Gayle Kolb Getting Sentimental

Gayle Kolb
Getting Sentimental
JeruJazz

Once having headlined some of the finest night clubs in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and her hometown of Chicago, Gayle Kolb took break from singing. After being away from singing for some time, she has returned but now as a jazz singer who has this debut album. This was produced by the well regarded Chicago bassist Dennis Carroll who assembled the band of guitarist Bobby Broom, in whose trio Carroll has been a longtime member; Cleveland piano phenom Joey Skoch; ace trombonist Tom Garling of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra and Chicago Yestet; and drummer George Fludas.

One of the surprises of this recording is Garling's trombone. His playing is what one first hears on the opening title track. He plays in a swinging fashion under Kolb's low tones and cool, relaxed delivery  Her enunciation, timing and subtle changes in pitch helps convey a lyric's meaning. She also is a pretty fair scatter as can be heard as she delightfully tradies fours with Bobby Broom on Ray Brown's "Gravy Waltz." Her voice has a slightly parched quality that lends it character as can be heard in her marvelous thoughtful singing on the Mancini-Bricusse ballad, "Two For the Road," with precious solos from Broom and Garling, convincingly expressing the mood.

The wonderful swing of her vocal and the backing brings new life to "Second Time Around," with pianist Skoch shining as much as Broom here. She delivers a marvelous, understated vocal on "Wing," a blues that Carroll wrote that opens as a lament with just piano accompaniment before the rest of the band joins in and it becomes  a medium tempo swinger with exciting interplay between Broom and Garling. There is are the unusual medium tempo arrangement of "If You Went Away," with Skoch's electric piano lending a dreaming quality and a wonderful interpretation of Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman" (a major hit for the late Glen Campbell), a song that benefits from her restraint as well as the sympathetic backing (Skoch's solo is a model of subtlety and inventiveness).

A duet with pianist Skoch, "My Ideal," concludes a delightful debut of Gayle Kolb. Accompanied by a terrific band on a choice selection of songs, Kolb emerges on her debut as a most engaging and vocal storyteller.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is Gayle Kolb with a preview of "Getting Sentimental."