendy mentions Diana Krall, Dena De Rose, Blossom Dearie and Shirley Horn. Her own brand of jazz singing combined with piano accompaniment and soloing seems to me to be closest to Dena De Rose in the way she does both jobs equally well and in her presentation style. The material is not altogether what jazz buffs might expect but it all seems to work well as Wendy takes on 'Hey Good Lookin,’' and 'It’s Not Unusual' although that last named is, fortunately, done as a slow, meditative ballad and never slips into Tom Jones speak. Her crisp, uncluttered solo on this selection is first rate. The notes also point out that these tracks were recorded with Wendy playing piano and singing simultaneously with very little editing afterwards. Ben Sidran’s 'Be Nice', works very well as a jazz piano solo with vocal even if it is an unlikely seeming vehicle for a jazzer. Although they support sturdily throughout the backing trio are brought into focus on 'Samba Chico' where guitarist Sprake plays an inventive solo segment before Wendy returns for some scat and piano gymnastics. Her tribute to Nina Simone and the duet she sings with fellow vocalist, Gary Grace on 'Don't Worry Be Happy' provide variety on a well- planned, straight ahead jazz session that should please all enthusiasts. ~ Derek Ansell https://www.jazzviews.net/wendy-kirkland-quartet---piano-divas.html

Personnel: Wendy Kirkland (voc, p), Pat Sprakes (elg), Paul Jefferies (b), Stevie Smith (d)

Piano Divas

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Wendy Kirkland - The Music's on Me

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:02
Size: 122,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:47)  1. The Music in Me
(4:52)  2. Haven't We Met
(8:23)  3. Pools
(3:11)  4. Sandalia Dela
(5:50)  5. Playground
(1:32)  6. Nothing Like You
(7:52)  7. September Second
(4:55)  8. West Coast Blues
(3:14)  9. O Gato Molhado
(4:15) 10. Sunday In New York
(5:04) 11. Travelling Home

It has been two years since Wendy Kirkland released her debut album, Piano Divas, and with the success of the recording and subsequent tours has firmly established herself as a first rate pianist and vocalist, an accolade that has been long overdue as Kirkland has been plying her trade as a professional musician for more than twenty years. Now with the release of her new album, The Music's On Me, there can now be no doubt that she is poised to take her place as one of the very best. Everything about The Music's On Me indicate that Wendy has taken a huge step forward. From the song selection, arrangements, through to performance and recording it is all there, with all the hard work paying off handsomely. Overall the album has a much more contemporary feel than its predecessor, yet there is no mistaking the identity of performer or the development and growth from the earlier recording. The quartet are by now well played in, and in a perfect position to interpret the arrangements, and play as a seamless unit. Bass and drums are rock solid swinging effortlessly, with Wendy and Pat Sprakes bringing their understanding of each others playing to bear so that is often as much a joy to hear how they support each other as the individual solos themselves. From the opening number, 'The Music In Me', written by Wendy and husband/guitarist, Pat Sprakes, there is a confidence and swagger in the performance that is reassuringly affecting. 

The vocals are relaxed and warm with guitar and piano getting in deeply swinging solos. This trick is also repeated on the very next number, 'Haven't We Met' where Wendy accompanies herself on a piano/scat solo that is quite exhilarating. The regular quartet are joined by a couple of special guests, with saxophonist Tommaso Starace and Roger Beaujolais on vibes featuring on two numbers apiece. The vibesman is heard to sterling effect on 'Pools' that I always associate with the stellar, Steps Ahead group, and Russell Malone's 'Playground', that along with Wendy's delightful vocals contributes a solo that is uniquely his own while still being in total empathy with Wendy and the song.  The saxophonist is heard on alto on 'September Second'  with a beautifully languid solo that captures the mood of Michel Petrucciani's lovely composition, switching to soprano saxophone for 'Travelling Home', another Kirkland/Sprakes original, playing sensuously melodic lines accompanying the vocal along with a solo that contributes to bringing the album to a satisfying close. 

The feeling throughout the album is a joyous affair from start to finish, and with Wendy now playing with an assurance that indicates that perhaps she is starting to really believe in herself, and quite rightly so too. With confidence riding high, Wendy is not just content to produce another highly enjoyable album in The Music's On Me, but also has the audacity with her version of Don Grolnick's 'Pools'  to hint at the possible direction of a future album, taking things along an even tougher and modern approach. Adding lyric's to Grolnick's fine contemporary composition, the pianist then delivers another example of her simultaneous piano/scat solo, prior to digging in on piano with a solo that  steals the show and is the highlight of an already impressive album. https://www.jazzviews.net/wendy-kirkland---the-musics-on-me.html

Personnel: Wendy Kirkland (piano & voice); Pat Sprakes (guitar); Paul Jefferies (bass guitar & double bass); Steve Wyndham (drums); Roger Beaujolais (vibraphone); Tommaso Starace (saxophones)

The Music's on Me

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