Amber Weekes The Gathering

Amber Weekes
The Gathering
Amber Inn Productions

I was captivated by Amber Weekes' wonderful album, "Pure Imagination" from earlier in 2020. This latest release is a wonderful Holiday album backed by an all-star group of musicians, including strings and horns. She utilizes Mark Cargill's arrangements along with a cast of top Los Angeles-based musicians. These include pianists Josh Nelson, Tony Campodonico, and Eddy Olivieri; bassists John B. Williams, Adam Cohen, and Kevin Brandon; drummers Fritz Wise, Sinclair Lott, and Nathaniel Scott; guitarists Paul Jackson, Jr., Doug MacDonald, and Jacques Lesure; tenor-saxophonist Rickey Woodard; trumpeter Andrew Carney; and a string section.

Weekes enchants with her honey-voice, the clarity of her diction, her phrasing, and her vocal dynamics. With Josh Nelson's elegant piano, Carney's muted trumpet, and Cargill's lush string arrangement, she immediately connects to the listener with "The Christmas Waltz." Then she embraces "I'll Be Home For Christmas" with an understated, whispered vocal set against a light accompaniment. There is superb acoustic guitar from Paul Jackson, Jr. Cargill provides a hard-swinging arrangement for Weekes' flirty vocal for "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," with Rocky Woodward's sterling tenor sax in the spotlight as well. Jacques Lesure's bluesy guitar adds to the atmosphere of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve."

Saxophonist Woodward adds his robust playing to the playful swing of "Winter Wonderland," which is followed by a soft, sweet rendition of "Silent Night." Weekes contributed the lyrics to the joyous title track Cargill, and guitarist Gregory Cook wrote the music for. With backing vocals and Mark Cargill adding a violin solo, this track celebrates families gathering for the holiday season. It is an exuberant end to this delightful, exquisite holiday jazz vocal recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist.

Amber Weekes Pure Imagination

Amber Weekes
Pure Imagination
Amber Inn Productions

A fixture on the Los Angeles jazz scene, and mentored by (among others) Sue Raney, Amber Weekes showcases her distinctive musical personality on a collection of American songbook classics and some more recent musical delicacies. Among those heard backing her are guitarists Mitchell Long and Ramon Stagnaro, flutist Justo Almario, altoist Keith Fiddmont, baritone saxophonist, Dale Fielder, violinist-arranger Mark Cargill, vibraphonist Nick Mancini, and bassist Trevor Ware. Cargill, who also conducted the string section, and bassist Trevor Ware are co-producers of this album.

The album opens with 'Pure Imagination" from "Willa Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," a delightful duet with Sue Raney with some amusing banter at its end. Weekes has an engaging, intimate, and flirty vocal approach. She swings vigorously despite an understated, almost whispering, vocal style with the swinging orchestral backing for "It's All Right With Me." Then there is her charming singing on "When He Makes Music" with Cargill's insistent violin solo.

Weekes is a great fan of Oscar Brown's songs. Brown's songs heard here includes a seductively sung, almost whispered, rendition of "The Snake." This track is built around Trevor Ware's bass backing. Peter Smith adds piano and Scotty Barnhart moaning trumpet obligatos and muted trumpet solo. It is followed by the sparkling, swinging "Gotta Be This or That," with some terrific saxophone from Fiddmont. Trevor Ware's bowed bass provides the sole backing for the hauntingly beautiful interpretation of Oscar Brown's "Brown Baby."

There is some splendid, uncredited guitar on the twenties' jazz classic "After Your Gone," and superb New Orleans brass band backing on Paul Simon's "Gone At Last," set to the music of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." Then there is her charming bossa performance of the Barry Manilow & Johnny mercer penned "When October Goes" with lovely flute from Danilo Lorenzo." Another Oscar Brown song, "Mr. Kicks," is given an exuberant treatment with more exceptional saxophone from Fiddmont.

Weekes provides an introspective ballad rendition of "When October Goes," which is a bonus track. This interpretation closes this captivating set of distinctive jazz vocals.

I received my review copy from a publicist. here is a video of her performing "The Snake."