Search - Rebecca Kilgore :: I Saw Stars

Now, This is Jazz!!

Rick Cornell | Reno, Nv USA | 08/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the September, 2005 issue of "Jazz Times", its writers and contributors picked their top 50 jazz albums of the past 35 years. Of the 50, only 3 were vocal jazz albums. The first was "Tony Bennett and Bill Evans." No argument there. The second was Mark Murphy's "Bop for Kerouac." Again, truly no argument, and what a shame that it's out of print at this time.



The third was this one. Not Cassandra Wilson's "Blue Light 'Til Dawn"; not Andy Bey's "American Song"; not Kurt Elling's "The Messenger"; not Tierney Sutton's "Something Cool". This one.



And I was intrigued. To be frank, I was totally unfamiliar with Rebecca Kilgore. No surprise, considering she hails from Portland, Ore. and rarely ventures outside the Pacific Northwest. Granted, "Jazz Times'" list is a personal list; but is this album worthy of such accolades?



In a word, hellyes.



This is an album of Ms. Kilgore, two well known jazz musicians (Dave Frishberg (p.) and Bucky Pizzarelli (g.)), and four relatively unknown musicians. This is not some producer's idea of a jazz album that will sell to the masses. Rather, this is an album that has the feel of 7 musicians getting together after hours and deciding to do an album of old chestnuts where they do one and only one thing: play their butts off.



And that's exactly what they do. From the first bar of "Happy As the Day As Long" to the last bar of the last song, this is an album that grabbed my attention and had me tapping my toes, humming along, and marvelling at each musician's intuition on every cut at every listen.



Ms. Kilgore has the perfect voice for jazz singing. She has the purity of a Tierney Sutton or a Laurie Wheeler, and intonation-wise, is dead on. With these arrangements, she sounds like Anita O'Day or June Christy with a select combo from a big band such as Stan Kenton or Woody Herman.



And Frishberg is the perfect foil for Ms. Kilgore. He throws in quotes from everything from "I Pagliacci" to "Old Black Joe" throughout.



Basically, what you have is 7 musicians having a whale of a time, performing at the top of their individual and collective games. If you like jazz at all, you gotta get this one. Very, very highly recommended. RC"

You'll Hear A Star

Jim Andrews | Chicago, Illinois USA | 04/29/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Becky Kilgore is about as unknown as they come except for her local, loyal following. But, surprise, surprise, she turns out to be one of the freshest, most able, appealing vocalists around. With the greatest taste in songs, apparently limitless knowledge of obscure tunes past and present, and terrific help from the musicians. Her albums are like a cooling lemonade on a hot summer day, welcome and refreshing."

I'VE DISCOVERED REBECCA KILGORE

DAVE.ZL1BNY@XTRA.CO.NZ | New Zealand | 09/06/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD "I saw stars" is a mixture of well known standards and some not so well known by a singer who is new to me, Rebecca Kilgore, who swings and the style is pre be-bop which suits me fine, ie the music is froom the days when you could remember a tune! The backing is headed by Dave Frishberg pianist and a small group of tenor, trumpet, guitar, bass and drums with the odd chorus thrown in for good measure. A lovely smooth mainstream jazz album. I'll follow up Rebecca some more!"