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This review from Bruce Crowther (website)
Nancy Kelly
Well, Alright!
(Saying it With Jazz SIWJ 0309)
On the second CD, recorded in towards the end of 2008 at
Bake's Place, an intimate club in Issaquah (in the state of
Washington), Nancy turns her attention to some show and pop
songs from the 1960s and a generous sprinkling of blues.
Among the songs she sings are 'But Not For Me', 'I Love
Being Here With You', 'Let's Fall in Love' and 'Alright,
Okay, You Win'. The result is an electric performance, on
that underlines the praise prompted from me by her first CD.
This time, Nancy has a different backing trio: Randy
Halberstadt on piano, Jeff Johnson on bass and Gary Hobbs on
drums. She is, however, again joined by tenor saxophonist
Houston Person, whose biting take on the blues is a special
joy. Just as joyful is Nancy's singing voice. She has a
similarly biting approach to some of the lyrics, curtailing
some words in the interest of the dynamic swing she imparts.
There are also many occasions throughout this wholly
admirable set when she sets the spine a-tingling in a way
that so few of today's singers can manage. Run, don't walk
for this one.
The best things in life, and jazz,
happen spontaneously. Which brings
us directly to Ms Kelly, who again
has teamed up with tenorist Houston
Person. They collaborated in '06 on
Born to Swing; now their
unique rapport graces a fledgling
label in Bellevue, WA, Saying It
With Jazz. Kelly and Person say it
with eloquence, spread over eleven
live tracks, backed by a highly
responsive rhythm section: pianist
Randy Halberstadt; bassist Jeff
Johnson; and drummer Gary Hobbs.
Kelly gives a master class on every
track, belting "But Not For Me" at
supersonic speed, avoiding words as
if they were road-blocks, but never
losing the jazz pulse. Person quotes
from "Third Man Theme;' Halberstadt
offers his own, from "Surrey With
the Fringe." Kelly comes roaring
back for the out chorus, resorting
to scat for the title. "Who Can I
Turn To" gives Kelly a chance to
channel Carmen McRae; Anita O'Day is
conjured up during "I Only Have
Eyes," containing Kelly's signature
visceral growl. Her range comes in
handy on "Let's Fall in Love:" she
ends on the fifth, then suddenly
swoops an octave higher. The girl's
fearless; does it again at the end
of "Let It Be Me." The title tune
gives Halberstadt his solo
highlight: Brubeck-flavored.
Person's tour de force comes on
"Since I Fell For You." BIllie
Holiday's "Fine & Mellow" evolves
into a shuffle-shout,
call-and-response with Kelly's
adoring audience. That's how it went
all night: the humor of a jazz
conversation with everyone hearing
each other; no need for
arrangements. Person is a sensitive
listener, filling in Kelly's gaps
with intelligent comments. The two
must be joined at the hip -- very
hip
Chris Spector
MIDWEST RECORD
NANCY KELLY/Well Alright: Did some one say we had a problem
with the golden age of broads? I don’t think so. Kelly is
right in the pocket with a return to the last hurrah of the
golden age of broads, the 60s, when supper clubs still
roamed the earth and were populated by swinging kitties that
knew how to take a song and a room on their own terms in
high style. Yeah, kind of like the original Ramsey Lewis
Trio hitting it at the London House with some solid thrush,
that’s what this feels like. Lewis understands white space
and laying out to let her cats swing as well. A dandy
throwback vocal date from a pro that keeps proving her chops
with each new session. Hot stuff.
Review of Nancy's album
as it will apear in the June issue of "Jersey Jazz."
It is, I
believe, safe to categorize NANCY KELLY as a jazz
singer. There is always a lot of debate about that
designation, but there are times when debate is unnecessary,
and it is intuitively obvious to any aware listener a given
individual meets the nebulous parameters that form some kind
of definition of what is a jazz singer. Listen to
Well, Alright (Saying It With Jazz – 309), and I
expect that you will agree with my opinion of Kelly. She
swings, she reconceives melodies, she phrases like an
instrumentalist and, by the way, she is hip. With the
backing of Houston Person on tenor sax, Randy Halberstadt on
piano, Jeff Johnson on bass and Gary Hobbs on drums, Kelly
invests her eleven-song program with plenty of energy, and
respect for her material. There are traces of many jazz
singers who preceded her, most noticeably, Anita O’Day, for
her rhythm, Carmen McRae for her attitude, and several of
the more blues-based singers for her sound. If you decide
to add this terrific CD to your collection, “well, alright,
OK, you win!” (www.sayingitwithjazz.com)
“WELL, ALRIGHT !! LIVE”
NANCY KELLY SAYING IT WITH JAZZ
Dick Bogle
There is a long line of female
singers standing ready to receive the torch carried by
greats of the past like Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, June
Christy, Carmen Mc Rae and Anita O’Day.
When you hear Nancy Kelly do her thing on “Well Alright,”
you will hear one of those rare voices of today, one honed
through practice and listening and becoming a jazz person.There are jazz singers, and there are jazz singers. Some in
that category are as different as night and day. It’s a fair
question to ask. “Where does Nancy Kelly fit in?” She’s more
Anita O’Day than Carmen Mc Rae. Nancy is blessed with an
innate sense of swing, a true rhythm singer.
The warm welcoming room of Bake’s Club in Issaquah,
Washington proved to be the perfect fit for her group of
Seattle pianist Randy Halberstadt, bassist Jeff Johnson,
Portland, Oregon drummer Gary Hobbs and special guest, tenor
saxophone legend Houston Person.
Kelly takes Billie Holiday’s “Fine and Mellow,” updates the
lyric a bit, throws in a growling chorus and even elicits a
call and response with the audience. Person’s tenor is
emphatically eloquent.Other tunes include; “Alright, OK You Win,” “Let It Be Me,”
“For Once in My Life.” “I Wish You Love,” “But Not for Me,”
and “Let’s Fall in Love.”I love her interpretations of so many great songs. She’s
both old school and new. She’s experienced yet her delivery
and ideas are fresh. She has great jazz chops and sings with
a pure honesty.
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
NANCY KELLY: WELL, ALRIGHT! LIVE!
Veteran singer and Rochester native Nancy Kelly is in
fabulous form in this new set, recorded in a Bellevue, Wa.,
nightclub. Saxophonist Houston Person and his band provide
swinging support for this rousing set of standards,
including "Alright, Okay, You Win," "Let's Fall In Love," an
upbeat take on "But Not for Me" and one of my all-time
favorites, "Since I Fell for You," beautifully performed in
bluesy tandem with Person. Beyond her commendable tonal
quality and range, Kelly is a powerfully rhythmic singer,
and plenty soulful. She remains head and shoulders among
many in the crowded field of female jazz vocalists.
Randy Halberstadt
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