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Stella Bass: Too Darn Hot
ByClassically trained, Bass's technical chops are evident from the first notes of Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein's "All The Things You Are"; more importantly, her voice possesses soul, swing and pizzazz. Noteworthy too, are the arrangements of pianist Phil Ware, whose deft use of space and dynamics frame Bass's performances beautifully while enabling the excellent supporting cast to shine.
Bass has assembled some of Dublin's finest jazz musicians and they do her proud; guitarist Hugh Buckley impresses at slow tempos---as on the Kern/Hammerstein tuneand equally, when the band is swinging, as on Cole Porter's "Too Darn Hot." Trumpeter Danny Healy uncorks a gem of a solo on Jack Segal/Marvin Fischer's "I Keep Going Back to Joe's," providing sympathetic support to Bass's gently bluesy delivery. On Manning Sherwin/Eric Mascwitz's ballad "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," tenor saxophonist Robert Geraghty and Buckley's understated lyricism underscores Bass's nuanced delivery.
The leader injects a little fun with "Frim Fram Sauce," Redd Evans/Joe Ricardel novelty song popularized by the Nat King Cole Trio. Despite the frivolous lyrics, this old-fashioned swinger has endured, from Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong to Diana Krall half a century later. Ware's arrangement for trumpet, saxophones and Karl Ronan's trombone adds little-big band luster to Joseph 'Kansas Joe' McCoy's blues tune "Why Don't You Do Right?" Bass would probably settle for a fraction of the million copies that Peggy Lee and Benny Goodman's version shifted in 1942.
Bass also convinces on contemporary fare. On Robert Palmer's "Aeroplane" her poignant delivery and Buckley's emotive intervention combine to eclipse the original. Amy Winehouse's perfect retro-pop tune "Back to Black" is slowed down and artfully rearranged for horns; the rhythm section of Ware, bassist Nev Lloyd and drummer Dominic Mullan bring a subtle jazz sensibility to both tracks. Bass provides another highlight with Bruno Martino/Bruno Brighetti's "Estate," typically sung as a bossa nova since Joao Gilberto popularized the song; Bass instead sticksconvincinglyto the original Italian version in a compelling duet with Ware.
Hoagy Carmichael/Ned Washington's 'The Nearness of You," Ramsey McLean/Marc Shaiman's breezy "A Wink and a Smile" and Sonny Burke/Paul Francis Webster's sultry, late-night blues "Black Coffee" round out an enjoyable set. Too Darn Hot just confirms what jazz aficionados in Dublin already knowBass is a class act.
Track Listing
All the Things You Are; I Keep Going Back to Joe’s; Too Darn Hot; Aeroplane; A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square; Back to Black; The Frim Fram Sauce; The Nearness Of You; Why Don’t You Do Right?; Estate; A Wink and a Smile; Black Coffee.
Personnel
Stella Bas
vocalsStella Bass: vocals; Phil Ware: piano, Rhodes piano, arrangements; Hugh Buckley: guitar; Dominic Mullan: drums; Nev Lloyd: double bass; Danny Healy: trumpet, flugelhorn; Michael Buckley: alto saxophone; Robert Geraghty: tenor saxophone; Karl Ronan: trombone.
Album information
Title: Too Darn Hot | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Self Produced
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