Customer Reviews

Here's My Heart...

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I have been one of Zan Gardner's biggest fans since first hearing her perform in a Philadelphia club seven years ago. Since then, many others have laid claim to my self-proclaimed "biggest fan" title. Wherever she sings, appreciative fans gather.

Zan's album, 'Here's My Heart...' will now allow the rest of the world to hear her. By the way, who invented the term "standard"? While many of the tunes on this album will be recognizable to you by title, there is nothing standard in the way Gardner delivers the goods. From her low, low alto notes to the top of her range, she allows her listener to visit unexplored regions of a new galaxy, sometimes in a solitary phrase.

Her opening song, "As Time Goes By", grabbed my attention with its unique, Latin rhythms with standout horn and bass lines provided by John Swana and Chico Huff, along with Tony Miceli's glimmering vibe work. Gardner takes a song that we all have associations with, and builds a whole new vocal framework to suspend them on, and they like the view.

Philadelphia's piano phenom, Dave Posmontier is reason enough to pay attention to this album, with his stylish keyboard work. Percussionist Steve Holloway should be on every recording studio's most wanted list with his perceptively dynamic playing.

To paraphrase a line from "As Time Goes By", not listening to Zan Gardner's latest album, 'Here's My Heart...', could be "A case of do or die", never knowing what brilliant sunrise you've missed, simply by failing to open your eyes.

From the moment I put on Zan's CD, I was drawn in. The first tune, As Time Goes By, starts with Chico Huff (bass) playing chords as if he's playing a guitar. You're not really sure where it's going until you tune in to the drums and realize that a reggae type groove is being established. But not a traditional reggae. Where as Steve Holloway (drums) is laying down the groove, Tony Miceli (vibes) isn't. Miceli is outlining the changes, playing melodic lines through the tune, and complimenting as he only knows how to do - and this is all while Zan is singing. Then the solos begin and it is back to Chico, who plays an amazing solo only to be followed by another great solo by John Swana (trumpet). One thing I noticed immediately during this tune, and it continues throughout the CD, is how deep the groove is. Everyone is so in tune with each other. And this is only the first tune!

Zan shows us that she isn't your traditional singer. She didn't just learn the tunes and have the band back her up. She has become another instrument. She reacts to what's happening, she phrases over the bar line, she takes the lead, she gives the lead to someone else, and she lets the other guys in the band speak. There are several times where she will stretch a phrase so much that you think she's going to sing into the next phrase but somehow she doesn't, like in How High the Moon. She has become one with the tunes.

Zan has also recorded one of her original songs, Metaphoric Heartbreak. It is a beautiful ballad that is set up with piano, bass, drums, and sporadic playing by Swana on EVI creating a spacious and floating groove. As this continues, you are drawn into the story that Zan is telling only to be taken into an EVI solo that builds in intensity - but not in notes. You almost don't even notice the change. And before you know it you are back to the story.

One of the many things I liked about the CD is the inner-play among all of the musicians. Chico doesn't always walk a bass line, Swana doesn't always wait for his solo to speak and add to the songs, and Dave Posmontier supports and compliments everything perfectly - not to mention the amazing solos he takes throughout the CD.

This is Zan's first CD and you assume she is the leader because only her name appears on the cover. After listening to it though you have to say that Zan put the project together but there is no leader. It is a group CD. Everyone had a hand in what happened. Sure Zan may have given the musicians her concept of what she was hearing but it was everyone that made it their own. I can only hope Zan doesn't wait as long to put out her next CD as she did with her first.

One of the best cd's in my collection

the voice from that lady is realy one of the best I have heard in years.
she make's the tears come in to my eyes.
O so GOOD

I am a new fan of Zan Gardner. What an emotional, free-thinking, incredibly talented vocalist. She makes me FEEL something when she sings, she makes me want to sit up and listen. Very few Jazz vocalists have that talent, I dare you not to react in the most positive way to her CD, to the improvisation and heart it conveys. A gorgeous, sensuous voice. It is professional, with a killer band and they all weave the stories of the songs. I will be a fan of Zan Gardner forever, this woman is amazing! I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot about her, every bit of it great!