Jazz Articles about Connie Evingson

Connie Evingson: Little Did I Dream: Songs by Dave Frishberg

by C. Michael Bailey
April 14, 2008

The late Tip O'Neill once said, .."All politics is local." This certainly can be said for jazz also. All of America's metropolitan areas have a jazz contingency. Chicago has Kurt Elling, Patricia Barber, and Von Freeman; Washington DC has Buck Hill; and New York has who knows how many? The Twin Cities, Minneapolis-St. Paul, also has noted jazz talent in Dave Frishberg and vocalist Connie Evingson.

Pianist/vocalist Frishberg, a native of St. Paul, has a long ...

Connie Evingson: Gypsy in My Soul

by C. Michael Bailey
April 17, 2005

2005 should be declared the Year of the Female Jazz Vocalist. In this first quarter we have seen new releases from Cheryl Bentyne, Kate McGarry, Patti Wicks, and Dena DeRose. All are notable artists whose new recordings are equally notable. Add to this Connie Evingson's beautifully provocative Gypsy in My Soul, and one can only be encouraged about the state of art in jazz vocals.

Based in the Twin Cities, Evingson chooses much more exotic climes for the ...

Connie Evingson: Gypsy in My Soul

by Jim Santella
April 3, 2005

Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli gave us a timeless chapter in jazz history that emphasized acoustic music with cultural influences from various parts of the world. To that lovely aroma Connie Evingson adds her mellifluous voice and intimate way with a melody. She interprets songs that carry a nostalgic memory, and she carves each one with a distinctive flair. Seamless phrasing, smoky resonance and a genuine caring give her presentation a natural quality.

“Gypsy in My Soul" swings ...

Connie Evingson: The Secret Of Christmas

by Jim Santella
December 5, 2003

Scat singing, interpreting familiar lyrics, and inserting fresh, new ideas into her holiday program, Connie Evingson offers a personal gift for everyone. The Jazz lover appreciates the strength of her vocal instrument and the cohesive manner in which she integrates her artistic companions. The Swing lover appreciates the bright outlook that she’s applied to traditional holiday fare. The Gospel lover appreciates her deep, searing, spiritual portrayal; and the Blues lover appreciates the sincerity of her interpretation.

With ”chestnuts ...

Connie Evingson: The Secret of Christmas

by Dan McClenaghan
December 2, 2003

Minneapolis-based vocalist Connie Evingson has a way of turning potential musical yawns into highly original and vibrant jazz workouts. Earlier this year her Let it Be Jazz--Connie Evingson Sings the Beatles gave a jolt of jazzy fresh air to a bunch of Lennon/McCartney tunes from the sixties. Now, with The Secret of Christmas, she does the same for holiday music. The set is--wisely--composed mostly of lesser-known classics of the genre, with Evingson in full command of her rich ...

Connie Evingson: Let It Be Jazz: Connie Evingson Sings The Beatles

by Jim Santella
September 25, 2003

The songs that John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote and recorded with the Beatles in the 1960s have left lasting impressions on all of us. They are timeless anecdotes from an era of exploration and change. On Let It Be Jazz Connie Evingson places each of these familiar melodies into a mainstream jazz context with a natural feel and a seamless transition.

Based in Minneapolis and a veteran of four previous CD releases, Evingson possesses a clear alto vocal range ...

Connie Evingson: Let It Be Jazz: Connie Evingson Sings The Beatles

by C. Michael Bailey
August 25, 2003

In my experience, non-pop interpretations of the Beatles? songbook have been dismal at best, suicidal at worst. Part of the problem, I suspect, is one of context. It seems that the Beatles canon does not lend itself readily to differing genre applications. Take for example Telarc?s recent attempt to apply a blues treatment to The White Album : The Blues White Album, while courageous, fell far short of making any serious artistic statement. No, it seems that a finely tuned ...