SAMM & Jamie Ousley: The Unorthodox Duo

Creating an unconventional musical project was a purposeful design by jazz vocalist SAMM and renowned Miami-based bassist and educator Dr. Jamie Ousley, combining forces on The Unorthodox Duo to interpret a repertoire of standards and popular songs in a setting of light vocal jazz accompanied only, by the sounds of a delicate and creative bass. Born in Trinidad and growing up in Queens, New York, SAMM, a chef and photographer, became a jewelry and clothing designer creating many beautiful things among them, music. A bassist of note and Assistant Professor of Jazz Bass at Florida International University, Dr. Jamie Ousley and SAMM have been performing together for over ten years across the south Florida area and seemed only natural that these two talented musical partners finally document their experience.

Armed with a deep-toned powerful contralto vocals, SAMM has no problem taking a lead role and delivering a strong performance as she does right from the outset on Gordon Jenkins' "This Is All I Ask," of course, with the more than able support, of firm and measured bass lines from Ousley. Though essentially a vocal project, the bassist by no means stays in the background after all, the bass is the sole instrumental voice heard and as such, Ousley provides countless solo moments throughout the album.

One of the more unusual songs not normally found on a typical jazz album, is the popular Richard Adler/Jerry Ross classic "Whatever Lola Wants," where SAMM is exceptional reaching and conveying the message of the piece quite well. Ousley who performs primarily on the upright bass, on this tune only, takes this opportunity to use the bass bow giving the song a different texture. Music from the great Cole Porter is beautifully re-imagined here in the popular "My Heart Belongs to Daddy," and the immortal "In the Still of the Night."

The 1967 pop tune "To Sir With Love," made so popular by Scottish-born singer Lulu, is transformed into perhaps, a more humbling rendition with SAMM's pronounced vocals and the bassist's sharp lines defining the piece a bit differently. The singer and bassist pay tribute to the late great bassist Charlie Haden by including two of his compositions with "First Song," and "La Passionaria" from Haden's famous Ballad of the Fallen (ECM, 1982). The lyrics on this version "A Flower in the Spring," were penned by the vocalist and is prominently displayed as part of the art work on the CD.

There are many moments of musical pleasure on this intimate musical statement as The Unorthodox Duo serves up a dish of warm soft jazz vocals by a chef and a teacher who reveal quite nicely, the depth of their individual musical talents. Together, their chemistry and cohesiveness as a musical team are less defined as unorthodox and can best be described as a unique "dynamic duo."