Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Leslie Lewis: Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen in New York

3

Leslie Lewis: Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen in New York

By

Sign in to view read count
Leslie Lewis: Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen in New York
Vocalist Leslie Lewis' previous recording, Midnight Sun (Self Produced, 2012), revealed a a thoughtful and well-managed talent able to imbue her music with a dark pathos. Not dark in any negative sense of the word, but rich and romantic. Her followup, Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen in New York, made with her husband/pianist, distills Lewis' talent to the intimate duet level, concentrating the music to a point where much is revealed.

"Like Someone In Love" is introduced with Lewis singing a cappella through two choruses before Gerard Hagen bounces in, telepathically in tempo. Lewis takes on the Joe Jackson-penned lyrics to Duke Ellington's "Solitude," singing at a slow but determined pace, raising the ballad to gospel proportions. The more recent "Killing Me Softly" is the lengthiest piece on the recording, chiming in at seven-plus minutes. Lewis and Hagen again heart-meld into a warm simpatico that is delivered completely intact in an impressionistic fashion.

"Body and Soul" should be required listening to understand what the hubbub was all about when Coleman Hawkins transformed the song into a progenitor of bebop so long ago. That is the charm of straight vocal performance: it serves as a reminder of what the composers originally intended before jazz acolytes transformed that intention in so many wonderful ways. There is always a beginning and Leslie Lewis stands firmly on that spot when she sings.

Track Listing

Like Someone In Love; Gentle is My Love; Solitude; I Want to be Happy; Killing Me Softly; You Must Believe in Spring; I’ll Remember April; When I Fall In Love; Body and Soul.

Personnel

Leslie Lewis: vocals Gerard Hagen: piano.

Album information

Title: Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen in New York | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Self Produced

Comments

Tags

Concerts


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create 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.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve 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.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.