Carolyn Lee Jones Close Your Eyes

Carolyn Lee Jones
Close Your Eyes
Catn'round Sound

"Close Your Eyes" is the fourth album by the Dallas based chanteuse, Carolyn Lee Jones. She is backed by a variety of musicians, notably three associates who also contributed the arrangements here: Brad Williams on a variety of keyboards; Sergio Pamies on piano; and Dave Pierce on trombone. The program of what Ms. Jones describes as "songs … about the many faces of love."

 "Close Your Eyes," backed by the bubbly piano trio of Williams on piano, Jonathan Fisher on the upright bass and Andrew Griffith on drums, Jones enchants us with her honey-toned, sultry voice, her immaculate intonation and her swinging, delivery of the lyrics. This enchantment continues through the varied program with the soft, feathery opening on "No Moon At Night" with Fisher's steady bass, Griffith's graceful use of brushes and Williams deft, understated accompaniment and solo. Then there is a lovely rendition of Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You," where pianist Pamies leads a group that includes the flute of Daniel Pardo and guitar of Pepe Valdez to frame her enticing vocal. Pierce provided an original big, little band, arrangement of "That Old Black Magic," with a light funky groove as well as take a slightly rowdy trombone solo along with her wonderfully sung vocal.

Jones delivers a captivating rendition of the Frankie Valli hit, "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You," with a bossa nova flavored backing, Pardo's lovely flute and a nifty solo from Pamies. It is followed by the swinging "When I Found You." Initially recorded by Peggy Lee, Jones makes this joyous celebration of love her own. Among the other outstanding performances is the hauntingly beautiful performance of "I Only Have Eyes For You," backed just by Williams on piano and synthesizer and Jeff Plant on electric bass. It is an exquisite closing track of an outstanding album by a superb jazz vocalist.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the November-December Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 387). Here is a video of Carolyn Lee Jones performing.

Rosana Eckert Sailing Home

Rosana Eckert
Sailing Home
OA2 Records

Texas-based vocalist and songwriter Rosana Eckert collaborated with her renowned New York composer/singer friend Peter Eldridge to produce "Sailing Home." Eckert is joined by a simpatico band including Corey Christiansen on guitar, bassist Young Heo, and drummer Steve Barnes, plus special guests. Rosana Eckert grew up in the Bordertown of El Paso, Texas and later attended North Texas State University on a scholarship based on her French Horn playing. On a lark, she auditioned to the University of North Texas Jazz Singers, the school's premier jazz vocal ensemble. She eventually became section leader, lead soprano, featured soloist, and arranger, later singing with the school’s One O’Clock Lab Band and various other ensembles. She earned a Masters in Jazz Studies and was hired as the school's first private jazz voice teacher. At the same time, she had a parallel career as a working musician in nearby Dallas, performing with her own jazz band and doing commercial singing and voiceover work. She also began writing her own songs and recorded three albums.

"Sailing Home", her fourth album is her first in nine-year and is hard to pigeon-hole as a jazz vocal recording. It has a definite pop flavor infused with her honey-toned jazz leanings. The is a bright and perky spirit to the opening "Sailing Home" with its bubbly rhythm. Dedicated to her husband Gary, "Garby the Great" is a charming song of her love for him with some delightful scatting. Set to a reggae groove "Waiting" is a homage to pregnant women in waiting rooms waiting for their doctors. Ginny Mac provides the attractive accordion that engages in a call and response with Eckert's "la la la" scatting on this lighthearted performance that illustrates her beautiful, melodic voice along with clean diction and relaxed delivery of lyrics.

Other notable performances include "Coriander Stomp" has a roots-rock tone with a hint of New Orleans in the groove and is a showcase for guitarist Christiansen who has a tinge of twang with his jazzy single note runs. "Empty Room" has a heartbreaking lyric conveyed by her moving wistful performance. Set against a bossa nova groove, "Lovely Ever After," is a song dedicated to her daughter who was four when Eckert wrote it. It is an endearing and spirited performance with a wonderful vocal along with Daniel Pardo's winsome alto flute. "For Good" was inspired by a character on the TV show "Mad Men" who committed endless infidelity. It opens as a duet with bassist Heo with the other players eventually filling out the understated accompaniment.

Rosana Eckert sings of love, friendships and hopes on an exquisite recording that enchants listeners with Rosana Eckert's lovely, nuanced vocals and the apt and supportive accompaniment. "Sailing Home" is a jazz-pop gem.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the November-December 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 367). Here is Rosana performing "For Good" as part of a NPR Tiny Desk Concert.