September 26, 2005
To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected]
Helen Merrill Tuesday September 27 Sets at 7:30 and 9:30 The Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival Jazz at Lincoln Center, 212-258-9595 Broadway at 60th Street 5th Floor www.jazzatlincolncenter.org/
Featuring Helen Merrill Quartet with Torrie Zito (piano); Ronnie Zito (drums); Steve la Spina (bass).
The vocal style of Helen Merrill has been enchanting listeners ever since she made her exquisite debut album in 1954 with arranger Quincy Jones and trumpeter Clifford Brown’s sextet. Her cool, smoky vocals have always had a lingering warmth. They have strengthened with age, experience and a steadfast sense of what she wants to sing—and with whom she wants to sing it.
Born to Yugoslavian immigrant parents in New York, Merrill was attracted to the jazz scene as a teenager and received encouragement from many players, including Miles Davis, Bud Powell and Charlie Parker whom she had the opportunity to sit in during the hey day of 52nd Street and the Be Bop era.
Her latest recording, Lilac Wine (Sunnyside) is filled with melancholy ballads and heartfelt melodies. Writing recently in JazzTimes Christopher Loudon had this to say about Lilac Wine. “Like just about every album she's delivered throughout the past quarter-century, Lilac Wine reflects the Cool School grad's multinational dexterousness, extending from hypnotic readings of “Something I Dreamed Last Night" and the Johnny Mathis anthem “Wild Is the Wind" to Ivan Lins' “The Island," Elvis' “Love Me Tender," the rare Burton Lane-Alan Jay Lerner treasure “One More Walk Around the Garden" and the jaunty “Pierre" from Merrill's favorite French songwriter, the first-name-only Barbara. She also pairs with her guitarist son Alan for a rather otherworldly spin through “You." Most intriguing, though, is the one track on which Merrill doesn't sing. The instrumental “Portrait of Helen Merrill," written by Marian McPartland, is a multi-shaded homage that, simultaneously delicate and robust, dark and bright, seems a fitting salute to Merrill's circuitous, half-century musical journey.”
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To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected]
Helen Merrill Tuesday September 27 Sets at 7:30 and 9:30 The Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival Jazz at Lincoln Center, 212-258-9595 Broadway at 60th Street 5th Floor www.jazzatlincolncenter.org/
Featuring Helen Merrill Quartet with Torrie Zito (piano); Ronnie Zito (drums); Steve la Spina (bass).
The vocal style of Helen Merrill has been enchanting listeners ever since she made her exquisite debut album in 1954 with arranger Quincy Jones and trumpeter Clifford Brown’s sextet. Her cool, smoky vocals have always had a lingering warmth. They have strengthened with age, experience and a steadfast sense of what she wants to sing—and with whom she wants to sing it.
Born to Yugoslavian immigrant parents in New York, Merrill was attracted to the jazz scene as a teenager and received encouragement from many players, including Miles Davis, Bud Powell and Charlie Parker whom she had the opportunity to sit in during the hey day of 52nd Street and the Be Bop era.
Her latest recording, Lilac Wine (Sunnyside) is filled with melancholy ballads and heartfelt melodies. Writing recently in JazzTimes Christopher Loudon had this to say about Lilac Wine. “Like just about every album she's delivered throughout the past quarter-century, Lilac Wine reflects the Cool School grad's multinational dexterousness, extending from hypnotic readings of “Something I Dreamed Last Night" and the Johnny Mathis anthem “Wild Is the Wind" to Ivan Lins' “The Island," Elvis' “Love Me Tender," the rare Burton Lane-Alan Jay Lerner treasure “One More Walk Around the Garden" and the jaunty “Pierre" from Merrill's favorite French songwriter, the first-name-only Barbara. She also pairs with her guitarist son Alan for a rather otherworldly spin through “You." Most intriguing, though, is the one track on which Merrill doesn't sing. The instrumental “Portrait of Helen Merrill," written by Marian McPartland, is a multi-shaded homage that, simultaneously delicate and robust, dark and bright, seems a fitting salute to Merrill's circuitous, half-century musical journey.”
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