Patty Cronheim: Days Like These (2010)

Woodrow Wilkins

since 2004

Woody started in jazz with the diverse sounds of Maynard Ferguson's bands of the 1970s.

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Published: September 5, 2010

It started during a sing-along in the family car; little Patty Cronheim broke into harmony. The seed was planted, and now the vocalist is in full bloom. Drawing from a variety of influences in pop, jazz, blues and South American styles, Cronheim has released her first recording as a leader, Days Like These.

Cronheim has opened for Ray Charles, and performed some of her original music on television's Jane Pauley Show. She's a frequent guest of the Princeton University Jazz Ensemble, and has played around the northeastern United States.

"Estando Aqui," one of seven Cronheim originals, is a lively samba, with English and Brazilian Portuguese lyrics, delightfully backed by the rhythm section. In English, the title means, "Here I Am."

"Don't Work Anymore" is reminiscent of the Frank Sinatra/Mel Tormé style of swinging jazz vocal. Cronheim sings, "Can't believe all that I hear, it's only thunder in my ear, trying to make me disappear. Just don't work anymore." Trombonist Clifford Adams and tenor saxophonist Greg Wall solo Brian Glassman's cool bass line, supplemented by pianist Aaron Weiman and drummer Corey Rawls, who are all but muted; softening the backdrop to a bass solo that sets up Cronheim's return.

The band delivers a blues-jazz rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition," where Cronheim employs some subtle inflections as she shifts from verse to chorus. After the final verse, Cronheim and band build intensity before closing this selection.

Although Cronheim does dip into The Great American Songbook, it's refreshing that the session is comprised mostly of original songs. At times, it seems is if every up-and-coming artist must do songs like "Summertime" and "Bye, Bye Blackbird." But Cronheim's treatment of "Superstition" takes a few, bold steps off the beaten path. And the fact that she does it with an arrangement by Rawls keeps it fresh, and helps set Days Like These apart from typical vocal debut recordings.

Track Listing: Estando Aqui; Stella by Sunlight; Don't Work Anymore; Summertime; Superstition; Doggone Blues; I Feel the Heat; Made for Love; Days Like These; Bye Bye Blackbird.

Personnel: Patty Cronheim: vocals; Aaron Weiman: piano and Rhodes; Brian Glassman: bass; Corey Rawls: drums; Greg Wall: tenor and soprano sax; Clifford Adams: trombone; Audrey Welber: alto sax (4, 6).

Record Label: Say So Records