(Band: John Hicks & Lee Musiker, piano; Rufus Reid, bass; Leroy Williams, drums; Roni Ben-Hur, guitar; Chris Byars, Dan Greenblatt, John Mosca & Richard Vitale, horns; Steve Kroon, percussion)
A surfeit of discs featuring female jazz vocalists have been crossing my desk lately. Quite honestly, most don’t make the cut, but this one definitely does. In her thankyous in the note booklet Amy thanks “for their kind words” Dave Brubeck, Annie Ross, and Mark Murphy. Well, if that isn’t enough glowing recommendation right there, just have a listen to Amy’s take on the first track of the CD: There’s a Boat That’s Leavin’ Soon. First, that’s far from the Porgy and Bess hit tune that you would expect to hear, and second, she gives it an original and affecting interpretation that is quite unexpected.
This is a powerful voice exhibiting great musicianship, good pitch, swing, and a way with the lyrics that is most eloquent. London is not trying to sound like a sexy little girl; her voice is smoky and rich, and frequently becomes an instrument in the ensemble. She even penned her own lyrics to two Elmo Hope songs which are heard on the album. In scaled-down gigs Amy accompanies herself at the piano very respectably, but for this CD two great pianists participated. This was the last studio session for the late John Hicks. The terrific arrangements support Amy’s vocals beautifully, especially with the aid of the horn section on some of the tracks.
Amy spent three years in the cast of the Broadway show City of Angels, and now teaches in the jazz program at the New School University, as well as composing and arranging. She is married to guitarist Roni Ben-Hur and they have two children. This is a vocal album to treasure.
– John Henry
