Customer Reviews

Doozy

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So, here's the deal: I could tell you that Jackie Ryan is quite possibly the most underrated singer in the world today. I could tell you that no less a luminary than Christopher Loudon (the vocal jazz critic for "Jazz Times") declares that Ms. Ryan is one of the outstanding jazz vocalists of her generation and, quite possibly, of all time. I could tell you that, for a singer from Mill Valley (north of S.F.) who records on the "Open Art" label, Ms. Ryan has managed to attract some of the finest instrumentalists in the jazz world to play with her. No less than Clark Terry, Toots Thielemann, Ernie Watts, Red Holloway, and on this c.d. Cyrus Chestnut (p.), Eric Alexander (s.), the likewise-underrated Jeremy Pelt (tr.) and the incomparable Romero Lubambo (g.), not only have played with her but are effusive in their public praise for her. I could tell you that it is outrageous that even now, the Down Beat critics make no mention of her in their summer poll.

But I've said all of this before in my reviews of Ms. Ryan's prior 4 recordings. And like Ms. Ryan, I certainly don't want to sound like a broken record!

So what is there to say that's new? How about this: If you are a Jackie-phile, like me, check out how she does "Caminhos Cruzados" here (disc 1, track 3) versus how she did it on her debut c.d., "For Heaven's Sake," about a decade ago. Her growth as an artist is astounding. There, she sang red and yellow quite effectively; here, she sings the whole rainbow, with intermittent shades of each color besides.

The whole c.d. is just fabulous. Normally, when artists do a 2-disc album (other than "Best Ofs," of course), there is bound to be some filler, or less than wonderful tracks. Not so here. There is not a weak or uninteresting moment on either disc.

Consider the terrific original vocalese of an old Benny Carter song on the title track; Annie Ross never did it better. Or consider her teasing encouragement on "Do Something"; or her sass on "Get Rid of Mondays" (a too-seldom-covered Burke & Van Heusen standard); or the mix of the inquisitive child and the exasperated mother on "Dat Dere"; or the changing emotions of the spurned lover on "I Haven't Got Anything Better To Do"; or the wide-eyed wonder of the first glance of the "Midnight Sun"; or the change of matter-of-factness to insistence of "I Must Have That Man"; or the purr of "With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair;" or the sensitive interplay with Chestnut's wispy, chewy work on "You'll See."

Or the album's highlight to me, the guitar-voice duet with Lubambo on "Solamente Una Vez." This rendition simply took my breath away.

All in all, I think this is Jackie Ryan's best c.d. yet. And considering that I thought "Passion Flower" was the best recording of 2002, that's saying something. And if that makes me sound like a broken record, so be it. RC

p.s. - This, and Melody Gardot's "My One and Only Thrill," are my two favorite c.d.'s for 2009. The February, 2010 issue of "Jazz Times" just hit the stands, and indeed, Ms. Gardot's is #32 and this one #37, or #'s 2 and 3 among vocal jazz discs. Neither was nominated for a Grammy - and neither was the #1 disc, Gretchen Parlato's "In a Dream" (#8 overall). Grammy, shammy. RC

Jacky Ryan's latest has won many well-deserved plaudits. She combines great vocal gifts, like a staggering three octave-plus range, with jazz savvy and good taste. Her back-up band is first-rate, too, especially pianist Cyrus Chestnut. I'd love to hear Jacky with a bigger ensemble- this small-group setting is marvellously intimate, but you sense she'd kick some serious butt with a big band. In a year not lacking for terrific vocal releases (such as those by Roberta Gambarnini, Kurt Elling, and Gretchen Parlato), this is a standout.

Jackie Ryan's Doozy provides an excellent showcase for one of the finest jazz voices in the business. She has range, emotion, and a delightful sense of pure fun. It's worth adding that her backup musicians are as good as they come. This is my first time listening to Jackie Ryan's music, but I've been inspired to add two more of her earlier recordings to my collection.

