1. The Glide
2. The Dawntreader
3. Wrong Together
4. When You Smile
5. All Of You
6. Once Upon a Summertime
7. Longing
8. What's Your Story Morning Glory?
9. Pulled Pork
10. Você E Eu
11. You and Me Love
Kris Adams - Vocals
Tim Ray - Piano
Eric Hofbauer - Guitar (tracks 1, 2, 4, 9-11)
Paul Del Nero - Acoustic bass (tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 8)
Fernando Huergo - Electric bass (tracks 1, 4, 9-11)
Mark Walker - Drums (tracks 1-6, 8-11)
Greg Hopkins - Trumpet, flugelhorn (tracks 1-6, 8-10)
Shannon Leclaire - Alto sax, clarinet (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 8-10)
Rick Dimuzio - Tenor sax, clarinet (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 8-10)
Bob Patton - Flute, alto flute (tracks 2, 6, 10)
Ben Whiting - Baritone sax, bass clarinet (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9)
Fernando Brandao - Flute, alto flute (tracks 2, 6, 10, 11)
Bertram Lehmann - Percussion (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 11)
Eugene Friesen - Cello (track 2)
Vocalist Kris Adams, who teaches at Berklee College of Music and is the author of Sing Your Way Through Theory, here demonstrates what she is
about in terms of practice and it makes for very good listening. In fact, even allowing for the strength of the competition among female jazz singers, it
seems remarkable that this appears to be only her third album, given that her previous discs were issued in 1999 and 2002 respectively. Her choice of
material for this CD is impeccable, drawing from a spectrum of genres but with a solid jazz base. Two of the songs were co-written, and Pulled Pork is entirely her own work. As we might expect, she has surrounded herself with a fine group of musicians. Tim Ray, on piano, played on
both her previous albums and trumpeter Greg Hopkins, who also did the bulk of the arrangements here, worked with her on the 2002 disc Weaver of Dreams.
From the off, a Ralph Towner/Norma Winstone composition entitled The Glide, we realise we are listening to someone who delivers lyrics well and
who knows how to use her voice as instrument when she scats. There is some lively piano and nimble, melodic, guitar on this track, too. Very listenable. The Dawntreader is a Joni Mitchell tune where Kris manages to convey something of the spirit of the famous singer/songwriter. There's an
accomplished arrangement plus particularly effective cello. Wrong Together, co-written with Steve Swallow by Adams, is a nostalgic number with
Greg Hopkins on excellent form as is pianist Tim Ray. Kris doesn't hog the song but leaves scope for her musicians. When You Smile has some
exquisite muted trumpet and unforced scat singing. All Of You gives the Cole Porter standard a more upbeat treatment than the earlier tracks have
produced, with a tight ensemble sound and Rick Dimuzio distinctive on tenor. Kris herself sings with abandon, at times in a slightly off-kilter manner
reminiscent of the late June Christy. Once Upon a Summertime, a four-way writing collaboration which included Michel Legrand and Johnny Mercer, is
a familiar piece nicely rendered with appropriate support from the band. Longing, the title track and a Fred Hersch/Norma Winstone ballad, has
poetic lyrics, and Tim Ray, as ever on this disc, accompanies Adams with sensitivity. What's Your Story Morning Glory? is, of course, a quality
song from the jazz canon (the Anita O'Day version takes some beating, as I recall). There is some splendid alto sax to admire and Kris Adams gives it the
full treatment.
Pulled Pork
, an Adams original, is a kind of culinary odyssey, set to a Latin beat. The impressive Greg Hopkins again shines and there is a lively feel to everything
here. Você E Eu is a Brazilian piece, sung with aplomb in Portuguese followed by an English outing for the lyric. There is some sumptuous
and suitably atmospheric flute playing. This one is a treat. You and Me Love, written by Johnny Rotella and Abbey Lincoln, is sung in style by
Kris, the flute to the fore once more. Probably my favourite on the disc.
Kris Adams has a powerful voice, far removed from the whispering style of jazz singing practised by some, and she can really hit a note. I found this album
totally engaging and trust we don't have to wait over ten years for her next!
James Poore
CD Reviews
Jazzbird Records JB 003
