Jazz Articles about Robin McKelle

Gino Amato: Latin Crossroads

by Richard J Salvucci
October 24, 2024

The urge to take advantage of a successful commercial genre never really dies. Back in the 1960s, a studio orchestra nominally assembled by bandleader Glen Gray released a recording, Sounds of the Great Bands in Latin (Capitol, 1964). It took tunes like “Early Autumn" or “A String of Pearls" and added a “Latin" flavor with jazz enhancements. No doubt, this was an early recognition of the success of Cal Tjader. The vinyl may or may not have done well, but ...

Robin McKelle & The Flytones: Soul Flower

by C. Michael Bailey
July 26, 2013

First, Robin McKelle & The Flytones Soul Flower is not neo-soul. Neo-soul is what Amy Winehouse was and Cee Lo Green is (at least on his “Forget You"). Neo-soul is a cheeky attempt to cash in on a classic style while, at the same time, not taking it seriously. Second, Soul Flower might be better termed retro-soul, except that McKelle avoids the pitfall of clinging too tightly to the old style that has plagued other artists trying to put a ...

Robin McKelle: Modern Antique

by Woodrow Wilkins
December 16, 2008

Sometimes, when a jazz vocalist does a big band arrangement of a rock or pop hit, the results can be classical. Robin McKelle avoids that trap from the very start with her swinging rendition of Steve Miller's “Abracadabra." The lyrics are perfectly suitable for a jazz offering, and the blend of McKelle's voice and the horns is magical.That cover opens Modern Antique, McKelle's follow-up to her debut, Introducing Robin McKelle (Cheap Lullaby, 2006). Boston-bred McKelle has taught voice ...

Robin McKelle: Songbird On The Wing

by Marcia Hillman
November 17, 2008

Robin McKelle's career as a recording artist and a performer is on the rise on both sides of the Atlantic. She is already a jazz star in France and has appeared at the Blue Note and Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York City. Exposed to music at home by her mother, a musician, McKelle began singing at an early age and playing piano at the age of five. In her early teens, she became interested in jazz. She switched from ...

Robin McKelle: Modern Antique

by Marcia Hillman
September 9, 2008

Robin McKelle knows fine ways to treat a song. Once again, as in her debut Introducing Robin McKelle (Cheap Lullaby, 2006), her vocal ability and flexibility sparkles as she sings, scats and swings with a big band behind her. This time, however, she shows more rhythm and blues touches and also captures an old-fashioned torch song delivery in her treatment of mostly standard material. McKelle has a wonderfully rich assortment of qualities in her voice. She is ...

Robin McKelle: Introducing Robin McKelle

by Marcia Hillman
May 4, 2007

Robin McKelle's debut CD is a blast of fresh air from the past. Introducing is done from the stance of a band singer from the 1940s in musical format and material, logical since most legendary jazz and pop singers learned their trade that way. Most of the tracks are read in standard fashion--the band taking the opening choruses and the vocals coming in on the second, with strings added on the ballads. Many of the arrangements come ...

Robin McKelle: Introducing Robin McKelle

by Jim Santella
June 24, 2006

Accompanied by a big band that features many of LA's top sidemen, Robin McKelle sings from the Great American Songbook on this solo recording debut. It's an excellent choice. The songs seem to be an integral part of her personality.

McKelle interprets “Dream with a subtle caress, “I've Got the World on a String with a glad-happy attitude, and “The Lamp is Low with seamless phrases that flow evenly on high. Her interpretations and those of her orchestra ...