Don Heckman, one of my favorite jazz writers/critics who wrote the comprehensive Liner Notes for this sublime two-CD-set titled "Doozy," states that Jackie Ryan "has the capacity to swing like Ella, emote like Billie, fly like Sarah or be cool like Diana that make her one of the significant jazz artists of the new century."

Hyperbole? No! I'm in total agreement with his precise assessment about Jackie Ryan who is truly an epitome of what an effective jazz singer is all about. She can interpret any song and do justice to it from jazz standards to torchy and bluesy blues of songs to meaningful Spanish and Brazilian songs with her most charming vocal style and delivery marked by an impressive ability in vocalese.

The set is nothing short of splendid. There is no track that you would skip. It is a very enjoyable listen from the first song on Disc One to the last song on Disc Two. The musicianship is incredible! Thanks to a team of fine jazz musicians for making these recordings unforgettable--Chestnut Cyrus (piano), Jeremy Pelt (trumpet), Eric Alexander (sax), Romero Lubambo (guitar), Ray Drummond, Dezron Douglas (bass), Carl Allen and Neal Smith (drums).

I'm all jazzed listening to the first track, which is a real "Doozy." The center of attraction on this title track is a vocalese that Jackie Ryan performed to perfection. She also penned the four-stanza-lyrics for the vocalese section. According to her, Benny Carter's "Doozy" is also an "apt description for his multi-talented career." She thinks highly of the jazz icon and believes that he was "one of the most respected and most prolific jazz musicians who ever lived."

Her most memorably beautiful renditions include "Midnight Sun," "Speak Low," "Summer Serenade" and "Beautiful Moons Ago." She also gives the most enthralling interpretations of some of the best-loved Spanish and Brazilian songs such as "Solamente Una Vez," which is delivered with only the enchanting guitar of Romero Lubambo as accompaniment; "Caminhos Cruzados;" and medley of "Brigas Nunca Mais"/"A Felicidade."

I could really go on and on about all the lovely things that come with this set, but suffice it to say that...this is simply a glorious recording! It's a very welcome addition to your vocal jazz collection and I heartily recommend it. This is Jackie Ryan at her jazziest and at her very best.

"Life's experiences give us empathy for one another as human beings. We all have challenges and ups and downs in our lives. What I strive to do, as a singer and a musician, is to reach out and touch the listener in that place that connects us to one another. Whether I'm singing jazz, Latin, blues, or whatever genre of music, what's most important to me is to know that my music somehow touches and moves people." ~ Jackie Ryan ~

Yes, I'm absolutely touched and moved by her beautiful music. I'm certain that you will be too.

This 2-CD release is an amazing, eclectic, collection. Jackie Ryan is a superlative talent in the world of vocal jazz. Her range and varied choice of material makes this an especially satisfying listening experience. I'm a huge fan of the genre, and highly recommend this project!

Just as the title says, Jackie Ryan is a real doozy! Really powerful voice and versatile style. She can easily stir your deepest emotion with a ballad, while burn your joints up with a swing. When her solid voice soars up to the sky, no one can ever parallel.

She also did a great job in song selection for every of her albums. A well balance between great timeless standards to which she added new tasty flavors as well as rare gems which constantly gave me a thrill.

As to this particular album, I was really shocked when I received it. It's amazingly well produced and packaged. The liner notes is almost a whole book. I have more than 100 jazz albums in hand, and this one is doubtlessly the best produced one! Though I don't personally like the title song Doozy very much, but do check out songs like Do Something, Opportunity Please Knock, Midnight Sun, I Haven't Got Anything Better to Do, Summer Serenade... Her skill gets better and better with each new album, and here in this newest album she is just in her best shape ever! A top-notch album from a top-notch singer, it's really a doozy!

The best Jazz disk available from Amazon! A world class entertainer and musician, her interpretations are classics!

