VERONICA SWIFT - Confessions
Mack Avenue MAC 1149
Veronica Swift (v); Emmet Cohen, Benny Green (p); Russell Hall, David Wong (b); Kyle Poole, Carl Allen (d)
NYC, no recording dates listed.
Veronica Swift is that rarity, the singer who makes the transition from singer to good jazz singer easily and sounding as though it all comes naturally to her. It wouldn’t be surprising if it did as her father is much respected jazz pianist Hod O’Brien and she grew up touring with him and her mother and came to listen to all the big vocal jazz names, including Mel Torme. One of his songs is included here, A Stranger In Town is a slow ballad and Ms Swift gives it her best warm ballad treatment. She also sings ballads on Pete Rugolo’s Interlude and the split pairing of Confession and The Other Woman, telling a story through song on both pieces. The programme here is interesting in that although it is made up mainly of music by well known composers, none of it is much covered, if at all, by other jazz singers. The album kicks off with a lively, throbbing version of You’re Gonna Hear From Me which was written by Andre and Dory Previn. A Little Taste by Johnny Hodges receives a cool reading from Veronica emphasising the composition’s lightness. She gives up tempo treatments to I Don’t Wanna Cry Anymore and I Hope She Makes You Happy, the latter song written by Ms Swift. She is a bright scat singer too and gets to indulge in that craft more than once in this programme. She is very well supported throughout by two rhythm trios, both very good and there are clean cut solos from Benny Green on two selections.
No not Much is given a dramatic reading and Gypsy In My Soul starts very slowly but soon moves into up- tempo swing. There are many facets to Veronica’s singing, and she handles each with skill and verve. She is cheeky but controlled on Bob Dorough’s I’m Hip, a song that might have been written for her, so well does she fit the bill. There is even a touch of blues singing to end on the final track, No Regrets, this one not to be confused with the Edith Piaf song of the same name. Ms Swift is a very impressive jazz vocalist and her choice of programme here, unhackneyed and like new, is like a musical blast of fresh air.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
Mack Avenue MAC 1149
Veronica Swift (v); Emmet Cohen, Benny Green (p); Russell Hall, David Wong (b); Kyle Poole, Carl Allen (d)
NYC, no recording dates listed.
Veronica Swift is that rarity, the singer who makes the transition from singer to good jazz singer easily and sounding as though it all comes naturally to her. It wouldn’t be surprising if it did as her father is much respected jazz pianist Hod O’Brien and she grew up touring with him and her mother and came to listen to all the big vocal jazz names, including Mel Torme. One of his songs is included here, A Stranger In Town is a slow ballad and Ms Swift gives it her best warm ballad treatment. She also sings ballads on Pete Rugolo’s Interlude and the split pairing of Confession and The Other Woman, telling a story through song on both pieces. The programme here is interesting in that although it is made up mainly of music by well known composers, none of it is much covered, if at all, by other jazz singers. The album kicks off with a lively, throbbing version of You’re Gonna Hear From Me which was written by Andre and Dory Previn. A Little Taste by Johnny Hodges receives a cool reading from Veronica emphasising the composition’s lightness. She gives up tempo treatments to I Don’t Wanna Cry Anymore and I Hope She Makes You Happy, the latter song written by Ms Swift. She is a bright scat singer too and gets to indulge in that craft more than once in this programme. She is very well supported throughout by two rhythm trios, both very good and there are clean cut solos from Benny Green on two selections.
No not Much is given a dramatic reading and Gypsy In My Soul starts very slowly but soon moves into up- tempo swing. There are many facets to Veronica’s singing, and she handles each with skill and verve. She is cheeky but controlled on Bob Dorough’s I’m Hip, a song that might have been written for her, so well does she fit the bill. There is even a touch of blues singing to end on the final track, No Regrets, this one not to be confused with the Edith Piaf song of the same name. Ms Swift is a very impressive jazz vocalist and her choice of programme here, unhackneyed and like new, is like a musical blast of fresh air.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
