SOUNDS OF A & R - Questions Left Unanswered
Self produced
April May Webb (v); Randall Haywood (t,flh); Charlie Sigler (elg); James Austin (p); Nathan Webb (d); Jacob Webb (b); Riza Printup (harp)
Recorded New Jersey. No dates listed.
A&R are April May Webb and Randall Haywood. They met in 2013 when she visited a New Jersey jazz club and heard him playing trumpet. Or Flugelhorn as he plays both. From then on they became inseparable as a couple and in making music together. How do I know? Because April half sings, half narrates this information on the opening, one minute twenty three seconds track. Then they launch into Gigi Gryce’s Social Call. April sings with a mixture of seasoned pop and (probably ) newly acquired jazz feeling. Half way through this track she begins scatting and livens up the proceedings. Performing a jazz version of Dolly Parton’s Jolene is pretty much an impossible task but these two try and full marks for effort. April May wrote Dark Brown Eyes which she sings in straight ahead manner as a popular song. She usually does some scatting at some point and Randall supplies a soft focus solo on flugelhorn. His trumpet and flugel solos provide most of the jazz content on this release along with occasional solo spots from pianist James Austin and guitarist Charlie Sigler. Everyone takes a fresh approach to the standard, I’m Old Fashioned.
Moments When I Was A Kid is more of a jazz vehicle, written by Randall and featuring a well structured trumpet solo. His style is mellow and laid back whether on trumpet or flugelhorn, April May provides the vocal, getting into the swing of things more here. The prelude to The Skin I’m In has a blossoming introduction from Riza Printup on harp, joined later by piano. The full piece is sung by April and again Randall comes up with suitable support on trumpet. With songs like Killing Me Softly and Jolene on the menu this disc comes over as a mix of jazz and popular music. April’s own compositions also stride two categories but her voice is clear and bright and with Randall’s softly lyrical horn segments, the two blend together really well.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
Self produced
April May Webb (v); Randall Haywood (t,flh); Charlie Sigler (elg); James Austin (p); Nathan Webb (d); Jacob Webb (b); Riza Printup (harp)
Recorded New Jersey. No dates listed.
A&R are April May Webb and Randall Haywood. They met in 2013 when she visited a New Jersey jazz club and heard him playing trumpet. Or Flugelhorn as he plays both. From then on they became inseparable as a couple and in making music together. How do I know? Because April half sings, half narrates this information on the opening, one minute twenty three seconds track. Then they launch into Gigi Gryce’s Social Call. April sings with a mixture of seasoned pop and (probably ) newly acquired jazz feeling. Half way through this track she begins scatting and livens up the proceedings. Performing a jazz version of Dolly Parton’s Jolene is pretty much an impossible task but these two try and full marks for effort. April May wrote Dark Brown Eyes which she sings in straight ahead manner as a popular song. She usually does some scatting at some point and Randall supplies a soft focus solo on flugelhorn. His trumpet and flugel solos provide most of the jazz content on this release along with occasional solo spots from pianist James Austin and guitarist Charlie Sigler. Everyone takes a fresh approach to the standard, I’m Old Fashioned.
Moments When I Was A Kid is more of a jazz vehicle, written by Randall and featuring a well structured trumpet solo. His style is mellow and laid back whether on trumpet or flugelhorn, April May provides the vocal, getting into the swing of things more here. The prelude to The Skin I’m In has a blossoming introduction from Riza Printup on harp, joined later by piano. The full piece is sung by April and again Randall comes up with suitable support on trumpet. With songs like Killing Me Softly and Jolene on the menu this disc comes over as a mix of jazz and popular music. April’s own compositions also stride two categories but her voice is clear and bright and with Randall’s softly lyrical horn segments, the two blend together really well.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
