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.

Shirley Horn Live at the Four Queens

Shirley Horn
Live at the Four Queens
Resonance Records

Following up recent recordings by Larry Young, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra and Stan Getz-Joao Gilberto, the non-profit Resonance Records has just issued Shirley Horn "Live at the Four Queens," recorded by KNPR on the night of May 2, 1988 at a lounge in that Las Vegas casino and hotel. She was accompanied that night by her regular trio of bassist Charles Ables and drummer Steve Williams.

Over a decade after she passed away, these recordings are wonderfully restored and capture the elegance and the spirited musicianship of this great lady. There are a couple of terrific instrumentals, Randy Weston's "Hi-Fly," that opens this program, and the Rodgers and Hart classic "Isn't It Romantic," that make it clear that she would have been remembered even if she never sang a note, but when she interprets "You'd Be So Nice To Come To," one feels the magic her singing has that led to such great artists as Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis adoring her.

There are so many treasures including a couple of Jobim penned gems, "Meditation," taken as slow a tempo as possible followed by her playful "The Boy From Ipanema." There is a stunning "Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?). The nuances of her singing might lead to comparisons with Billie Holiday. However she does not imitate Lady Day. Instead, like Holiday,she has a rare ability to move a listener while employing a narrow vocal range.

Along with Ms. Horn's wondrous performances, the CD comes with a 56 page booklet with reminiscences of her along with background on her career and these performances, recollections of Richard Seidel, who produced her for Verve and Steve Williams discussing his time playing with her, vocalist Sheila Jordan's memories about her friend as well as the recollections of Shirley Horn's Washington by her friend and neighbor, Washington DC radio personality Rusty Hassan. This booklet is also available as a pdf file for those purchasing this as a download on iTunes. This booklet is part of the packaging that adds to the many pleasures of Shirley Horn's music on this excellent release.

I purchased this. Here is Shirley Horn performing.