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Jazz Articles about Dorian Devins
Dorian Devins Hits a Double in the Bleak Midwinter
by C. Michael Bailey
New York centered jazz singer and lyricist Dorian Devins first rocked my sensitive Southern Consciousness in 2013 with the release of The Procrastinator (Rain1 Jazz). Devins marked a return to that jazz step-child, vocalese: the application of lyrics to well-known wordless jazz compositions. The recording was a cornerstone of that year. Devins played a very large part on The Lou Rainone Quintet +1's Skydance singing two of her compositions (Rain1jazz, 2015). Here on the fulcrum between then and now, Devins ...
read moreDorian Devins: The Procrastinator
by C. Michael Bailey
Ginny Carr and the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet recently paid proper homage to vocalese master Eddie Jefferson with the song He Was the Cat," from Hustlin' For A Gig (HouseKat Records, 2012). Jefferson, along with Clarence Beeks (King Pleasure), specialized in writing lyrics for and singing the more notable jazz compositions, like Moody's Mood for Love" and Parker's Mood." This rarefied musical form has remained dormant for many years, waiting for a new talent to pen new lyrics for old ...
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