Jeff Hedberg and Sketches in Blue: Come and Meet Me in a Dream
What prevents this CD from being no more than a good personal musical snapshot is the rather amateurish sound of the recording and the obvious lack of musical maturity evidenced in Hedberg’s phrasing and vocal intonation. The mix between Hedberg’s voice and the piano played by John Jeffery is totally out of balance. It is difficult for the listener to discern whether one is listening to a singer being accompanied by a rhythm section or whether one is being treated to a lesson on piano comping. There are times when Hedberg’s voice is nearly drowned out by the rhythm section that is supposedly supporting him.
While Hedberg’s spirit and determination certainly deserve positive recognition, this is a performer who is still somewhat removed from achieving the polish necessary to be recognized as a great performer. Although part of jazz vocal performance certainly includes pitch bending and/or delaying resolution of dissonance, on the performance of Strayhorn’s “Blood Count” and the standard “Autumn Leaves” in particular, Hedberg, instead of sounding hip, just sounds off key. There are also numerous times when Hedberg’s delivery of a vocal line falls short of completing the musical phrase. He should have either taken the tunes at a slightly faster tempo, or increased his capacity for breath support.
While it is understandable that this recording is likely Jeff Hedberg’s first attempt in a studio, it is hoped that he will eventually aspire to, and reach greater heights of accomplishment in his singing, playing and quality of recordings. Come And Meet Me In A Dream will only be a necessary purchase to an assiduously serious collector’s jazz CD library. And, necessary only, if Hedberg should some day become a known quantity in the jazz pantheon.
Track Listing
Old Devil Moon, Blood Count, The Way You Look Tonight, For Heaven's Sake, You Don't Know What Love Is, One For My Baby, Almost Like Being In Love, Autumn Leaves, A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing, All Blues, Goodbye
Personnel
Jeff Hedberg--vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn; John Jeffery--piano; Lucas Kammerer--bass; Bryan Sansom--congas
Album information
Title: Come and Meet Me in a Dream | Year Released: 2002
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Instrument: Voice / vocals
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