NADINE AXISA – Velvet
www.nadineaxisa.com
Collective personnel: Dominic Galea, Chris Spiteri, Paul Abela, Mark Attard, Harry Edleston Paul Giordimani Christian Borg, Vinnie Vella Jnr (piano); Walter Vela (flute, tenor); Adrian Brincat (t); Sandro Zerafa, Marvin Gaerty, Eric Santucci, Mark Galea (el guitar); George Curmi-il-Puse, Mario Borg, Gabriele Comeglio (alto); Mark Gauci (tb); Edward Ellul, Mario Aquilina, Ryan Abela, Lawrie Simpson (bass); Joe Camilleri, Alex Debono, Adrian Galea, Joe Micallef (drums); Plus String quartet. Nadine Axisa (vocals)
No recording dates given
A sturdy jazz combo on every track provides a first rate backing for Ms Axisa’s bright vocals. On the opening track Velvet, we have a sturdy flute solo from Walter Vella and good piano by Galea. Nadine sings on the beat and obviously fits in with a jazz combo although she is not a jazz vocalist in the strict sense. Her phrasing and stresses are more rock and pop than jazz but some of the combo’s solo work is outstanding. Gabrielle Comeglio’s alto soars on the next track, Tempted. The singer stays on the beat and everybody works hard to make this one a swinger. Stormy Night, in contrast, is a lush ballad. Introduced by Spiteri’s piano and a string quartet to set the mood and Nadine’s contribution is very much in the quality pop style. It is an attractive melody with a good piano solo but not really a jazz contender.
Light Me Up moves along nicely, stoked up by Christian Borg’s piano and the guitar, bass and drums. Nadine sounds more engaged with the jazz combo backing on this one and swings along quite nicely. Borg’s piano solo is the highlight of the track however. Much the same comments as those above apply to the rest of the material on offer here and whether or not you buy it might well depend on how much you enjoy good popular singing that has jazz content in the accompanying band. The original compositions by members of the combos are interesting without being particularly memorable but are more than serviceable for this type of recital.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
www.nadineaxisa.com
Collective personnel: Dominic Galea, Chris Spiteri, Paul Abela, Mark Attard, Harry Edleston Paul Giordimani Christian Borg, Vinnie Vella Jnr (piano); Walter Vela (flute, tenor); Adrian Brincat (t); Sandro Zerafa, Marvin Gaerty, Eric Santucci, Mark Galea (el guitar); George Curmi-il-Puse, Mario Borg, Gabriele Comeglio (alto); Mark Gauci (tb); Edward Ellul, Mario Aquilina, Ryan Abela, Lawrie Simpson (bass); Joe Camilleri, Alex Debono, Adrian Galea, Joe Micallef (drums); Plus String quartet. Nadine Axisa (vocals)
No recording dates given
A sturdy jazz combo on every track provides a first rate backing for Ms Axisa’s bright vocals. On the opening track Velvet, we have a sturdy flute solo from Walter Vella and good piano by Galea. Nadine sings on the beat and obviously fits in with a jazz combo although she is not a jazz vocalist in the strict sense. Her phrasing and stresses are more rock and pop than jazz but some of the combo’s solo work is outstanding. Gabrielle Comeglio’s alto soars on the next track, Tempted. The singer stays on the beat and everybody works hard to make this one a swinger. Stormy Night, in contrast, is a lush ballad. Introduced by Spiteri’s piano and a string quartet to set the mood and Nadine’s contribution is very much in the quality pop style. It is an attractive melody with a good piano solo but not really a jazz contender.
Light Me Up moves along nicely, stoked up by Christian Borg’s piano and the guitar, bass and drums. Nadine sounds more engaged with the jazz combo backing on this one and swings along quite nicely. Borg’s piano solo is the highlight of the track however. Much the same comments as those above apply to the rest of the material on offer here and whether or not you buy it might well depend on how much you enjoy good popular singing that has jazz content in the accompanying band. The original compositions by members of the combos are interesting without being particularly memorable but are more than serviceable for this type of recital.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
