Customer Reviews

Million Dollar Secret

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Everything in this cd rocks fast and hard. The band's style is reminiscent of Sam Butera and the Witnesses. It is absolutely a joy to hear. Kim Nalley has made me fall in love with her. She is vibrant, coy, fun and drop dead gorgeous! She sounds like a blues/swing singer of the 20's or 30's. All my friends of both genders are enamored of this record and her ribald styling. If these two guys record more. I'll buy more. Can't miss with them!

This CD was in a handful lent by a friend, but it is the one that I kept coming back to. Down and dirty swing, very spirited, blues with a twinkle in her eye-- fabulous range on their young vocalist, I'm coming back for more.

I kept hearing "Johnny Nocturne" on my jazz station from time to time and it just haunted me. I finally found out what CD it was and am still enamoured with it. If I could just find the words to it. I liked all the other tracks also, but J.N. is still my favorite, followed by "Harlem Nocturne"...
I liked the review where the person got to see and hear the band in person and described how it felt hearing it and enjoying it so much, along with the vocalist...Boy, did I fantasize how I'd like to have been there. There is nothing like being with other people who enjoy the same music as you do and the best is the experience. Second best is being able to listen to it on CD. If anyone knows where I can find the words to Johnny Nocturne, would appreciate it. Or, perhaps it is like another favorite without words, "Europa" by SANTANA. Another haunting tune in my opinion. Man, I wish I were at a jazz festival right now!!!

I had the great good fortune of hearing this band perform live last night at a special outdoor taping of the public radio show Mountain Stage. Perfect music for a perfect night. The band's on a floating stage, thousands of people are filling the ampitheatre, a light summer breeze is blowing down the river, the stars are out ... what could be better? I'll tell you -- this music. You can't help loving Kim Nalley. Her voice is straight out of the past, and you can't help falling in love with it. And hey, the horns ain't bad, either!

I had the good fortune to hear Kim Nalley at the Cabaret convention at the Town Hall theater where I work in NYC. She has a wonderful voice and this cd is excellent. She can swing, sing ballads and the blues with tremendous style. I definately plan on keeping an eye out for her future recordings. Plus she seems to be a pretty nice person too.

OK, normally I'd give an album like this one four stars at the most - I'm not a huge fan of swing, jump blues and the sound of the '40's. But Kim Nalley's voice is so good and saxman John Firmin and the Johnny Nocturne Band are so tight, that I'm giving "Million Dollar Secret" five stars in spite of myself.

Kim Nalley has an exceptional voice: a big, bold, brassy contralto - it's very clean - there's no smoke or grit in it - just a little vibrato, (but man-oh-man can she growl). Her diction and phrasing are precise and she can swing like the proverbial garden gate. A word of caution: make sure your homeowners insurance is paid up before you play this album - 'cause Ms Nalley just might burn your house down!

John Firmin is an outstanding tenor sax player - he's obviously listened to a lot of Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - there's plenty of screaming sax here - not every singer can stand up to this kind of "accompaniment," but Ms Nalley more than holds her own. And it's a good thing because the JNB blasts off with the opening notes of the title song and they don't come back to earth until they close out "Harlem Nocturne" 40 minutes later. Whether they're soloing or playing as a unit, these guys are first class.

In addition to "Million Dollar Secret" and "Harlem Nocturne" the set includes knockout versions of "Comes Love," "If I Could Be With You," "Imagine My Frustration," (I can't imagine that Ms Nalley has ever actually been in this situation, but she does a wonderful job with the lyrics nonetheless), and "Don't Cha Go Away Mad." There are also a couple of original instrumentals by Mr Firmin.

The sonics are excellent - the album was mostly recorded and mastered at Berkeley's legendary Fantasy Studios - Ms Nalley's vocals are crystal clear and there's excellent instrumental separation.

Johnny Nocturne has the hottest yet coolest swing combo, and one of the best swing singers in Miss Kim Nalley(the greatest swing singer from the 90's, other then Lavay Smith). Nalley has a vocie that is similar to Helen Humes, when she sang with Basie's swing band. This red hot combo plays 30's-50's combo swing from hot jump blues to lounge, but it all swing, and swing dancers will love this!!! A great cd!!!

Everything in this cd rocks fast and hard. The band's style is reminiscent of Sam Butera and the Witnesses. It is absolutely a joy to hear. Kim Nalley has made me fall in love with her. She is vibrant, coy, fun and drop dead gorgeous! She sounds like a blues/swing singer of the 20's or 30's. All my friends of both genders are enamored of this record and her ribald styling. If these two guys record more, I'll buy more. Can't miss with them!