GREENSBORO – Last Thursday evening the Highland Center for the Arts hosted a show of The Great American Crooners, performed by a group entitled Jazz at Lincoln Center, from New York City.
This world-class band of seven excellent musicians presented tunes from the “American Song Book” popularized by such singers as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Roberta Flack and many others of the decades ranging from the 1940s to ’70s in a high- energy concert of almost two hours.
Sponsored by KCP of Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury, the group was at the end of a ten week tour of the United States and Canada.
Participating in the ensemble were singer Shenel Johns, Benney Benack on trumpet, Michael Stephenson on saxophone, Jocelyn Gould on guitar, Robbie Lee on piano (the last four also on vocals), Felix Moseholm on bass and Gary Kerkezov on drums. Their individual talent was amazing and their coordinated playing was very impressive.
One of the most profound elements of jazz is the way the melody is shared around among all the musicians with the freedom to improvise in an egalitarian atmosphere, which has its roots in African American culture.
The first song on the program was “Jamie Mather,” and featured John’s singing, joined by Benack, Lee, Stephenson and Gould all doing imaginative improvisations on the theme with their respective instruments, accompanied by Moseholm and Kerkezov. Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” was next, of which Frank Sinatra recorded a compelling interpretation, a number with a great melody and engaging lyrics.
Nat King Cole’s original version of the classic song “Route 66” has long been popular, with the amusing line, “You’ll get your kicks on Route 66,” celebrating the old interstate highway between Chicago and Los Angeles. The band’s skillfully integrated playing was evident here, and John’s beautiful voice was highlighted, combining warmth, deep color and expressive phrasing, truly exceptional.
“I Only Have Eyes for You” was one of Ella Fitzgerald’s favorites, to which Johns gave genuine feeling and richness of tone in her rendition. Moseholm got an opportunity to do some improvisations here on his bass, which were much more interesting than most attempts on solo bass to transcend the limited range of the instrument. Etta Jones was another female crooner whose interpretation of “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby” became famous. Stephenson, Gould, and Lee all had fun moving the turn around, each one with their variations, while John’s commanding voice and use of her hands and whole body really enhanced the performance.
“Moon River” was another memorable classic that was a delight to hear as sung by Johns and Gould in a duet, accompanied by Lee on piano with appropriate restraint in a nice slow tempo, coming to a well crafted ending.
“Walkin’ My Baby Back Home” was a piece popularized by Nat King Cole, here given fine scoring through three part harmony by Benack’s, Stephenson’s and Lee’s well-blended voices. “When A Man Loves a Woman” began with Gould on guitar and evolved into solo improvisation by Moseholm on bass Kerkezov on drums, rounding out with Stephenson on saxophone and Benack on trumpet in a vibrant ending. Benack got some amusing interaction with the audience in the song, “Georgia,” repeating the lines of the lyrics, and then doing some seat passages (made up words).
“One For the Road” was given a good arrangement by Stephenson, Benack and Lee, with the trumpet muted in a duet with the piano. “Tea for Two” is a perennial favorite and all the musicians joined in sharing the tune, with Lee getting in some complex and daring permutations.
A piece originally sung by Nancy Wilson, again spotlighted the truly superb voice of Johns, which was continued in her performance of the following selection, “Save Your Love For Me.” Benack and Stephenson then had a dynamic interplay on their trumpet and saxophone, Lee giving some very creative improvisations on the piano and Kerkezov adding a burst of spectacular drumming.
“Where Is the Love?” recorded by Roberta Flack in the 1970s inspired a wonderful duet between Johns and Stephenson, as well as great moments in Lee’s masterful variations. A Tony Bennett song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”, was a love song to that fascinating city, which Lee gave expressive feeling to with his fine resonant voice.
The last number of the evening brought everyone back on stage playing and singing with full force, earning them a standing ovation from the totally appreciative audience. A generous encore was a second Tony Bennett piece, “In Other Words, I Love You”.
We certainly hope that Jazz From Lincoln Center will return to Greensboro in the near future.
David K. Rodgers
David K. Rodgers is a writer, mason and card carrying dilettante, who dabbles and babbles in art. He has lived in East Craftsbury for the past 40 years.
