
SUSAN HODGDON - So In Love With Cole
Self -Produced www.susanhodgdon.com
Susan Hodgdon (v); Daryl Kojack (P); Steven Frieder (ts); Sean Conly (b); Dwayne Cook Broadnax (d) NYC
no recording dates
You can’t go wrong really with a programme consisting of all Cole Porter compositions. With that quality of material half the job is already done for a vocalist. This is Susan’s first studio CD and she dedicates it to her mother who instilled a love of music in her at a very young age. Daryl Kojack was the producer and also functioned as pianist on the session. Susan romps through You’d Be So ice To Come Home To at a fast lick and slows it down for the following Get Out Of Town. Her voice is very clear and pure, almost operatic in style and delivery at times. From This Moment On is given an uncharacteristically ultra- slow treatment; there is a similar tempo employed for Night And Day.
Ms Hodgdon claims that she was made to work very hard on this recording but it has been a labour of love for her. She varies the tempi of these familiar songs throughout the programme and obviously loves the music. Kojack deserves credit for some fine jazz piano solos and strong accompaniment all through. Frieder gets plenty of tenor solos along the way and the quartet generally is very supportive. Ms Hodgdon’s pure voice works well on these well -worn standards but I don’t think she is a jazz singer in any real sense. For jazz content you should look to tenor, piano, bass and drums here. The slow reading of What Is This Thing- features a strong piano solo and rhythm section backing. My verdict has to be superior popular music with a jazz combo backing.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
Self -Produced www.susanhodgdon.com
Susan Hodgdon (v); Daryl Kojack (P); Steven Frieder (ts); Sean Conly (b); Dwayne Cook Broadnax (d) NYC
no recording dates
You can’t go wrong really with a programme consisting of all Cole Porter compositions. With that quality of material half the job is already done for a vocalist. This is Susan’s first studio CD and she dedicates it to her mother who instilled a love of music in her at a very young age. Daryl Kojack was the producer and also functioned as pianist on the session. Susan romps through You’d Be So ice To Come Home To at a fast lick and slows it down for the following Get Out Of Town. Her voice is very clear and pure, almost operatic in style and delivery at times. From This Moment On is given an uncharacteristically ultra- slow treatment; there is a similar tempo employed for Night And Day.
Ms Hodgdon claims that she was made to work very hard on this recording but it has been a labour of love for her. She varies the tempi of these familiar songs throughout the programme and obviously loves the music. Kojack deserves credit for some fine jazz piano solos and strong accompaniment all through. Frieder gets plenty of tenor solos along the way and the quartet generally is very supportive. Ms Hodgdon’s pure voice works well on these well -worn standards but I don’t think she is a jazz singer in any real sense. For jazz content you should look to tenor, piano, bass and drums here. The slow reading of What Is This Thing- features a strong piano solo and rhythm section backing. My verdict has to be superior popular music with a jazz combo backing.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell