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Karen Johns & Company: Peach
ByThis album provides convincing evidence that Johnswho possesses a beautiful voice and an extraordinary rangeis certainly a superior singer. The Andrews Sisters were a close harmony, Swing Era singing group whose style is reprised here on such songs as "Sugarboo" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo," as well as on the opening of "I Love You Forever." With Johns voicing complete, multi-part harmonies on each song, she leaves the impression of multiple vocalists masterfully matching the vibrant energy of LaVerne, Patty and Maxine. The swing is at full speed on "Peach," "Precious Find (Reprise)" and "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am."
Husband James and son Gabriel lend their vocals to the feisty "Must-Be-Seen," while Johns voices a samba-styled rendition of the Mancini/Mercer/Migliacci tune, "Meglio Stasera (It Had Better Be Tonight)," a song penned for the first Pink Panther movie with Peter Sellers. Johns also delivers lush performances on several ballads including "I Speak Woman, You Speak Man," the gorgeous Italian love song "Sentimentale," and "Five O'clock Shadow (Reprise)." The band is simply superb; pianist Kevin Sanders, reed man Jim Hoke and trumpeter Ken Watters provide excellent support and deliver great solo moments throughout.
Delivering a blast from the past and a swinging good time, Peach is one fun album to hear. Karen Johns & Company draws from the golden age of Swing. They do a wonderful job setting the mood and preparing the dance floor with the music found here. There are many highlights on this disc, and singer Karen Johns is the main reason why.
Track Listing
Personnel
Karen Johns: lead and background vocals; James Johns: guitar; Kevin Sanders: keyboards; Chris Kozak: bass; Michael Glaser: drums, percussion; Jim Hoke: saxophones, clarinet, flue, harmonica; Ken Watters: trumpet.
Album information
Title: Peach | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced
Comments
Tags
Karen Johns & Company
CD/LP/Track Review
Karen Johns
Edward Blanco
Kari-On Productions
Self Produced
United States
Glenn Miller
Benny Goodman
Ken Watters
Peach