PATRICE JÉGOU - If It Ain't Love
Prairie Star Records (no number listed)
Patrice Jégou (vocals); Jorge Calandrelli Orchestra; Nan Scwartz Orchestra; Various choirs; The Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
This CD is something of a mish mash. Three separate orchestras back Ms Jegue with various levels of support and the music alters dynamically from track to track. Patrice belts out Lover Come Back To Me, her vocals multi tracked and featuring other voices. It is a heavy-going version and later she sings the same song, this time with Mark Kibble providing background vocals and percussion. Kibble also arranged Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams and supplied a team of vocalists to sing behind Ms Jégou’s vocal but it is a bit heavy, as are some of these tracks that feature large string sections, orchestras and background vocalists Much of it comes out as jazz rock or R&B variations with the vocalist having to employ a very loud vocal to make herself heard. Estate (Summer) is, by contrast, a gentler piece with a warm vocal and a melodic Larry Koonse acoustic guitar solo. Baubles Bangles and Beads from the show Kismet flows along in much gentler fashion and Ms Jégou has a tasty vocal, stretching her notes out to fit phrases but not so much as on other tracks. Some tracks, like I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today are overblown with just too much choir, handclaps and sundry instruments all trying to get a look in. The final song, It Might Be You is a tasty duet for voice and piano.
Less is more in jazz often, so they say and the pieces with choirs, big string sections and brass and reed groups do rather attempt to swamp the vocalist although fortunately she has a big, well projected voice. All is not mediocre here though for the four selections with the Clayton - Hamilton Jazz Orchestra are top drawer jazz performances. Starting with Jersey Bounce Ms Jegou gives a strong jazz vocal reading riding on top of an ultra-smooth, crackling swing jazz orchestra. Top musicians like Jeff Hamilton on drums, Jeff Clayton on saxophones, Christophe Luty, bass and Tamir Hendelman on piano play up a storm and swing it impressively on four wonderful tracks. Mike Lang, an impressive pianist guests on one of the Hamilton tracks. If Ms Jégou had made a record of 16 tracks with this orchestra it would have been a jazz scorcher. John Clayton was the arranger for these burners. So, a bit of a mixed bag I’m afraid but with some striking musical moments. I would love to hear Patrice with just the Clayton Hamilton outfit on a full CD though. That could be a winner.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
Prairie Star Records (no number listed)
Patrice Jégou (vocals); Jorge Calandrelli Orchestra; Nan Scwartz Orchestra; Various choirs; The Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
This CD is something of a mish mash. Three separate orchestras back Ms Jegue with various levels of support and the music alters dynamically from track to track. Patrice belts out Lover Come Back To Me, her vocals multi tracked and featuring other voices. It is a heavy-going version and later she sings the same song, this time with Mark Kibble providing background vocals and percussion. Kibble also arranged Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams and supplied a team of vocalists to sing behind Ms Jégou’s vocal but it is a bit heavy, as are some of these tracks that feature large string sections, orchestras and background vocalists Much of it comes out as jazz rock or R&B variations with the vocalist having to employ a very loud vocal to make herself heard. Estate (Summer) is, by contrast, a gentler piece with a warm vocal and a melodic Larry Koonse acoustic guitar solo. Baubles Bangles and Beads from the show Kismet flows along in much gentler fashion and Ms Jégou has a tasty vocal, stretching her notes out to fit phrases but not so much as on other tracks. Some tracks, like I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today are overblown with just too much choir, handclaps and sundry instruments all trying to get a look in. The final song, It Might Be You is a tasty duet for voice and piano.
Less is more in jazz often, so they say and the pieces with choirs, big string sections and brass and reed groups do rather attempt to swamp the vocalist although fortunately she has a big, well projected voice. All is not mediocre here though for the four selections with the Clayton - Hamilton Jazz Orchestra are top drawer jazz performances. Starting with Jersey Bounce Ms Jegou gives a strong jazz vocal reading riding on top of an ultra-smooth, crackling swing jazz orchestra. Top musicians like Jeff Hamilton on drums, Jeff Clayton on saxophones, Christophe Luty, bass and Tamir Hendelman on piano play up a storm and swing it impressively on four wonderful tracks. Mike Lang, an impressive pianist guests on one of the Hamilton tracks. If Ms Jégou had made a record of 16 tracks with this orchestra it would have been a jazz scorcher. John Clayton was the arranger for these burners. So, a bit of a mixed bag I’m afraid but with some striking musical moments. I would love to hear Patrice with just the Clayton Hamilton outfit on a full CD though. That could be a winner.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
