Lyn Stanley London With a Twist: Live at Bernie's

Lyn Stanley
London With a Twist: Live at Bernie's
A.T. Music LLC

This is the second of vocalist Lyn Stanley's tributes to the legendary Julie London. It is a follow-up to her wonderful "London Calling - A Toast To Julie London." The present recording was recorded Direct-To-Disc at Bernie Grundman's Mastering Studio in Hollywood, so this was a live-in-studio recording, but not at a club. It was like a high wire act as unlike a standard recording with tape, any 'mistakes' might be preserved or require a whole new recording. Stanley brought to the studio a band of guitarist John Chiodini (who co-produced this with Stanley), pianists Otmaro Ruiz and Mike Lang, bassist Chuck Berghofer, drummer Aaron Serfaty, and percussionist Luis Conte. Except for the pianists, the musicians also played on "London Calling." This band Stanley has named The Jazz Mavericks.

Like the prior CD, there is no attempt by Stanley to mimic Julie London. Instead, there is an attempt to create a similar mood to London's music, although Stanley's vocal technique and style is different from London's. In both cases, one gets an intimate sensuality with Stanley employing a sultry half-spoken soft sung delivery which often is set against sophisticated backing. Berghofer's bass opens "Route 66," a song that London never recorded by was written by her husband, Bobby Troup who played it often with Berghofer. It is followed by a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac." It is one of two contemporary numbers that Stanley attempts to perform in a manner that Julie London might have sung this. Pianist Ruiz and guitarist Chiodini standout on this behind Stanley's deliberate singing. I did find the rendition of Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell" less convincing.

Among other standout performances are an evocative interpretation of "Lover Man," with some deft and thoughtful piano; a beautiful "Blue Moon" with Chiodini's chorded guitar and Berghofer's firm bass line; and a lesser-known blue ballad from the World War II era, "Love Letters." Berghofer and Stanley open "Bye Bye Blackbird" as a duet before the full band provides a fuller setting. Perhaps her most exceptional vocal is a heartfelt "Body and Soul" with some wondrous backing followed by a lively performance of "In the Still of the Night" that closes this recording.

The sound, like Lyn Stanley's prior recordings, marvelously captures every nuance of the vocals and backing. "London With a Twist," might not be almost as satisfying a tribute to Julie London as "London Calling," but has more than enough charms to warrant considerable interest. It is available in a variety of formats.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the September-October 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 386). Here is "Route 66" from this album.