Jazz Articles

Jacqui Naylor: You Don't Know Jacq

by Guy Zinger
December 2, 2009

You Don't Know Jacq is all about Jacqui Naylor, exemplifying her vocal range, warm voice, interpretive qualities and style--"Acoustic Smashing," which, in essence, means jazz standards done along rock/pop rhythm lines, or vice versa. The disc features new arrangements of the most requested songs from her previous six albums, as well as new material including the first single, “Celebrate Early and Often," now being used for many a wedding across the United States. You Don't Know Jacq is ...

Jacqui Naylor: Live East-West: Birdland/Yoshi's

by Mark Sabbatini
May 5, 2005

In the spirit of man bites dog, this is an album whose parts are greater than its sum.

Jackie Naylor has a strong voice, good supporting players, a catchy “acoustic smashing" concept of singing the lyrics of one song to the tune of a second, and the freedom of stretching out in a double-disc live setting. But ultimately there's an uneven quality to 2005's Live East-West: Birdland/Yoshi's, with the fiery highlights diluted by too many lackluster and awkward ...

Jacqui Naylor: Shelter

by Javier AQ Ortiz
October 9, 2003

Jazzy, folkish, bluesy, hipster and thoroughly contemporary vocalizations characterize Jacqui Naylor’s Shelter. Her latest is string-heavy, featuring plenty of organic licks from guitars, acoustic bass and cellos. Rhythmic quirks, as on the earthy sexiness of “Miss You,” recommend a melodious recording that doesn’t end up being merely balladesque with pushy jazz insinuations. This project has an aural personality of its own, blending beauty, serenity, and low-sizzled potency. Furthermore, the percussive undercurrents from the drummers, the bassist and the pianist bring ...