Scintillating jazz vocals – Jeannie Tanner – WORDS & MUSIC: This is my first listen to Jeannie’s splendid songwriting, and though she doesn’t actually perform vocals on the album, the two-disc set has 12 of Chicago’s finest vocalists performing her songs… Alyssa Allgood, Rose Colella, Elaine Dame, Kimberly Gordon, Paul Marinaro, Tammy McCann, Jeff Meegan, Typhanie Monique, Andy Pratt, Abigail Riccards, Michele Thomas and Amy Yassinger all totally grasp what the moods were intended to be, especially on songs like the wonderful “Wait for Me” (featuring Jeff Meegan’s vocals) – laid-back, yet full of life’s energy in a BIG way!
Jeannie plays trumpet on several of the songs, too, so that explains why she has such an innate sensibility for how a tune should “move”… just listen to the ultimately laid-back vocal/instrumentation on “Mr. Midnight“, and you’ll know you’re in the presence of a master jazz composer… simply lovely, and Kimberly Gordon’s vocal really brings the tune home! I’ll go so far as to say that you won’t find a better jazz vocal album on the market (right now, anyway) than this one!
It is the slinky movement and the Peggy Lee-like sultriness of “Red” that gets my pick as personal favorite of the nineteen offered up on the double-CD… Elaine Dame’s vocal is the pinnacle of coolness – just DUG this tune in a big way! I give Jeannie, and her singers and players a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.99 for this (if you never buy another jazz vocal album – GET this one!!). Get more information about Jeannie on the Jeannie Tanner website (& of course, tell her you read about her here). Rotcod Zzaj
