BECKY KILGORE & NICKI PARROTT - Two Songbirds of a Feather
Arbors Records ARCD 19447
Becky Kilgore ( vocal / gtr ) Nicki Parrott ( vocals / bass ) Mike Renzi ( pno ) Harry Allen ( tnr ) Chuck Redd ( drs )
Recorded New York City, 18th & 19th March 2015
Becky Kilgore is a singer who plays guitar, Nikki Parrott is a bass player who sings and together they become an ideal Duo.
Becky Kilgore began singing in a professional capacity in 1981 working with a group called the Wolly Cats but it was not until the 1990s that she came to prominence working in the swing field. She was a founder member of B.E.D. along with trombonist Dan Barrett and guitarist Eddie Erickson.
Nikki Parrott was born in Newcastle, Australia and commenced studying piano at age four and from there moved to the flute but soon switched to double bass. Nikki received funding from the Arts Council of Australia to study in New York in 1994 and in June 2000 began performing at the Iridium Jazz Club on Monday nights.. Although first and foremost she works as a bass player she does use her vocal talents both in person and in the recording studio. Together Becky Kilgore and Nikki Parrott form a formidable duo and one that will hopefully continue for some time. They have searched the archives for some of the material on this album which is varied and works at all levels.
The album opens with “Two Little Girls From Little Rock” from the stage play and film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” sung in the film by the renowned Marilyn Monroe. This is fairly trite piece but works well as an opener and Harry Allen contributes some some nice touches on tenor.
There are two medleys on the album the first is two tunes by Ray Noble and opens with some strong bass playing by Nikki Parrott and a vocal by Becky Kilgore on “The Very Thought Of You”, the second is not quite as well known and is titled “Why Stars Come Out At Night” and Niccki Parrott does full justice to the evocative song. 2Life Is So Peculiar” is a Van Heusen / Burke number to which Harry Allen contributes a rollicking tenor solo along with some swinging vocals by the two singers.
.
Bob Haymes song “They Say It’s Spring” is a song which seems to have attracted a number of singers recently and it is fully deserved apart from it’s attractive melody it swings along so easily and the two singers give it a delightful rendering.
The second medley is the inspired pairing of “Blue Moon” and “Moonglow” which fit together like a pair of gloves and Mike Renzi’s piano accompaniment is spot on. This is a stand out track on the album which has many fine tracks.
Al Cohn’s instrumental number “El Cajon” translates well to a vocal number and Harry Allen’s tenor swings the whole thing along.
The whole album is a winner from start to finish and must qualify as an Album of the Year not just for the two singers but for the solid accompanying group of fine musicians.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Arbors Records ARCD 19447
Becky Kilgore ( vocal / gtr ) Nicki Parrott ( vocals / bass ) Mike Renzi ( pno ) Harry Allen ( tnr ) Chuck Redd ( drs )
Recorded New York City, 18th & 19th March 2015
Becky Kilgore is a singer who plays guitar, Nikki Parrott is a bass player who sings and together they become an ideal Duo.
Becky Kilgore began singing in a professional capacity in 1981 working with a group called the Wolly Cats but it was not until the 1990s that she came to prominence working in the swing field. She was a founder member of B.E.D. along with trombonist Dan Barrett and guitarist Eddie Erickson.
Nikki Parrott was born in Newcastle, Australia and commenced studying piano at age four and from there moved to the flute but soon switched to double bass. Nikki received funding from the Arts Council of Australia to study in New York in 1994 and in June 2000 began performing at the Iridium Jazz Club on Monday nights.. Although first and foremost she works as a bass player she does use her vocal talents both in person and in the recording studio. Together Becky Kilgore and Nikki Parrott form a formidable duo and one that will hopefully continue for some time. They have searched the archives for some of the material on this album which is varied and works at all levels.
The album opens with “Two Little Girls From Little Rock” from the stage play and film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” sung in the film by the renowned Marilyn Monroe. This is fairly trite piece but works well as an opener and Harry Allen contributes some some nice touches on tenor.
There are two medleys on the album the first is two tunes by Ray Noble and opens with some strong bass playing by Nikki Parrott and a vocal by Becky Kilgore on “The Very Thought Of You”, the second is not quite as well known and is titled “Why Stars Come Out At Night” and Niccki Parrott does full justice to the evocative song. 2Life Is So Peculiar” is a Van Heusen / Burke number to which Harry Allen contributes a rollicking tenor solo along with some swinging vocals by the two singers.
.
Bob Haymes song “They Say It’s Spring” is a song which seems to have attracted a number of singers recently and it is fully deserved apart from it’s attractive melody it swings along so easily and the two singers give it a delightful rendering.
The second medley is the inspired pairing of “Blue Moon” and “Moonglow” which fit together like a pair of gloves and Mike Renzi’s piano accompaniment is spot on. This is a stand out track on the album which has many fine tracks.
Al Cohn’s instrumental number “El Cajon” translates well to a vocal number and Harry Allen’s tenor swings the whole thing along.
The whole album is a winner from start to finish and must qualify as an Album of the Year not just for the two singers but for the solid accompanying group of fine musicians.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
