Customer Reviews

Not a Care in the World

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Giving new life to songs that have been around for sixty years or more, Rebecca Kilgore, with her clear alto voice and fine enunciation of lyrics, sparkles in this CD with Dave Frischberg, her long-time pianist, and Dan Faehnle, a jazz guitarist whose style perfectly suits theirs. All three musicians are professionals to the core, and they are secure enough and comfortable enough with each other to let the music happen in a relaxed and free-wheeling style, which never misses a beat or a note. This is wonderful, minimalist jazz cabaret music--all three musicians employing a light touch--no wailing, no percussion, no grand finales, no loud instruments--just pure communication between voice, piano, and guitar as they explore new variations, tempos, and harmonies for some very old songs.

The opening medley is from the thirties--"Evenin'," "Swing, Brother, Swing," and "Topsy," a sit-up-and-take-notice swing combination which allows all three to have solo turns. Two sambas, in which Kilgore sings in effortless Portuguese, convey the romance of Latin America, while "I've Got a Feeling You're Foolin'," makes jazz singing seem easy, with Kilgore's vocal changes emphasized by the guitar as the piano keeps the beat and provides variations. "Melancholy Baby" gets a bossa nova beat, "Night Wind" becomes vampy, and two novelty songs, "An Occasional Man" and "Land of Oo-Blah-Dee" allow Kilgore to be playful and amusing.

A CD so good that it's impossible to choose a "best song," this collection from 1997 shows Kilgore as a fresh voice giving fresh meanings to songs that have been around seemingly forever. Her fellow musicians (one can't really call them "accompanists" because they are so integral to the sound) share her relaxed attitude and light musical touch. Together the three have produced a jazz album one never tires of hearing, one that is original, fun, and completely captivating. n Mary Whipple

Rebecca Kilgore is of the inbetween generation of Jazz singers, after Ella, Carmen and Sarah and their peers but older than the new young lions like Diana Kral, Harry Connick (is he really jazz?) and Jane Monheit. Kral and Monheit get better press than Rebecca Kilgore (I am a jazz and non rock pop vocal maven and I had never heard of her until about a year and a half ago) but she is twice as good as either one. She can sing with just a piano (try any of her recordings with Dave Freisburg, this is one of their best)or a small group or a decent size band. Her intonation is impecable as is her phrasing and surprise, you can UNDERSTAND every word (are you listening Ms. Monheit?). The lady is phenominal, period, end of subject. I think that her partnership with Freishburg is her strongest suit, because he brings a musical inventiveness that just sends her soring. Two great jazz performers working tightly together. Many of the tunes on this record are songs I wasn't familiar with, but I would enjoy Ms. Kilgore singing this review set to music, she is just that good. If you like singers who swing, you will like Rebecca Kilgore.

An outstanding collection of beautiful songs. Her style and musical arrangements are just great. A terrific CD.