Janet Lawson Quintet, The

Reviewed: 2017-07-13
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none

Review: WOW!! Amazingly expressive female vocalist and her versatile quintet reimagine new approaches to old standards. Janet constantly surprises with her vocal range and delivery, mixing song with scat as an integral instrument with the rest of the band, and the band cooks right alongside her throughout the disc. And check the liner notes- a great pedigree!
If You Like: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Rachelle Ferrell, Annie Ross, Flora Purim
Favorite Tracks: 2/ Jitterbug Waltz 3/ Sunday Afternoon 4/ 'Round Midnight 6/ It Ain't Necessarily So 9/ It Never Entered My Mind 10/ Joshua
Track Review: 1/ bass starts with wailing vocal> midtempo swings to uptempo> quick stop (10:48) 2/ vocal starts> idtempo swings uptempo> lovely piano solo> wailing sax solo> scat solo> false stop> crescendo end on vocal (5:36) 3/ piano starts> soaring & joyous uptempo with a Latin feel> swinging piano solo> sizzling sax solo> crescendo end on vocal (8:20) 4/ piano starts> slow tempo> sax solo> crescendo end on vocal (7:56) 5/ bass starts> fast tempo> scintillating sax solo> soaring scat solo> short thumping bass solo & drum solo> full jam & quick stop (7:50) 6/ vocal starts> uptempo> wild sax solo> strong vocal fade (6:29) 7/ drums start> midtempo and sultry> sax solo> crescendo end and a drum note (5:49) 8/ piano starts> slow tempo> beautiful sax solo> slow fade (5:08) 9/ piano starts> slow tempo> bass sax solo> fade on vocal (6:54) 10/ piano starts> uptempo with soaring vocal> swinging sax solo> drum solo> crescendo end (5:31)