The Jon Weiss Trio Featuring Rochelle Thompson: Migrating Song Birds

Two performers who have paid their dues, probably more than once, share the bill on an album of mostly familiar material. Jon Weiss leads his trio on piano and sings on some tracks while jazz singer Rochelle Thompson picks up the rest of the program with Weiss accompanying her. Thompson, who gigs at Harlem jazz spots like the Lenox Lounge, brings true jazz credentials to her vocalizing with a voice that, like Circe, draws the listener to her, enticing, but minus the malevolent witchcraft practiced by the mythical Greek Goddess. On a blues laden "Crazy He Calls Me" she weaves in and around the beat set by Weiss' piano. In contrast, "Dindi" is a bigger production because of the Weiss runs and arpeggios. But these phase Thompson not a wit as she weaves her magic into the fabric of Jobim's classic tune. She swings a bit with a medium tempo rendition of her own, "No Name Blues".

Weiss, while not a jazz singer per se, has a very light and pleasant voice. He doesn't embarrass himself by any means as he delivers a heartfelt "Angel Eyes" getting great support from his trio cohorts. He also distinguishes himself on strictly instrumental tracks such as "All of Me" and "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" which recall the pianistic flourishes of Eddy Duchin. It's like Duchin all of a sudden took up jazz and this works very well. This combination of two vocalizing styles combined with a set of scintillating instruments makes for a nice musical set. Recommended.

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