JANINAH BURNETT - Love The Colour Of Your Butterfly
CLAZZ RECORDS 2001
Janinah Burnett (v); Christian Sands, Sullivan Fortner, Keith Brown (p); Ben Williams (elg); Luques Curtis (b); Terreon Gully (d)
No dates or location listed
The daughter of jazz drummer Carl Burnett, Ms Burnett is a singer with an operatic voice of considerable range and a jazz and popular vocalist too. On this release she has chosen to attempt to fuse the two styles and adds in a popular, soul type song and a spiritual for good measure. She also includes two selections from Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts as well as his composition: In A Sentimental Mood. She begins her recital with Creole Girl singing in a wild and free manner, backed by piano bass and drums. What Is This Thing Called Love is perhaps the best track on the album where she mixes Habanera, from Bizet’s Carmen with a straight jazz reading of the Cole Porter tune. How well the two mix will be a matter for listeners to decide for themselves. E Lucevan Le Stelle is an aria from Puccini’s Tosca, sung here in pure operatic manner, Ms Burnett exercising her great vocal range to good effect although the support from piano, bass and drums jars slightly with this music. The piano backing by Christian Sands, when he plays alone, is well structured though.
Keep Your Eyes On The Prize is a traditional spiritual, sung straight again although with rather heavy bass and drum backing. Ms Burnett sings the Ellington sacred pieces in straight ahead manner this time with gentle backing from piano, bass and drums. Someday We’ll All Be Free is really a soul type pop song and it is sung in that fashion. Kiss Of Life follows a similar pattern of interpretation. Strange Fruit is given an appropriately solemn reading and I Loves You Porgy is well sung and played as a vocal and piano duet, Christian Sands at the keyboard. Honeysuckle Rose, complete with retro introduction is given a part jazz treatment but with operatic interjections along the way. Although this release spotlights the great range and flexibility of Janinah’s voice effectively, I’m not convinced that the genres can be mixed effectively and successfully. To put it crudely it is neither fish nor foul but tries to be both. If you like a mix of opera, spiritual and jazz, all together in one package, this is for you. Straight ahead jazz fans though may find much of the content is not to their liking. The album certainly has its moments but overall I feel it has limited appeal.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
CLAZZ RECORDS 2001
Janinah Burnett (v); Christian Sands, Sullivan Fortner, Keith Brown (p); Ben Williams (elg); Luques Curtis (b); Terreon Gully (d)
No dates or location listed
The daughter of jazz drummer Carl Burnett, Ms Burnett is a singer with an operatic voice of considerable range and a jazz and popular vocalist too. On this release she has chosen to attempt to fuse the two styles and adds in a popular, soul type song and a spiritual for good measure. She also includes two selections from Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts as well as his composition: In A Sentimental Mood. She begins her recital with Creole Girl singing in a wild and free manner, backed by piano bass and drums. What Is This Thing Called Love is perhaps the best track on the album where she mixes Habanera, from Bizet’s Carmen with a straight jazz reading of the Cole Porter tune. How well the two mix will be a matter for listeners to decide for themselves. E Lucevan Le Stelle is an aria from Puccini’s Tosca, sung here in pure operatic manner, Ms Burnett exercising her great vocal range to good effect although the support from piano, bass and drums jars slightly with this music. The piano backing by Christian Sands, when he plays alone, is well structured though.
Keep Your Eyes On The Prize is a traditional spiritual, sung straight again although with rather heavy bass and drum backing. Ms Burnett sings the Ellington sacred pieces in straight ahead manner this time with gentle backing from piano, bass and drums. Someday We’ll All Be Free is really a soul type pop song and it is sung in that fashion. Kiss Of Life follows a similar pattern of interpretation. Strange Fruit is given an appropriately solemn reading and I Loves You Porgy is well sung and played as a vocal and piano duet, Christian Sands at the keyboard. Honeysuckle Rose, complete with retro introduction is given a part jazz treatment but with operatic interjections along the way. Although this release spotlights the great range and flexibility of Janinah’s voice effectively, I’m not convinced that the genres can be mixed effectively and successfully. To put it crudely it is neither fish nor foul but tries to be both. If you like a mix of opera, spiritual and jazz, all together in one package, this is for you. Straight ahead jazz fans though may find much of the content is not to their liking. The album certainly has its moments but overall I feel it has limited appeal.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
