SUE McCREETH - Queer Bird
Tru-nu Records TNCD354
Sue McCreeth (vcl) Martin Shaw (tpt, flg h) Pat McCarthy (gtr) Andrew Cleyndert (bs) Andres Ticino (perc)
This is the fifth recording for the Lanarkshire based vocalist who emerged from the dance band scene of her teenage years, to the world of small group jazz. Highly influenced by the star American singers of the golden age, she processes a unique voice and for this recording an uncanny ability to select quality songs from outside the genre that realy work fully reflecting the album's sub title "elegant songs of england born". The composers for the project are far ranging and include such diverse masters as Fredrick Delius, Ray Noble, Noel Coward and Norma Winstone.
The multi talented musical genius Ray Noble contributes three of his classics. "The Touch Of Your Lips" from 1936 carries an off beat vocal approach and highlights the fine choice of Pat McCarthy on guitar. "The Very Thought Of You" brought to the public's attention by Doris Day in the nineteen fifties film Young Man With A Horn, features a low tempo clipped vocal delivery. "I hadn't Anyone 'till You" finds the vocalist in impressive subdued and understated mode capturing the sensibilities of the song perfectly. At the other end of the scale there is fine trumpet and wordless vocal on the title track. This was composed by the renegade female music co-operative Blow The Fuse member Alison Raynor, who many will remember as the bass player with The Guest Stars way back in the eighties. Noel Coward's work has only on the rarest of occasions been brought into the jazz world. Here there is a light airy vocal with great guitar licks applied to "Mad About The Boy", alongside "20th Century Blues" an easy paced swinger finding Martin Shaw on top form behind the well delivered lyric.
Most of the current generation of female jazz singers have developed a talent for songwriting themselves. On this recording we find three originals with very well crafted lyrics, strategically placed on the album, holding their own in both composition and delivery."Milk Wood Sky" from Stan Tracey's impeccable album Under Milk Wood, with words by Norma Winstone give things a modernistic approach with "Sky Above The Roof" taken from Ralph Vaughan Williams post romantic period of the early nineteen hundreds adding to the diversity. There are many highlights to this fifty three minute set but "Nuages" developed from the Fredrick Delius piece of 1893 just about takes the honours with the burnished sound of flugelhorn in total harmony with the controlled vocal approach.
In summary, there is much to commend this album that reveals more of it's qualities with every listen. (see also www.suemccreeth.com)
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
Tru-nu Records TNCD354
Sue McCreeth (vcl) Martin Shaw (tpt, flg h) Pat McCarthy (gtr) Andrew Cleyndert (bs) Andres Ticino (perc)
This is the fifth recording for the Lanarkshire based vocalist who emerged from the dance band scene of her teenage years, to the world of small group jazz. Highly influenced by the star American singers of the golden age, she processes a unique voice and for this recording an uncanny ability to select quality songs from outside the genre that realy work fully reflecting the album's sub title "elegant songs of england born". The composers for the project are far ranging and include such diverse masters as Fredrick Delius, Ray Noble, Noel Coward and Norma Winstone.
The multi talented musical genius Ray Noble contributes three of his classics. "The Touch Of Your Lips" from 1936 carries an off beat vocal approach and highlights the fine choice of Pat McCarthy on guitar. "The Very Thought Of You" brought to the public's attention by Doris Day in the nineteen fifties film Young Man With A Horn, features a low tempo clipped vocal delivery. "I hadn't Anyone 'till You" finds the vocalist in impressive subdued and understated mode capturing the sensibilities of the song perfectly. At the other end of the scale there is fine trumpet and wordless vocal on the title track. This was composed by the renegade female music co-operative Blow The Fuse member Alison Raynor, who many will remember as the bass player with The Guest Stars way back in the eighties. Noel Coward's work has only on the rarest of occasions been brought into the jazz world. Here there is a light airy vocal with great guitar licks applied to "Mad About The Boy", alongside "20th Century Blues" an easy paced swinger finding Martin Shaw on top form behind the well delivered lyric.
Most of the current generation of female jazz singers have developed a talent for songwriting themselves. On this recording we find three originals with very well crafted lyrics, strategically placed on the album, holding their own in both composition and delivery."Milk Wood Sky" from Stan Tracey's impeccable album Under Milk Wood, with words by Norma Winstone give things a modernistic approach with "Sky Above The Roof" taken from Ralph Vaughan Williams post romantic period of the early nineteen hundreds adding to the diversity. There are many highlights to this fifty three minute set but "Nuages" developed from the Fredrick Delius piece of 1893 just about takes the honours with the burnished sound of flugelhorn in total harmony with the controlled vocal approach.
In summary, there is much to commend this album that reveals more of it's qualities with every listen. (see also www.suemccreeth.com)
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
