Customer Reviews

Here's to Ben: A Vocal Tribute to Ben Webster

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Meant as a tribute to Ben Webster, Jacintha's album nonetheless expresses her Billie Holliday Influence as well.

A well known singer and stage talent in the Singapore entertainment scene, Jacintha (in the tradition of one name jazz luminaries such as the Duke, Django and Ella) now pays her dues to the music she grew up listening to. The tracks, however, seem to read off as a listing of jazz standards rather than Ben Webster's works. Rather, the title implies a recognition of Ben's style of "discipline and restraint" as Jacintha asserts. What this means to the casual listener is you're going to hear some laid back jazz reminiscent of the pre west coast cool movement.

A very competent quartet provides the backdrop for Jacintha's vocals, with pianist Kei Akagi, Tedy Edwards on Tenor Sax, Darek Oles on Bass and Larance Marable on Drums. Like Billie, Jacintha exhibits her trademark backphrasing. Like Billie, she does an excellent rendition of "Pennies from Heaven", and "Georgia on my Mind", the latter albeit in the style of Dave Brubeck's version.

Not a landmark album by any stretch. This album delights rather than inspires. Relaxes rather than stimulates.

Recommended: If you are inviting someone special over for dinner.

Not recommended: If that someone special knows the differences between bebop, post-bop and third stream jazz.

Come home from work, or just the outside world. Pour a glass of wine for your partner and you and put this CD on the stereo. You will drop the worries and hastles of the world quickly.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why this woman hasn't taken off in popularity in the United States. This album is beautiful throughout and simply stunning in some places. Her use of silence is notable. Her accompanying musicians mesh exceedingly well with her. The resulting texture is lovely.

The recording is top notch. We just bought our first real "audiophile" system and have listened to all our older favorites...and this CD. This gets played the most by far.

There may be other female singers that you may enjoy. I cannot see anyone not being amazed by Jacintha's rendition of Danny Boy (I'm not Irish). Buy this instead of another album by one of the other more heavily touted female jazz vocalists. This is the Jacintha album to buy if you are going to try one rather than Autumn Leaves which is very good; this is simply wonderful.

"Finally, after years of experimenting with Broadway tunes to TV themed songs, Jacintha returns to what she does best-singing jazz favorites. I first bought this virgin work a year ago and with much anticipation. Boy, was I impressed! Play the CD when you are happy. Play it when you are in the blues. Play it when you are in love. For Singaporeans, Jacintha is the definitive local girl made good, and I anticipate a growing jazz-loving crowd behind her as she takes on the international jazz arena. Watch out for her second jazz album in February 2000, for her tribute to Johnny Mercer. This is a record for all moods. Timeless."

Just put your CD on replay about 3X a day. Great Style. Very smooth. Restrained but not tentative. Confident and knows where she's going.

This disc has been all the rage among jazz aficionados and audiophiles everywhere since its release, garnering endless positive reviews. While the quality of the sound and production is breathtaking, wholly deserving of the accolades it has received, the content is another manner. But this is typical of boutique-label audiophile-grade jazz recordings. Swanky production values have a tendency to cloud the content judgement of most audiophiles.

For anyone interested in purchasing this disc, I have two words for you: Diana Krall. Jacintha, while having a lovely voice, pales in comparison.

For all jazz discs I audition, three aspects of the performance must work for me. Let's take a look and compare Jacintha and Diana Krall:

1. Phrasing - No contest. Ms. Krall's phrasing is simply sublime - subtle, shaded, with infinite variations. She knows how to get in and out of lyrics with an effortlessness not seen since Ella. Jacintha seems to think that the best way to phrase lyrics is to sing them VERY softly in the beginning and then hold the notes at the end of a line for (what seems like) an eternity. This formula is repeated again and again, on every song.

2. Tempo - Again, no contest. Ms. Krall succeeds brilliantly at mixing it up. Rousers, torch songs, quiet ballads, swingers, introspective tone poems, witty toss-offs, a Diana Krall album has depth and variety. As mentioned earlier, Jacintha's songs possess an irritating sameness. Tempo is virtually unchanged from track to track. Part of it is the fault of the producers - they picked very similar Ben Webster songs, and included the intros on every one. Jacintha compounds the problem by singing every track EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. This disc was fatiguing by track 5.

3. Harmonies/improvisation - Probably my biggest problem with this disc. Again, not a fair fight in the comparo. Perhaps it is due to her time in the industry and her impeccable training credentials, but Diana clearly knows how to harmonize and improvise within boundaries. She knows not to push a note too hard or an odd harmony too long. Like an overeager scat student, or a developing jazz singer bent on "reinterpreting" the standards, Jacintha forces the music into the strangest places. Harmonies border on dissonance and, when given a choice of tonal direction she always seems to take the one that is most unlikely. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a perfect example. Her take on the classic is beautifully sung and a complete disappointment. Her attitude in singing this seems to be "hey, look at me, I can reinvent one of the most enduring songs of all time!" It all seems so calculated and contrived.

I know this is a pretty harsh review, but the myth of great sound = great songs needs to be challenged. Take my advice - buy Diana Krall's Love Scenes and When I Look Into Your Eyes before you look at purchasing these discs. Once you've had a chance to fall in love with them, and re-audition this disc, the flaws will be apparent and magnified.

Even though I fail to see any real connection with Ben Webster, I think that this disc is excellent. Jacintha's performance of these jazz classics is very special. I cannot help but almost compulsively listen to her "Tenderly" and "Stardust" again and again and again. In fact, I think that this is my favourite Tenderly of all times.

Not to be missed.

This CD was recorded so cleanly that it justifies the purity of the voice behind it. I've never heard such a quality in a recording and Jacintha's interpretation never bores. A great buy!

I really like this album for two reasons. Jacintha has a beautiful voice. It takes so little effort for her to sing. So it is so releaxing. Another is the fact that each songs features at least one instrumentalist. I really like to hear instrument solos in jazz, and these solos are just excellent. Get this cd! It will be well worth your money.

This is a collection of Jazz standards. And just when you think no one else can possibly do these in a new and unique way, Jacintha comes along and blows you and the mythe away.

We have a person singing slow and easy and slow and easy and slow and easy.
That's my review...
You make up your mind if you want to buy it.
Or I'll sell you mine....