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Kelley Johnson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sapphire Records
• ASIN: B001B0BAZ2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #264,133 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Kelley Johnson Invites You to Move Right In, August 27, 2011

By 

Gary L. Connely (Hercules, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Home (Audio CD)

Seattle-based jazz singer Kelley Johnson grew up in the Midwest and graduated from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. She counts Mark Murphy and Fred Hersch among her mentors and she has toured internationally as part of the US State Department's Jazz Ambassadors program, (how many jazzers do you know who get fan mail from Kyrgyzstan?). Released in 2008, "Home" is Ms Johnson's most recent album.

Ms Johnson has a pretty, pleasing mid-register voice - there's just an itty, bitty little grit and growl in her lower notes - her highs are very warm and sweet. She articulates clearly, phrases nicely and swings naturally and easily.

"Home" is a set of 12 songs, most of which are standards - songs like Irving Berlin's "Be Careful, It's My Heart," Richard Rodger's "The Sweetest Sounds," the Gershwin brothers' "Love Walked In," and one of the prettist ballads in the Great American Song Book, Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer's "Moon River." There are also a couple of songs from Abbey Lincoln, (whose reputation as a singer often overshadows the fact that she is an excellent song writer) and some original songs by Ms Johnson.

There seem to be at least two bands working with Ms Johnson here - one with pianist John Hansen, (Ms Johnson's husband); the other with pianist Geoffrey Keezer in the lead. Both pianists turn in outstanding, understated work and everybody else, (bassists Nathan Peck and Paul Gabrielson; drummers Jon Wikan, Matt Jorgensen and Julian MacDonough; and horn man Jay Thomas), is top notch. Whether they are soloing or playing as a unit, the bands are tight and solid.

The sonics are good: Ms Johnson's voice is crystal clear and there's plenty of instrumental separation and air.

Bottom line: "Home" is a relaxed set of mellow, "Sunday afternoon" songs presented by a singer and a couple of bands who are at the top of their game. If you like main stream jazz that goes down easily, "Home" is your kind'a album.