Customer Reviews

Until I Met You

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

 

 

I remember listening to Madeleine Peyroux's "Careless Love" 5 years ago and (like most listeners) exclaiming: "OhmiGod! Lady Day, Next Generation!" At first, that was my reaction to Melissa Morgan's wonderful Telarc debut viz. Nancy Wilson. But I realized, that was more because of the repertoire ("Save Your Love for Me" and "A Sleepin' Bee," for example) than the voice. While Ms. Morgan has a wonderfully cool singing voice, like Nancy Wilson did (does), she doesn't have Ms. Wilson's sharpness or her power. At least not yet.

What Ms. Morgan does have, however, is a wonderful sense of play. The fun is most prominent on the old Nat King Cole chestnut, "Is You Or Is You Ain't My Baby," and the great, neglected Mitchell Parrish tune, "The Lamp Is Low." Her delivery reminds me a bit of the great t.v. actress, Marla Gibbs- matter-of-fact, talky, a bit cheeky.

But Ms. Morgan also knocks out a great ballad, as evidenced by "Yes, I Know When I've Had It" (possibly the disc's highlight). And she does a rollicking barrelhouse version of the normally torchy Harry Warren standard, "The More I See You," along with a fun rendition of "Cool Cool Daddy." With Gerald Clayton doing his usual stellar work on the piano, and Christian Scott and Tim Green knocking off gorgeous solos on "Save Your Love for Me" and "Had It," respectively, the whole production sounds wonderful.

The basic feeling I get from this wonderful debut is fun. And Nancy Wilson certainly could (and can) convey fun as well, too. I'm very much looking forward to Melissa Morgan's next c.d. RC

Saw Melissa and her trio last night at Jazz Alley in Seattle. Had a great time with her voice and the playful interactions of the band. She sings effortlessly, and it's easy to get carried pleasantly away by her vocals. I'm even willing to overlook the fact she was rooting for the Yankees....(c:

Five REMARKABLE Stars! What a GREAT debut!! Vocalist/pianist Melissa Morgan is a breath of fresh air among the newest jazz singers with a great shot at future fame. She possesses a beautiful distinctive voice, a sumptuous vibrato, and an upper register that can make a song's lyrics levitate. In the musical area code somewhere between Nancy Wilson and Diane Schuur, she shows the musicianship, maturity, enthusiasm, and versatility to be one of the 'now generation' jazz divas. Given that talent, she also keenly selects songs appropriate to her gifts. Serving up a set of familiar and obscure standards and blues, using different tempos and hot solos from her sidemen, she makes this debut a real WINNER. She is expertly backed by a talented group that includes Gerald Clayton on piano, Randy Napoleon on guitar, Joe Sanders on bass, and Kevin Kannar on drums, augmented by Christian Scott on trumpet, Ben Wendel on tenor sax, Tim Green on alto sax and Francisco Torres on trombone. Ms Morgan has a B. A. in jazz vocal performance from SUNY Purchase Conservatory, competed in the acclaimed Thelonious Monk competition, and is an award-winning pianist.

The 'best of the best' begins with the venerable Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley song "Save Your Love For Me" that Ms Morgan gives her special vocal treatment over a slow burnished beat. Not many singers could pull off the beautiful ballad "He Loves Me I Think" with such verve and sincerity: one of the best performances on the disc with some lush guitar chords from Randy Napoleon (and it went straight to my iPod). "I Wonder" is a belted blues that Ms Morgan takes full advantage of, conjuring up great angst over a broken love affair. The wistful "I Just Dropped By To Say Hello" is a lush ballad that shows Melissa's poignant story-telling ability. A 'Basie'-ish "Until I Met You" shows her inate swing and declarative phrasing, with the musical group really coming on strong in a great arrangement. But perhaps best of all is an up-tempo "The Lamp is Low" with Ms Morgan showing she can swing like crazy & Tim Green gets off of a wonderful solo (another IPod selectee). Put this on your list of CDs to immediately check out and put her on you list of talented, singular artists to watch in the future. The outstanding sound is both vivid and immediate. Marvelously talented singer! Highly Recommended!! Five ENJOYABLE Stars!!
(Note: This review is based on an iTunes Plus download.
Caution: there is also a talented R&B singer named Meli'sa Morgan and a wonderful harp player named Melissa Morgan.)

The return of old fashion jazz singer with no gimicks. While listening to this CD I thought I was in a jazz lounge the piano,trumphet and others where so intimate. Melissa Morgan you have arrived can't wait for the next CD.

Ms. Morgan possesses a beautiful soprano voice, which she controls expertly and uses effortlessly. Her vocal style is a blend of jazz, blues, and gospel/R&B. Throughout, she displays a genuine understanding of these idioms and her interpretations flow naturally. Her backup band is fantastic. To my ears she didn't sound too much like Nancy Wilson, or any other singer for that matter. Instead, she blends various influences with her own personal ideas.

Good voice, good music, good song selection. There is nohing wrong with this CD, you just listen to it and you really enjoy. Please you enjoy it also. Highly recommended.

So I bought this CD last weekend solely on it being in the jazz section, I had no idea of who the singer was or what the music was like. I could have waited to sample some of the songs but I was unusually impulsive, really wanted to hear some new music and I liked to cd cover artwork. Well, I was very pleasantly surprised. Great album! just good solid jazz vocals, a classic sound, that in itself is refreshing, so many new young jazz singers add too much techno or American Idol oversinging. The song choices are all great, not commonly chosen and all sung well. The music is top notch, I don't know these jazz musicians are, but I think this cd would be great jazz even without Melissa Morgan. There isn't a song that misses, I think I listened to it 3 or 4 times through the first time.

Heard Melissa on NPR a few times. Kept thinking, "I really like this!"

Am now half-way thru the first play of Telarc's great recording.

Beautiful singing, playing, and sound. Thanks to all. Really love it.

Going straight into my favorites treatment -- lots of car play for the family. Hoping my young daughters grow to love such fantastic stuff (so far they appear to dig my music).

I first heard this CD in a Barnes and Noble Store ( 30 sec clips).

I appreciated her tone and phrasing instantly, but at 18.99 for the CD... I said ...let's check it out on line. Kudus to Amazon, I found it on you site...but not on Itunes.

As for the Melissa Morgan, while she is not quite as crisp as Nancy in her delievery, I like the way she swings with the band..making the sound her own. Deep and rich and lived - in.

I truly appreicate this new ( for me..) discovery...not a weak song in the bunch.

Enjoy.

I was fortunate enough to attend Melissa Morgan's recent performance at Dizzy's in San Diego's Gaslamp District and enjoy an evening of classic jazz standards as interpreted by this talented young vocalist. Accompanied by local trumpet virtuoso Gilbert Castellanos and piano prodigy Joshua White, Melissa confidently led an improvisatory four-piece jazz ensemble through an extended review of the American Songbook. While her album lacks the spontaneity of her live performance, this studio session rewards the listener with top-notch musicianship and production values that one would expect of a contemporary jazz recording, and serves as a valued reminder of a memorable night out.