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JOHN STEIN / RON GILL Turn Up the Quiet Whaling City Sounds WCS 051

1. A Weaver of Dreams
2. Be My All
3. Detour Ahead
4. My Flaming Heart
5. Love Dance
6. Our Love Will See Us Through
7. If It's Magic / Too Shy to Say
8. Something in Your Smile / I'll Be Easy to Find
9. So This is Love
10. In a Sentimental Mood
11. Gentle Rain
12. My Foolish Heart
13. When I Fall in Love
14. Wonder Why

Ron Gill - Vocals
John Stein - Guitar, acoustic bass
Gilad Barkan - Piano

 

A few months ago I had the pleasure of hearing a previous album called Raising the Roof which featured jazz guitarist John Stein and his Quartet, which was released on the same label. I was greatly impressed: here is a musician of great ability and taste, with a real jazz feel about everything that he plays. This time he is paired with Ron Gill, again someone I was not aware of, but who is a master of the art of the jazz vocal. He is in the same league as the very best of the great interpreters of song. He makes each tune his own, but without altering it to such an extent that you can't recognise it. This is quality vocalising.

The empathy between the two artists shines through very clearly. John proves to be a very able accompanist, whether on guitar or playing bass with the piano of Gilad Barkan, who is also outstanding in the backing role.

The choice of tunes is eclectic; they are drawn from many sources and include an original from Stein, with words by Gill called Our Love Will See Us Through. It is extremely well crafted in both departments. The tunes vary from the very well-known to the obscure, from Ellington to Victor Young. All tempos and styles are included and it is difficult to say that one track is better than another; I liked them all. Perhaps Ellington's Sentimental Mood grabbed me most on this hearing, but it was When I Fall in Love the previous time, and I feel sure that next time it will be something else!

The planning, research and rehearsal that went into a session like this is what makes for such an interesting programme and everyone should be congratulated, including the label for producing such an interesting release.

This is one of the most pleasant vocal albums I have had for review in a long time. All I can say is "Turn Up", "Turn Up the Quiet" please! It's my sort of music!

Don Mather

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