L.A. Jazz Scene - All About Town by Scott Yanow - August 2008
This column closes with three great jazz singers, all of whom appeared recently at Catalina’s. (Sony Holland, Kurt Elling & Karrin Allyson) A very talented singer from the San Francisco Bay area, Sony Holland has a warm deep voice and a very clear tone. One can always understand the words she is singing yet she is not shy to improvise. She was joined for a record release party at Catalina’s for Swing, Bossas, Ballads And Blues by pianist John Proulx, bassist Chuck Berghofer, drummer Kendall Kay and the underrated and tasteful guitarist Mitch Holder. Among the songs performed in her wide-ranging set were “Just In Time,” “I Only Have Eyes For You,” Elton John’s “Honky Cat” (which somehow worked in this setting), “Sans Souci,” Paul Simon’s “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover,” “The Nearness Of You,” a slow ballad duet with Holder on “My Romance,” a powerhouse version of “At Last,” and several songs by her husband Jerry Holland which boast intelligent lyrics including “It’s An Understatement,” “I Remember Paris” and “Take You As You Are.” Very few singers can do an effective version of “First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” but it proved to be perfect for Sony Holland’s voice and interpretive skills.
BIO: Sony Holland sings in a style that is both sophisticated and emotionally direct. Her interpretations of the great American songbook show a deep respect and love for the material while adding an unmistakable spark of personality. Originally from northern Minnesota, Sony fell in love with jazz while spending a year in Paris and has earned a devoted following worldwide with her renditions of standards, contemporary classics, and original songs. Now living in Los Angeles she performs at home and internationally, including extensive concert tours and residencies in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Bangkok. Her CD Out Of This World 2009 is an intimate set of 13 songs which she brings together with impeccable musicianship.
Despite her sunny good looks Sony is a performer who knows what it is to pay her dues. She started her career on the streets of Fisherman’s Wharf and sang there in the wind, cold and rain, through good times and bad. “None of the other street musicians thought I would last, but I was determined to make a living out there.” That means spending hours singing when few tourists are about, simply to guard one’s turf. She explains, “I never minded the hostile elements or the slow nights because I understood that you need to put the time in to get your voice strong.” “People would constantly ask me what I was doing out there. They don’t understand how few well-paying jazz venues there are and how expensive it is for an independent musician to travel with a band.”
To keep herself working Ms. Holland often goes from playing a club like NYC’s Blue Note one night, to performing at a white-tie event the next… and then she’ll go out the following morning to sing for tips at a Nor-Cal Farmer’s Market! It keeps things interesting. “I always think of what my first bass player said. He was an old-timer who had toured with some of the biggest names in jazz and he’d tell me, “Whether you’re playing Carnegie Hall or a neighborhood dive, remember they’re all just joints.””
Partially to deal with the expense of traveling she encouraged her songwriting husband to beef up his jazz chops on the guitar. Now they often perform together in concert venues and cafes as a duo. “Jerry has a simple rhythmic approach to playing jazz tunes that audiences really enjoy even if they’re not huge jazz fans.” His compositions have also added freshness to her repertoire. On the current CD they include a wonderful Bossa Nova It’s An Understatement, a tribute to Carmel called By The Sea and the sultry swing number I’ll Lead The Way.
The core of the disc is made up of beautiful jazz standards from the swinging Old Devil Moon to the dreamy Nearness Of You and from the sexy Summer Night to a powerhouse version of At Last.
Sony originally recorded Out Of This World several years ago for the sole purpose of selling to the tourists at Fisherman’s Wharf. Although the CD surprised her by getting excellent reviews and selling well through iTunes she has redone all of the vocals, remixed and repackaged it in preparation for its national release. “My singing has matured and so I jumped at this chance to improve on the original CD.” The results are impressive and prove that talent, time and dedication can make an artist truly special.
From the LA JAZZ SCENE review by Scott Yanow - “She has a strong, flexible and versatile voice along with a style that fits the standards she interprets perfectly.” “She does a rewarding job in making such tunes as “The Nearness Of You,” the undeservedly obscure “Summer Night,” “Skylark” and “The Thrill Is Gone” sound fresh, topical and new.”
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