Search - Kitty Margolis :: Straight Up With a Twist

Stunning

Peter Ainsley | London, England | 12/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit it took me a minute to get into this album. At first, I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer variety of the songs, and just that it wasn't quite what I expected from a jazz vocal album. A friend urged me to listen to it again, and now I feel like every time I listen to this CD I get more out of it. It's really an amazing treasure-trove of music, full of incredible singing, and remarkable musical performances. I was expecting Roy Hargrove to be featured on a hard swinger, and instead he plays muted trumpet throughout, subtly and beautifully--The Night has a Thousand Eyes is a perfect example. I was expecting Charles Brown to be featured on a blues, but no! He appears on a rollicking, obviously tongue in cheek party version of In Crowd (!), and a very slow and painfully poignant Wouldn't it be Loverly, which highlights the original and quite deep meaning of the lyrics.All in all, this CD is a stunning surprise. I play it over and over, and can't get enough of it. Kitty Margolis is not just an incredible jazz singer, she's also a remarkable (and undersung) musical innovator. She makes everything seems easy and doesn't hit you over the head with her talent. She scats effortlessly and in a way that shows off her amazing command of the idiom, but never sacrifices musciality to show of her considerable chops. She digs into the blues hard, and sings ballads straight from the heart. Pay close attention, listen repeatedly, and you'll be richly rewarded with hours of pleasurable listening. This is some of the most inspiring music I've heard in many, many years."

It doesn't get any better!

Bill McConnell | New York, NY, USA | 01/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kitty Margolis is just too much fun! From her wild and sexy reggae version of Fever to the incredibly energy she and the band create on My Romance, this album will leave you feeling happy! I love the ballads too, particularly The Night Has a Thousand Eyes, and We Kiss in a Shadow, two little masterpieces...incredible lilting tropical moods. But every track is filled with incredible stuff, and like one of the other reviewers said, it's worth paying really close attention. When I listened to Straight Up on the headphones I found so many more layers of great music to it, lots of delicious little subtleties."

My favorite album

Bill McConnell | 09/13/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After hearing her "Evolution" I expected great things from kitty margolis. "Straight Up" exceed all my expectations! This is the most creative album I have heard in years. If anyone has any doubts about the future of jazz singing, here it is! As the other reviewers have said, the album is a trip through a number of different musical styles, all solidly grounded in jazz. The band is incredible, and Kitty Margolis shines on every tune. There's nobody like her singing today. Some of the songs are small miracles of creativity and musical excellence.Now I can't wait for the next one!"