SUSAN KREBS CHAMBER BAND - Spring: Light Out Of Darkness
Greengig JG-033
Susan Krebs 9v); Richard Eames (p); Rob Lockart (saxes); Scott Breadman (pc); Luis Mascaro (vln)
Recorded LA Summer 2017
The Susan Krebs Chamber Band issued their first CD in 2014 (Simple Gifts) and this is the second in their ‘intimate ThemeScene’ series. Susan Krebs begins with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oh, What A Beautiful Morning, taking the vocal slowly and in more or less musical theatre style. She is joined by Luis Mascaro with a violin solo. The old and rarely heard popular song Whispering Grass is up next; medium tempo for this one which has a bit of bounce in this version. Lockart gets a jazz styled clarinet solo here. Eames has a piano segment which moves along smoothly before the vocalist returns to take it out. Leonard Bernstein’s Some Other Time has appealed to many jazz performers over the years and Ms Krebs treats it as gentle ballad, her voice warm and breathy. Violin and clarinet solos decorate this selection.
You might not expect a jazz version of Vivaldi’s Spring from The Four Seasons to work too well but this arrangement is quite lively and allows space for flute and violin solos. You Must Believe In Spring suits Susan’s intimate ballad style well before she tackles a variation of Stravinsky’s Rite Of Spring. This CD offers a mixture of vocals, jazz solos, classical music variations and a touch of musical theatre. As a concept album with Spring-time themes it works well enough but has limited appeal for jazz enthusiasts. The Ray Charles composition Light Out Of Darkness works best as a jazz vehicle.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
Greengig JG-033
Susan Krebs 9v); Richard Eames (p); Rob Lockart (saxes); Scott Breadman (pc); Luis Mascaro (vln)
Recorded LA Summer 2017
The Susan Krebs Chamber Band issued their first CD in 2014 (Simple Gifts) and this is the second in their ‘intimate ThemeScene’ series. Susan Krebs begins with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oh, What A Beautiful Morning, taking the vocal slowly and in more or less musical theatre style. She is joined by Luis Mascaro with a violin solo. The old and rarely heard popular song Whispering Grass is up next; medium tempo for this one which has a bit of bounce in this version. Lockart gets a jazz styled clarinet solo here. Eames has a piano segment which moves along smoothly before the vocalist returns to take it out. Leonard Bernstein’s Some Other Time has appealed to many jazz performers over the years and Ms Krebs treats it as gentle ballad, her voice warm and breathy. Violin and clarinet solos decorate this selection.
You might not expect a jazz version of Vivaldi’s Spring from The Four Seasons to work too well but this arrangement is quite lively and allows space for flute and violin solos. You Must Believe In Spring suits Susan’s intimate ballad style well before she tackles a variation of Stravinsky’s Rite Of Spring. This CD offers a mixture of vocals, jazz solos, classical music variations and a touch of musical theatre. As a concept album with Spring-time themes it works well enough but has limited appeal for jazz enthusiasts. The Ray Charles composition Light Out Of Darkness works best as a jazz vehicle.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
