But Beautiful
Jazz
| Jul 2013
Reviews
Fo
Reviewed 2013-07-14
Reviewed 2013-07-14
MARY STALLINGS: But Beautiful
HighNote, 2013
JAZZ VOCALS – Another gorgeous example of straightforward jazz mastery by San Francisco native Mary Stallings. Once again she pairs with pianist Eric Reed, a perfect partner who this time brings a band of young musicians (all under 25 years old). Stallings is wonderful: her voice has a smoothly-phrased earthiness wrapped in a sophisticated delivery, making these old, familiar tunes sound very much her own.
All tracks very fine. Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9
1. 4:40 – warm, relaxed swing: piano dances around vocals with lively surprise
2. 4:30 – interesting ballad version of this one; duet with piano
3. 3:38 – a less-familiar tune, touches of Billie Holiday with saloon piano
4. 5:46 – slow and romantic: vocal draws you in, piano/sax add rich colors
5. 5:32 – tender ballad with trio: dragged vocal line, elegantly restrained piano
6. 2:58 – jaunty trio stroll, classic feel: vocal comes in halfway thru, light scat
7. 5:50 – nostalgic ballad: sax casts a light, breezy feel against slow vocal
8. 5:08 – unusual arrangement gives standard a tricky, unstable grounding
9. 5:40 – ooooh… soulful, bluesy ballad: vocal works it over a soft trio
10. 3:14 – upbeat swinging tempo makes vocal feel a bit compressed
[ Fo ] - 14 July 2013
HighNote, 2013
JAZZ VOCALS – Another gorgeous example of straightforward jazz mastery by San Francisco native Mary Stallings. Once again she pairs with pianist Eric Reed, a perfect partner who this time brings a band of young musicians (all under 25 years old). Stallings is wonderful: her voice has a smoothly-phrased earthiness wrapped in a sophisticated delivery, making these old, familiar tunes sound very much her own.
All tracks very fine. Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9
1. 4:40 – warm, relaxed swing: piano dances around vocals with lively surprise
2. 4:30 – interesting ballad version of this one; duet with piano
3. 3:38 – a less-familiar tune, touches of Billie Holiday with saloon piano
4. 5:46 – slow and romantic: vocal draws you in, piano/sax add rich colors
5. 5:32 – tender ballad with trio: dragged vocal line, elegantly restrained piano
6. 2:58 – jaunty trio stroll, classic feel: vocal comes in halfway thru, light scat
7. 5:50 – nostalgic ballad: sax casts a light, breezy feel against slow vocal
8. 5:08 – unusual arrangement gives standard a tricky, unstable grounding
9. 5:40 – ooooh… soulful, bluesy ballad: vocal works it over a soft trio
10. 3:14 – upbeat swinging tempo makes vocal feel a bit compressed
[ Fo ] - 14 July 2013
Recent airplay
Autumn In New York
Traditions (rebroadcast from October 11, 2019) — Jun 11, 2021
Autumn In New York
Traditions — Oct 11, 2019
Time On My Hands
No Cover, No Minimum — Sep 13, 2013
You Don't Know What Love Is
Rebop — Sep 12, 2013
Time On My Hands
Rebop — Sep 05, 2013
Dedicated To You
Rebop — Aug 22, 2013
Charting
2013-07-14 — 2013-09-15
Jazz
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Sep 15 | 2 |
| Sep 8 | 1 |
| Aug 25 | 1 |
| Aug 18 | 3 |
| Aug 11 | 1 |
| Aug 4 | 3 |
| Jul 28 | 1 |
| Jul 21 | 1 |
Track listing
| 1. | Dedicated To You | ||
| 2. | Just A Gigolo | ||
| 3. | Some Other Spring | ||
| 4. | But Beautiful | ||
| 5. | The Lamp Is Low | ||
| 6. | Time On My Hands | ||
| 7. | Autumn In New York | ||
| 8. | I Didn't Know What Time It Was | ||
| 9. | You Don't Know What Love Is | ||
| 10. | I Thought About You |