CAROL SLOANE - Out of the Blue…. & Live at 30th Street
Fresh Sounds Records FSR-CD 843
Out of the Blue
Tracks 1 to 13
Arrangements by Bill Finnegan & Bob Brookmeyer conducted by Bill Finegan
Combined personnels
Carol Sloane ( vocals ) Nick Travis ( tpt ) Clark Terry ( tpt ) Bob Brookmeyer ( val. Tmb ) Al Klink
( tnr / flute ) Barry Galbraith ( gtr ) Jim Hall ( gtr ) Bernie Leighton ( pno / celeste ) Bill Finnegan
( celeste ) Art Davis ( bass ) George Duvivier ( bass ) Walter Perkins ( drs ) plus harp, strings, woodwinds & percussion on 3 tracks
Recorded New York City, 1961 & 1962
Live at 30th Street
Tracks 14 to 25
Bill Rubenstein ( pno ) Bucky Pizzarelli ( gtr ) George Duvivier ( bass ) Sol Gubin ( drs )
Recorded New York City, 31 August 1962
Bonus tracks 26 7 27
Orchestra arranged & conducted by Joe Sherman
Recorded New York City, 1962
This CD contains Carol Sloane’s first two albums under her own name previously only having recorded with Larry Elgart’s Orchestra as his current female singer. Carol Sloane rose to fame after her surprise appearance at the 1961 Newport Jazz Festival with an outstanding performance and was immediately signed by Columbia Records.
Carol Sloane has perfect pitch and an ear for a good melody always seeking out songs which deserve a second look. Even at this early stage in her solo career she had a perfectly formed style and the ability to approach any song and get the best out of it.
On the studio album “Out of the Blue” she is accompanied by all star jazz goups with the arranging chores shared between Bill Finegan and Bob Brookmeyer with a generous amount of solo space for the backing groups.
The choice of material is a mixture of the well known and lesser known but each song is approached with freshness that is sometimes lacking with some singers. Although each track is a gem there are highlights among which are a sensitive treatment of “Prelude to a Kiss” and “My Ship” to the joyous feel to “Aren’t you glad you’re you” and “Will you still be mine”.
Bob Brookmeyer’s contribution both in his ensemble playing and his solo spots are a highlight, plus AL Klink’s flute playing adds colour and an alternative voice. Bernie Leighton’s piano style is ideal match for Carol Sloane.
“Live at 30th Street” is another aspect of Carol Sloane’s recording output and although it is billed as a live session it is actually recorded in the studio but there are two hundred invited and uninvited guests which adds to the atmosphere of the session.
Carol Sloane’s choice of material is aimed more at a live date performance but it works for the date and by using a quartet to accompany her it makes an interesting contrast to the studio session. Carol Sloane is obviously a singer who is inspired by working with a live audience.
This is an album best viewed as a live performance rather than individual tracks and on that level it works and it is the next best thing to actually being at the recording.
The two albums together complement each other and illustrate two sides of the vocal talents of Carol Sloane.
The two bonus tracks have little in common with rest of this release add nothing to to the overall enjoyment of this album, nevertheless this is an essential purchase for any lovers of outstanding singers combined with a choice of good songs.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Fresh Sounds Records FSR-CD 843
Out of the Blue
Tracks 1 to 13
Arrangements by Bill Finnegan & Bob Brookmeyer conducted by Bill Finegan
Combined personnels
Carol Sloane ( vocals ) Nick Travis ( tpt ) Clark Terry ( tpt ) Bob Brookmeyer ( val. Tmb ) Al Klink
( tnr / flute ) Barry Galbraith ( gtr ) Jim Hall ( gtr ) Bernie Leighton ( pno / celeste ) Bill Finnegan
( celeste ) Art Davis ( bass ) George Duvivier ( bass ) Walter Perkins ( drs ) plus harp, strings, woodwinds & percussion on 3 tracks
Recorded New York City, 1961 & 1962
Live at 30th Street
Tracks 14 to 25
Bill Rubenstein ( pno ) Bucky Pizzarelli ( gtr ) George Duvivier ( bass ) Sol Gubin ( drs )
Recorded New York City, 31 August 1962
Bonus tracks 26 7 27
Orchestra arranged & conducted by Joe Sherman
Recorded New York City, 1962
This CD contains Carol Sloane’s first two albums under her own name previously only having recorded with Larry Elgart’s Orchestra as his current female singer. Carol Sloane rose to fame after her surprise appearance at the 1961 Newport Jazz Festival with an outstanding performance and was immediately signed by Columbia Records.
Carol Sloane has perfect pitch and an ear for a good melody always seeking out songs which deserve a second look. Even at this early stage in her solo career she had a perfectly formed style and the ability to approach any song and get the best out of it.
On the studio album “Out of the Blue” she is accompanied by all star jazz goups with the arranging chores shared between Bill Finegan and Bob Brookmeyer with a generous amount of solo space for the backing groups.
The choice of material is a mixture of the well known and lesser known but each song is approached with freshness that is sometimes lacking with some singers. Although each track is a gem there are highlights among which are a sensitive treatment of “Prelude to a Kiss” and “My Ship” to the joyous feel to “Aren’t you glad you’re you” and “Will you still be mine”.
Bob Brookmeyer’s contribution both in his ensemble playing and his solo spots are a highlight, plus AL Klink’s flute playing adds colour and an alternative voice. Bernie Leighton’s piano style is ideal match for Carol Sloane.
“Live at 30th Street” is another aspect of Carol Sloane’s recording output and although it is billed as a live session it is actually recorded in the studio but there are two hundred invited and uninvited guests which adds to the atmosphere of the session.
Carol Sloane’s choice of material is aimed more at a live date performance but it works for the date and by using a quartet to accompany her it makes an interesting contrast to the studio session. Carol Sloane is obviously a singer who is inspired by working with a live audience.
This is an album best viewed as a live performance rather than individual tracks and on that level it works and it is the next best thing to actually being at the recording.
The two albums together complement each other and illustrate two sides of the vocal talents of Carol Sloane.
The two bonus tracks have little in common with rest of this release add nothing to to the overall enjoyment of this album, nevertheless this is an essential purchase for any lovers of outstanding singers combined with a choice of good songs.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
