Sandy Dennison: Jazzed! (2007)

Michael P. Gladstone

Senior Contributor since 2003

I came out of my musical hibernation circa 1960 and hit the streets for a new education on the past, present and future.

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Published: July 26, 2007

File under: Supperclub Jazz. Very reminiscent of an age in which Lena Horne made regular appearances at the Waldorf Astoria in the 1950s and Lainie Kazan played the Oak Room during the 1960s, Portland, Oregon-based vocalist Sandy Dennison even opens her album with a typical flag-waver from those days which, in this case, is the Bricusse/Newley song, "On A Wonderful Day Like Today."

While the songs and performances are all good ones, there is a somewhat stale patina of yesteryear on this album. At least half of the dozen tunes are already well-recorded and, perhaps, in need of temporary retirement from the Great American Songbook, including Lerner & Loewe's "On the Street Where You Live," Pablo Ruiz's "Sway" and Van Heusen/Burke's "Like Someone in Love."

There are a few surprises. Cleo Laine/Johnny Dankworth's "Primrose Color Blue" is provided as is a rather obscure Billy Strayhorn song, "You're the One." The up-tempo "Ooh, Whatcha' Doin' to Me," from the pens of Fields and Rogers, gives a nice lift to the album.

After a self-produced Ellington album in 2003, Dennison does provide a spirited performance on her second album and, as was usually the case during the era of pop singers with jazz influences, comes with a group of talented musicians who enhance her vocals with insinuating solos and solid support. Included in this group are pianist/arranger Vincent Frates and saxophonist David Evans.

Track Listing: A Wonderful Day Like Today; Close Your Eyes; Primrose Color Blue; On the Street Where You Live; They Say It's Wonderful; Moonlight; Like Someone in Love; Lonely Hours; Sway; I Get The Blues When It Rains; A Sunday Kind of Love; Ooh Whatcha' Doin' to Me; You're the One.

Personnel: Sandy Dennison: vocals; Vincent Frates: piano; Andre St. James: bass; David Evans: sax; Derek Sims: trumpet; Mark DiFlorio: drums.

Record Label: Self Produced
Style: Vocal