Notes from an American Jazz Swing & Wedding Band
…and the food on the road’s not bad….
From Los Angeles, Carmel, Palm Springs and San Diego to Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale, Dallas and Palm Beach we enjoy entertaining people who appreciate good music.
We’re constantly expanding our horizons …and our song list!
Recent additions include:
Beyond The Blue Horizon
Dancing Queen
Fernando
I Walk The Line
Maybe I’m Amazed
One Fine Day
Only The Lonely
Pretty Woman
Shangri La
Take A Chance On Me
Thank You For The Music
Time In A Bottle
Why Don’t You Do Right
You’re The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
From ABBA to Jim Croce, Carol King, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, The Beatles and….Peggy Lee!
OK, so we’re not exactly normal. But we never promised to be.
The ABBA tunes were suggested by my husband, which is proof that as much as I think I can read minds, I probably can’t.
Esteemed jazz critic Don Heckman had this to say yesterday in The International Review Of Music:
Live: Judy Chamberlain and Bill Cunliffe
January 11, 2009
By Don Heckman
The International Review of Music
Judy Chamberlain is a singer who’s always a pleasure to hear. In part, because her astonishing repertoire makes every performance a fascinating journey through a century of song. But even more so because she brings such care, authenticity and musicality to everything she touches.
Her appearance at Spazio in Sherman Oaks Saturday night was further enhanced by the presence of a sterling back up ensemble - pianist Bill Cunliffe, bassist Tony Dumas and drummer Devin Kelly. Despite the fact that Chamberlain was, as always, utterly spontaneous about her choice of songs, the trio - guided by Cunliffe’s deep understanding of the subtleties of vocal accompaniment - found the right framework for every tune.
Which was a considerable accomplishment, since the program ranged in all directions: classics such as “Summertime,” “Lover” and “September Song” (done with its scene-setting verse); the very different jazz-oriented grooves of “Why Don’t You Do Right?” and “Night in Tunisia”; off-beat items such as Don McLean’s “And I Love You So” and Quincy Jones’ “Who Needs Forever?” Chamberlain’s interpretations combined an empathic respect for lyrics and story telling reminiscent of Mabel Mercer and Peggy Lee with her own conversational approach to phrasing and occasional twists of melodic paraphrase. She also made it clear, from the first number, that the evening’s framework - with Cunliffe present as a guest artist - would be a jazz setting. Solo spots were open for the instrumentalists in virtually every tune……
Sitting through two sets overflowing with irresistible songs…..it’s rooms such as these - with the vital presence of performers such as Chamberlain and Cunliffe - that are the in-the-trenches areas where jazz lives and thrives, even in today’s uncertain economy.
Thank you all, for the ideas and the inspiration.
Thank you for the music.