Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Elly Hoyt: Elly Hoyt

196

Elly Hoyt: Elly Hoyt

By

Sign in to view read count
Elly Hoyt: Elly Hoyt
Tasmanian-born Elly Hoyt's self-titled debut catapulted her into the forefront of the jazz scene Down Under, winning the coveted Bell Award for Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album in 2011. Australian jazz is perhaps stronger than ever, with a veritable wealth of young musicians emerging and festivals popping up like 'roos, and this award serves meaningful notice of the 24 year-old's talent. Drawing heavily form jazz standards, these ten selections see Hoyt sympathetically supported by some of Australia's best musicians, but at the end of the day this is a vehicle for Hoyt's seductive voice, and seduce she does.

Duke Ellington/Lee Gaines's 1941 number "Just Squeeze Me" has a delightful intro, with Hoyt intimately accompanied solely by Phil Stack's earthy bass. The arrival of the rest of the group kicks the song into finger-snapping swing mode. Hoyt's slides easily into a sassy scat which combines freedom with control, leading into guitarist James Sherlock's short, tasteful solo. The group returns to the head, where Hoyt's affinity for the blues is evident. On her swinging "Ell's Blues," Hoyt's voice contains the gospel blues of singers Ella Fitzgerald and Carmen McRae. Tim Firth's drums are to the fore and, after a refined solo from Stack, Sherlock ratchets up the rhythm with a short, spicy one of his own.

The spare arrangement of "The Meaning of the Blues" shows that Hoyt is equally assured on slower numbers, and there's a seductive impressionism in her blue tonality on this Leah Worth/Bobby Troup standard. Guest flugelhornist John Hoffman plays a nicely sympathetic solo, with a fragility and brittleness of tone in keeping with the melancholy of the lyrics. Hoffman also illuminates a fairly ordinary rendition of Cole Porter's "All of You," with a warm, dancing solo. More effective as a vehicle for Hoyt's emotive voice is Antonio Carlos Jobim's classic, "Este Seu Olhar," with Sherlock's acoustic guitar, Firth's brushes and pianist Matt McMahon's minimalist touches providing perfectly subdued accompaniment.

The Ned Washington/Victor Young standard "My Foolish Heart" has provided a canvas for vastly different interpretations over the years, from pianist Bill Evans and singer Al Jarreau to guitarist John McLaughlin—though Hoyt's snappy Brazilian samba evokes singer Astrud Gilberto's take, albeit livelier, and features McMahon. Hoyt swings on Hammerstein/Kern's "Nobody Else but Me" and simmers on a wonderfully laidback, drummer-less arrangement of the Nat Adderley/Curtis Lewis gospel-folk number "The Old Country," colored by Sherlock's singing blues lines. Hoyt also makes a compelling case for the possible inclusion of Neil and Tim Finn's "Four Seasons in One Day" in the forthcoming Australian Real Book .

Hoyt's slow-burning "All I Know" sits well among the standards and provides evidence of a songwriting talent which will hopefully blossom. This is an impressive debut from a singer mature beyond her years, one whose distinctive, blues-inflected voice is soulful and quietly commanding. Hoyt is just setting out on her journey, and it's exciting to think that she's only going to hone and perfect her craft in the years and decades to come.

Track Listing

Just Squeeze Me; Este Seu Olhar; Four Seasons in One Day; All I Know; Ell's Blues; All of You; Foolish Heart; The Meaning of the Blues; Nobody Else But Me; The Old Country.

Personnel

Elly Hoyt: vocals; Matt McMahon: piano; Tim Firth: drums; Phil Stack: bass; James Sherlock: guitar; John Hoffman: flugelhorn (6, 8).

Album information

Title: Elly Hoyt | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Pinnacles Music

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.