AMBER WEEKS - Pure Imagination
AMBER INN PRODUCTIONS No number
Various line-ups featuring: Trevor Ware, Jeff Littleton (b); Charles Ruggerio (d); Keith Fiddmont (ts,as); Curtis Taylor (t); Roman Stagnaron (elg); Paul Baker (harp); tony Campodonico, Scotty Barnhart (t) Gabriel Nobles (vib) No sates or locations listed.
This vocal album by Ms Weekes is something of a mixture. The best tracks are particularly good indeed and the rest somewhat mediocre. Pride of place must go to the three straight ahead jazz swingers, It’s Alright With Me, After You’ve Gone and Just Squeeze Me. After is a solid up- tempo swinger and Just Squeeze is a steady medium tempo groove with a bright vibes solo. It’s Alright features a full string section but it is neatly arranged and does not intrude on the jazz swingers. Brown Baby, an Oscar Brown Jr composition is a finger snapping, Peggy Lee Fever type thing which has Amber singing brightly with just Ware’s deep, mahogany arco bass in support.
When October Goes is an attractive ballad arrangement of a Barry Manilow and Johnny Mercer piece. Amber’s voice is well suited to this one, which she does twice, the second a trifle slower in tempo. Gone at Last is by Paul Simon and would be more at home in a pop record but the vocalist sings it well. This selection features a brass band including a sousaphone and moves into traditional jazz territory occasionally. The snappy Mister Kicks, also by Oscar Brown Jr is a medium tempo foot tapper.
There is quite a mix here and it will not be to all jazz enthusiast’s taste. Try sampling the standout track After You’ve Gone first, if you can. The Snake is another novelty number but again, attractively sung by Ms Weekes. The band members are all first rate musicians and I would like to hear them do a straight ahead jazz set with Ms Weekes.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
AMBER INN PRODUCTIONS No number
Various line-ups featuring: Trevor Ware, Jeff Littleton (b); Charles Ruggerio (d); Keith Fiddmont (ts,as); Curtis Taylor (t); Roman Stagnaron (elg); Paul Baker (harp); tony Campodonico, Scotty Barnhart (t) Gabriel Nobles (vib) No sates or locations listed.
This vocal album by Ms Weekes is something of a mixture. The best tracks are particularly good indeed and the rest somewhat mediocre. Pride of place must go to the three straight ahead jazz swingers, It’s Alright With Me, After You’ve Gone and Just Squeeze Me. After is a solid up- tempo swinger and Just Squeeze is a steady medium tempo groove with a bright vibes solo. It’s Alright features a full string section but it is neatly arranged and does not intrude on the jazz swingers. Brown Baby, an Oscar Brown Jr composition is a finger snapping, Peggy Lee Fever type thing which has Amber singing brightly with just Ware’s deep, mahogany arco bass in support.
When October Goes is an attractive ballad arrangement of a Barry Manilow and Johnny Mercer piece. Amber’s voice is well suited to this one, which she does twice, the second a trifle slower in tempo. Gone at Last is by Paul Simon and would be more at home in a pop record but the vocalist sings it well. This selection features a brass band including a sousaphone and moves into traditional jazz territory occasionally. The snappy Mister Kicks, also by Oscar Brown Jr is a medium tempo foot tapper.
There is quite a mix here and it will not be to all jazz enthusiast’s taste. Try sampling the standout track After You’ve Gone first, if you can. The Snake is another novelty number but again, attractively sung by Ms Weekes. The band members are all first rate musicians and I would like to hear them do a straight ahead jazz set with Ms Weekes.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
