Carol Fredette: Everything In Time (2009)

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

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Published: June 19, 2009

Jazz vocalist Carol Fredette's singing is characterized as a clinic in singing with perfect diction. With a linguist's ear, Fredette concretely pronounces every word to every song she sings as if to commit them to platinum casts for use by International Bureau of Weights and Measures. Fredette accomplishes this not in some self-conscious way, but with a humor and grace that betrays a fully lived jazz life. This is further reflected in the breezy tone Everything in Time takes. Light latin jazz, humid islands, and secure mainstream treatments populate this fully realized collection.

Fredette's previous recording, Sings Dave Frishberg and Bob Dorough: Everything I Need (Brownstone, 1999) showed her a versatile and capable interpreter of these two modern vocal composers. She carries her amore for Dorough to the opening track of Everything in Time, "Without Rhyme or Reason." Fredette's conversational delivery provides delight, service with a smile and a wink. "I Wish I Knew" sports some nifty horn arrangements, incorporating teases from "If I Were a Bell." Fredette's Brazilian bent reveals itself in Cole Porter's "Dream Dancing" and Jobim's "Vivo Donhando (Dreamer)." Fredette's septet swings effortlessly through these pieces, trumpeter Barry Danielian and the saxophone tag-team of Aaron Heicke and Bob Malach.

"Last Night When We Were Young" and "The Way You Look Tonight" provide a stable standards fulcrum to the recital. They are given a relaxed treatment, the latter being played in 3/4 time. Fredette is particularly effective on these seasoned ballads. Her singing is reminiscent of a hip Julie Andrews (think a jazz Sound of Music or Mary Poppins). Everything in Time is a satisfying stroll with a songbird.

Track Listing: Without Rhyme of Reason; I Wish I Knew; Dream Dancing; Last Night When We Were Young; The Way You Look Tonight; Vivo Sonhando (Dreamer); Pieces of Dreams; I Was Born In Love With You; (This is) A Fine Romance; O Pato (The Duck); Bilhete (Ticket); Love Thy Neighbor; Would You Believe?; Only Trust Your Heart; Wait A Little While.

Personnel: Carol Fredette: vocals; Helio Alves: piano; Dario Eskenazi: piano; Andy Ezrin: piano; David Finck: bass; Leonardo Amuendo: guitar; Adriano Santos: drums; Victor Lewis: drums; Mauro Refosco: percussion; Barry Danielian: trumpet; Aaron Jeicke: saxophone; Bob Malach: saxophone.

Record Label: Soundbrush Records
Style: Vocal