Ori Dagan Nathaniel: A Tribute To Nat King Cole

Ori Dagan
Nathaniel: A Tribute To Nat King Cole
ScatCat Records ODCD03

Unlike Gregory Porter's superb recent Nat King Cole tribute album, singer Dagan's homage takes a different tact, In addition to singing songs from Cole's repertoire but also sings 5 original songs inspired by facets of Cole’s life, music and legacy, On this he has assistance from highly esteemed special guests Sheila Jordan, Alex Pangman and Jane Bunnett. Also related to this is his also doing this as a first visual album in the jazz genre: a collection of 12 music videos. Backing Dagan are, Mark Kieswetter - piano, Nathan Hiltz - guitar, and Ross MacIntyre - bass. Mark Kelso is on drums on five songs, Jane Bunnett adds soprano sax to two and flute on one, Magdelys Savigne adds percussion to two and Sheila Jordan and Alex Pangman each add vocals to one song.

Dagan is an interesting vocalist whose performance range from a straight reading of the lyrics to  horn-like scatting flights. The band swings nicely behind him as on the opening "Linette," with Hiltz's guitar sparkling in backing. It is followed by the brisk, "Sting of the Cactus," with more strong guitar (both lead and Freddie Greene like chording) and piano. There is a Latin tinge (with effective use of stop-time breaks) given to one of the songs Cole helped make a standard, "Nature Boy," That has more excellent piano and guitar.

Other delights include a duet with Sheila Jordan on "Straighten Up and Fly Right," where they trade fours scatting; the ballad "Pretend," a charming vocal duet with Alex Pangman, and Dagan's lively original "Keep Simple," with James Bunnett on soprano sax. On this, Dagan scatting and trading fours with Kieswetter, and Hiltz. Kelso taking a short drum solo on this as well. Jane Bunnett adds flute to "El Bodeguero," one of the jaunty Cuban songs Cole recorded.  This tribute closes with the quick tempoed "Unforgettable," that opens with just MacIntyre's bass accompaniment before Hiltz and then Kieswetter join in.

Ori Dagan's vocals, and the excellent small group backing, provide much to entertain listeners on this very enjoyable tribute.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review was originally in the March-April Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 377) but I have made some stylistic changes for clarity. Here is his video for "Sting of the Cactus."

Peter Campbell Loving You: Celebrating Shirley Horn

Peter Campbell
Loving You: Celebrating Shirley Horn
Peter Campbell Music

Canadian-American vocalist first came under the spell of Shirley Horn when, as an undergraduate at McGill University he heard her "Here's To Life" album. It was her ability to "express so much with such seeming economy." He was mesmerized by her in performance and cites in the liner notes hallmarks of her performances: "impeccable taste in material; absolute dedication to lyric interpretation; and her distinctive approach at tempo - often at a glacial pace." Campbell views Horn as less a traditional jazz singer with her vocals in service of the lyric and melody. Such a central aspect of her singing was quoting Thomas Cunniffe was "her unique way of making every word count." He considers Horn the greatest ballad singer of her generation and "Loving You" is a tribute to her accompanied by his pianist (and arranger) Mark Kiesetter; guitarist Reg Schwager; bassist Ross Macintyre and trumpeter Kevin Turcotte.

Campbell's vocals sound rooted in the cabaret with a quivering vibrato and his deliberate phrasing (his extension of words over several beats) that provide emphasis to the lyrics. While the backing is evocative, no players is as striking as Horn herself was as a pianist. Still, there are many charms to the performances in addition to Campbell's heartfelt singing, there is trumpeter Turcotte's haunting trumpet on "Wild Is The Wind," or "Forget Me," or guitarist Schwager's fleet bluesy playing on "Sharing the Night with the Blues."  "There's No You," has a crisp, economical solo from Kiesetter. The title track is a marvelous duet by Campbell and his pianist and musical director.

Most of the tracks are taken at a glacial tempo that Campbell finds so appealing in Horn's music. The sameness in tempo over the course of most of the songs make this recording some might sample several tracks at a time as opposed to listening straight throiugh. The slightly brisker pace as on "Sharing the Night with the Blues," or "The Great City," provides a change of pace in this context. It is so telling of Shirley Horn's impact years after she passed that she inspired Campbell and this engaging, heartfelt tribute.

I received a download of this for review from a publicist. Here is Peter Campbell in performance.