Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Nancy Osborne: Hot Swing, Cool Jazz

Nancy Osborne: Hot Swing, Cool Jazz

By Michael P. Gladstone
October 12, 2006
View read count

I'm in a quandary to describe this album of big band jazz vocals from Nancy Osborne as anything more than "pleasant." Through no fault of the singer or the top-flight band of West Coast musicians like Pete Christlieb, Gary Herbig, Charley Loper and Tom Ranier—or the arrangements of Bob Florence, Paul McDonald, Lon Norman, Jonathan Barick or Dave Wolpe—this album cannot be lifted into a higher category.

The best summary I can offer is that the album offers "safe" middlebrow jazz music. Several of the tunes are currently overexposed per the Great American Songbook (eg. "I've Got You Under My Skin," "It's Delovely," "Georgia On My Mind") and deserve at least temporary retirement. Osborne's voice is fine, with a bright quality that emphasizes the lyrics and hits a balance with the orchestrations, so that both are heard to their advantages.

However, this is a big band vocal album, not a jazz-oriented vocal occasion. There are a few false starts. "It's De-Lovely" begins with the opening riff of "Milestones" and "Something's Gotta Give" begins with Osborne's vocalese matching the horn lines, but this is a introductory tease for both songs. Nancy Osborne also provides effective vocalese on the instrumental break of "Gypsy In My Soul." I'd suggest that this is an excellent choice for afficianados of big band music in a contemporary setting.

Let's look at a few more positives. Osborne opens with a saucy version of Peggy Lee's "I Love Being Here With You" and concludes with Bobby Darin's signature song, "As Long As I'm Singing," which he usually used to close sets. "Pardon My Southern Accent" is an obscure Johnny Mercer tune from 1934 and "Two Lost Souls," borrowed from the Broadway musical Damn Yankees, is a nifty duet with Ned Rifkin. Osborne's take on "He's A Tramp" (from the Disney film Lady and the Tramp) once again emulates the style of writer and performer Peggy Lee.

Track Listing

I Love Being Here With You; Mister Sandman; Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead; I've Got You Under My Skin; It's De-Lovely; Something's Gotta Give; Only You; And The Angels Sing; And All That Jazz; He's A Tramp; Pardon My Southern Accent; Two Lost Souls; The Gypsy In My Soul; Georgia On My Mind; Hallelujah, I Just Love Him So; As Long As I'm Singing.

Personnel

Nancy Osborne

vocals

Nancy Osborne: vocals; Charlie Davis, Ron Barrows, Mike NcGuffy, Barbara Laronga: trumpet; Charlie Loper, Paul Young, Linda Small, Bryant Byers: trombone; Pete Christlieb, Gary Herbig, Darryl Winseman, Andrew Martinez, Cindy Bradley, Mike Acosta: reeds; Jim Cox, Tom Ranier: piano; Ron Hershewe: guitar; Geo Valle: bass; Sammy K: drums; Ned Rifken: guest vocalist.

Album information

Title: Hot Swing, Cool Jazz | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

African Tarantella: Dances with Duke
< Previous

The Great Deceiver (Live 1973-1974)
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.