Whether she’s singing American Songbook classics or exciting new tunes from up-and-coming contemporary songwriters, herself included, Faith Gibson takes you on a surprising, wondrous, and dazzling tour of the human heart.
Since her debut performance at the Glasgow Jazz Festival in 2003, Faith Gibson has performed in the UK and in Cologne, Bonn and Berlin, Germany and recorded two CDs, You Don’t Know Me (2004) and Big Moon (2009).
In addition to writing her own songs, Faith collaborates with jazz songwriter Christopher Morse (Now Standards Music), Brooklyn, NY. She also operates her own internet radio station, Blossom’s Vocal Jazz, which has been chosen as Editor’s Pick on live365.com and has a loyal fan base of listeners around the world.
Big Moon:
Faith's jazz vocal style is definitely cool... 13 songs plus a bonus track make for just over 55 minutes of very pleasant music, & several cuts you'll fall in love with, no doubt in my mind. The cast of players is far too large to list here, but the band behind her is absolutely in the jazz zone, & clearly understand that the performance is in support of her groovin' & intimate expressions! Excellent recording quality throughout, a CD you'll be coming back to more than once. Faith makes her ownership of these romantic ballads come across without straining in any particular direction; that's especially true on those she penned herself, such as What Women Want & Be a Man, Baby... in fact, the latter is my favorite track - it has just the right energy quotient & her sense of humor shines right on through - a truly cute tune with little lyrical nuances that will have you ROFL, to be sure! I like this one a lot, & give it an easy HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for listeners who want talent without all the baggage! Get more information at www.faithgibson.com
--Dick Metcalf, aka Rotcod Zzaj - Improvijazzation Nation - Issue #94 - Zine site: http://zzaj.freehostia.com/
Sometimes you just know. It takes two or three tunes to verify it, but as the well-written originals continue, one can distinguish quality song writing. Faith Gibson, a new name to me, contributes a few tunes here and turns other selections over to very hip wordsmith Christopher Morse. His melodies, along with those of others here, are fresh and invigorating. And Ms. Gibson interprets these tunes in an ultra-cool but totally unpretentious manner that she’s seemingly perfect for the task. Gibson chooses a small jazz group, all unknown names to me, to provide ideal, understated backup. The two standards on the disc are also performed with pizazz. Gibson isn’t going to spin your head around with show biz shtick. Instead there’s a touch of Meredith d’Ambrosio or Lorraine Feather here and there. In any case, I really liked her approach and wouldn’t mind hearing more from her.
--George Fendel - Jazzscene Magazine - Jazz Society of Oregon
Faith has done her homework and is a savvy vocal stylist. Big Moon is one of 2009's best surprises!
-- Mike Reisz, WDPS Dayton, Ohio
...She knows what she wants, and the music is equally no-nonsense. Saxophonist Gregoire Peters and guitarist Jo Gehlmann lay down a snappy unison riff as a retort to the leader's statements. Underneath all of this the rhythm section swings with grace and muscle.
Though Faith Gibson has plenty of chops, it's her attitude that drew me in. There's a sincerity in her voice that puts the ears at ease. She's the 'jazz singer next door.' How this fits in with the 'built for speed' thing is a topic for another review.
-- Review of the track Be a Man, Baby by Mark Saleski, www.jazz.com
...Stop kicking the cat at the end of a hard day and kick off your shoes, pour a red wine, pull up a comfy chair and listen. Faith's style is modern without losing a sense of the traditional. My favourite here is 'That's Right, It Was You' which is a real tear-jerker, but every track here sounds like it was pulled from the Great American Songbook -- no mean feat when you consider most of the CD is new material, including Faith's own composition, the light-hearted admonition to 'Be a Man, Baby', that perfectly embodies her great mix of contemporary lyrical and traditional jazz styles.
The band here also deserves a pat on the back for their laid back but classy underpinning of one of the best new jazz vocalists around.
-- John Hurd, Music Editor - Bonn English Network Website
It's truly a pleasure to feature your recording - every cut is a treasure, and the album is a joy!
-- John Segers, Music Director, WUCF-FM 89.9 Jazz and More
...The early moves of this set show Gibson to be someone that learned her Blossom Dearie lessons well...an up and comer, still studying with left of center teachers and using interpretive skills as much as vocal skills to craft one of those familiar yet different experiences. A jazz vocalist more for today than grandpa consumption, she’s mastered the sound you would hear in a contemporary, left leaning jazz performance space.
--Chris Spector, Midwest Record
You Don't Know Me:
Faith Gibson's CD has a wonderful mix of ten songs in the blues tradition. Honeysuckle Rose (Waller/Razaf) possesses a wonderful upbeat vocal. She's everywhere in a take that never lets up. Even the title song (Walker/Arnold), a country hit, is like putty in her hands as a fine bluesy vocal. The Kingston Trio's Scotch and Soda (Guard) is a stand out. Faith really turns it on here. She gives forth with a mouth watering sexy vocal. I also adored Don’t Like Goodbyes (Arlen/Capote). In over six minutes Ms. Gibson brings forth a most mellow whispery voice to this remarkable ballad. Finally Faith really sings out on 'Round Midnight (Williams/Monk/Hanighen). She's really aided here by J.P. Webber on guitars and other strings.
--Dan Singer's column Singer's Singers in In Tune International, January 2010, no. 215
This is a marvelous first album. When you find a voice that can relate to such powerful beauty, you might as well embrace her and cherish her for many years to come.
-- Esther Berlanga-Ryan, radio broadcaster
A lively collection of blues-tinged jazz vocals make this an entertaining and enjoyable listening experience. Every song is a delight. … Every performance is topnotch!
-- Lee Prosser, www.jazzreview.com