Ms. Ryan has a full rich voice that captures the flavor of the songs. And... there two (2) CD in this set! The price is also fantastic !

Jackie Ryan's "Doozy" is such a wonderful 2 disc masterpiece, that I keep buying more just to give to my friends! Believe me, they all thank me! It's official..."Doozy" was #3 in the nation for radio airplay in 2009 as reported in Jazzweek Magazine. The jazz d.j.s & jazz listeners couldn't get enough of her music.

WE'RE GIVING JACKIE AND HER MEN; 5 STAR'S. OVER 100 MINUTES (2 CD'S) OF JAZZ PERFECTION. SHE'S RECORDED UP CLOSE, SO YOU HEAR EVERY NUANCE OF HER SOULFUL VOICE AND HER WIDE VOCAL TECHNICAL
SKILLS. I'VE SEEN HER PERFORM MANY TIMES. SHE WAS ALWAYS WORTH IT TO ME TO GET OFF THE COUCH AND
GO SEE/HEAR HER PERFORM. I'VE BEEN ENJOYING THE GREAT AMERICAN ART FORM ;JAZZ SINCE 1958.
IN THE 70'S I PRESENTED SOME OF THE BEST JAZZ MUSIC ON THE RADIO AT THAT TIME (MY OPINION,OF COURSE)

SHE WROTE THE LYRIC'S TO BENNY CARTER'S;"DOOZY" SHE HAS DONE THIS BEFORE;JOE HENDERSON'S SOLO ON "THE KICKER" FROM HER "PASSION FLOWER" CD. IN THIS CD YOU'LL HEAR HER SING IN PORTUGUESE,SPANISH ON
A FEW TRACKS. I'M GLAD SHE RECORDED "SPEAK LOW" AGAIN. THIS VERSION WILL REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE THAN THE CD I HAVE WITH HER SINGING WITH OUR LOCAL BIG BAND. IT'S THE SECOND TIME SHE ALSO RECORDED "DAT DER" ON HER CD;"WHISPER NOT" RECORDED AT RONNIE SCOTT'S IN LONDON. CHECK THE BRITISH AMAZON TO READ MY REVIEW AND TO BUY.
ALL THE SONG'S HERE ARE GREAT. SOME OF MY FAVORITES ARE;"DO SOMETHING","YOU'LL SEE","GET RID OF MONDAY" +MUCH,MUCH MORE. NO LITTLE GIRL SOUND HAS SHE. A FULL ROUNDED DEEP WOMAN'S VOICE WITH A LITTLE SARAH SASS THROWN IN FROM TIME TO TIME. A BOOKLET WITH SOME OF HER THOUGHT'S ARE INCLUDED WITH THIS CD. THE 5 STAR JAZZ JACKPOT CD IS HERE. YOU'LL KNOW IT WHEN YOU LISTEN TO IT! AS GOOD AS CHESTNUT AND ALEXANDER AND THE REST OF THE ALL-STAR'S ARE;JEREMY PELT IMPRESSED THE HELL OUT OF ME WITH HIS,TRUMPET/FLUGELHORN SOLO'S! LARRY DUNLAP DID MOST OF THE ARRANGEMENTS.
HE ALSO IS A FINE PIANIST IN HIS OWN RIGHT AND IS MARRIED TO AN EXCELLENT JAZZ BALLAD SINGER;BOBBE NORRIS. WHEN I THINK OF A BALLAD SINGER,I THINK OF JOHNNY HARTMAN,BOBBE NORRIS AND OF COURSE,JACKIE RYAN. IN THESE 2 CD'S SHE COVER'S ALL THE JAZZ BASES. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN TO BE
A COMPLETE JAZZ SINGER,THIS IS WHERE YOU START GETTING YOUR LESSONS. CHECK MY COMMENT SECTION FOR MORE
INFORMATION ON OTHER JAZZ AND CABARET FEMALE SINGER'S.