Vol. 1
Heavywood, 2021
9/10
The jazz vocalist Rebecca Kilgore holds an impressive catalog of music that spans 50 recordings, and here she’s in the company of Randy Porter (piano), Tom Wakeling (bass) and, occasionally, her husband, Dick Titterington (cornet), who lend a hand on these diverse and fairly obscure standards.
Kilgore starts the listen with the bare and pretty “Dear Bix”, where elegant keys and expressive singing set the pace for the album, and “Day in- Day Out” follows with playful bass plucking as Kilgore’s frisky pipes guide the charming setting.
In the middle, “Talking To Myself About You” is an emotive, romantic moment of sublime beauty, much like the timeless jazz qualities of “Old Soft Shoe”. “Like The Brightest Star” then recruits Titterington’s cornet as the bass and keys work together with much fluidity.
Deeper still, “The Gentleman Is A Dope” showcases Porter’s strong piano prowess that suits Kilgore’s versatile storytelling, and “There’s A Small Hotel” exits the listen with Kilgore’s glowing pipes alongside firm keys and well timed bass.
Kilgore again proves just why she’s one of the most esteemed jazz vocalists in recent history, and her interpretations of the Great American Songbook are in a league all their own on yet another top notch record from the Portland, Oregon resident.
Travels well with: Anais Reno- Lovesome Thing: Anaïs Reno Sings Ellington & Strayhorn; Lauren White And The Quinn Johnson Trio- Ever Since The World Ended