Customer Reviews

Born To Swing

5 star:		(5)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Nancy Kelly. What a stylist and what a voice and what a communicator! Never having heard her sing in person in the clubs or in festivals, this superb recording serves as an introduction for this listener. And from the very first downbeat Nancy Kelly steps into that blue-tinged smoky spotlight that has been focused on the greats such as Etta James, Billie Holiday, etc etc etc.

Kelly is backed by Houston Person on tenor sax, Dino Losito on piano and Fender Rhodes, Mark Taylor on drums and Neal Miner on bass - each of whom is a first class soloist on his own. But the magic that happens when they collaborate with Kelly is staggering. Kelly has a finely trained voice, one that knows exactly the middle of a perfect pitch, one that is wrapped in a lush and rich vocal production that, as with all fine blues and swing singers, is not classifiable as a soprano or a mezzo - just a widely ranging, near pianistic spectrum of color. Her style finds her holding a straight tone as long as the mood can bear before allowing her sexy vibrato to overtake the atmosphere.

The selection of songs on this generous, very well produced recording (credit engineer Michael Brorby) contains such special experiences as 'Didn't we', 'Like Someone in Love', 'Come Rain or Come Shine', 'More Than You Know' and includes a deeply touching rendition of 'New York State of Mind' - a song Kelly has been including in her gigs since 9/11. In all of the songs Nancy Kelly not only caresses the ear with gorgeous music making, but she also is a fine communicator. The words, music and atmosphere blend into an experience not often heard.

This is one of those new releases that hopefully will climb on the charts and bring notice to other novices like this listener that Nancy Kelly is a major talent. This is 'old music' - the kind of music we were afraid was gone - beautifully performed by a brilliant ensemble of gifted artists. Just try and not get nostalgic when you spend time with this fine recording. Grady Harp, June 06

In my humble opinion (I'm 64 and started listening to jazz at age 15) Nancy Kelly is the only living vocalist actually SINGING JAZZ. I don't mean by that someone with a decent instrument singing a straight-ahead-from-the-chart melody line over a jazz quartet (or whatever configuration of instrumentalists one might choose). Ms. Kelly sings jazz, period. I've had the privilige of listenig to Nancy perform live many times and as many times have been simply floored by her incredibly intelligent phrasing, three octave range, and her Ella's-wet-dream scats......Her New York State of Mind is simply the BEST version of that tune I've ever heard. Would I recommend any lover of REAL jazz's buying Born to Swing? Absolutely, and without a nano-second's hesitation.

I simply second the comments of Ms. Harp. I have the CD and I have heard Nancy in person a couple of times. Furthermore, I hear the pianist, Dino Losito, on a regular basis at a local club. This is top notch, straight ahead, world class jazz. Nancy's voice is peerless, crystal clear, swinging and beautiful. The band, especially Dino and Houston, is excellent.

Proteus, according to Webster is a bacteria in the intestine, how apropos in Proteus' review of Born To swing..Proteus has the ear of Van Gogh and certainly could not be a musician or a discerning fan. Kelly ranks up there with Anita and the top singers of this generation. Hey if Nancy Kelly is not the very best Pigs are dancing on Broadway and the barca lounger is the electric chair....5 Stars

Back in the 30's and 40's musicians had a word for a relaxed upbeat kind of music which they called swing. It moved off and on the beat but ended up hitting the bar line every 8 or 16 beats at least. The hallmark was that nothing clashed. Nancy is not without talent but she does not know how to swing. She holds a note long after the orchestra has moved on and misses some of those all important bar lines. She doesn't make your body move or make you want to dance. Not a bad voice but she just doesn't know how to swing. She beeps when she should bop.

"LIVE JAZZ" was my first Nancy Kelly Album that I bought on vinyl when I used to see her in clubs around Syracuse, NY in the late '80's. We saw her at he Syracuse Jazz Fest this weekend (June 30, 2007)and she is still FABULOUS! I bought her new CD, "Singin' and Swingin'" there which she graciously signed for me after singing "Jeannine." I would suggest that any jazz fan buy all 3 of her albums, and also check out http://blog.syracuse.com/video/jazzfest/ for footage from her master classes at O.C.C.. ENJOY! Janine B., Cicero.