Wild Is The Wind

DEE ALEXANDER: Wild Is The Wind
Blujazz, 2009

JAZZ VOCALS – Excellent Chicago singer, very much from the Dee Dee Bridgewater sassy/sexy/scatting school, but also showing a strong Nina Simone influence. That combo requires some serious jazz chops – very few people could pull it off – but Alexander sounds perfectly natural and supremely confident. She combines sweetness and grit, soul and fearlessness, and she’s an awesome improviser. You go, girl!

* * * * | Fo’s Picks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10

1. 3:16 – straight-up, bouncy swinger; upbeat lyric & scat break
2. 5:18 – serious/romantic vocal over latin rhythm; nice piano
3. 6:19 – very slow bluesy ballad, vocals are in full command... damn!
4. 6:53 – down to the roots: remarkably elastic vocal, cool spiritual vibe
5. 4:32 – cool strut, a “thank you” to her mentor, AACM sax man Henry Huff
6. 6:32 – Nina Simone territory: bittersweet, unhurried, steadfast, strong
7. 7:09 – lilting/soaring original with an easy reggae beat, neat violin/scat duet
8. 5:32 – gentle affirmation song: lovely sound, positive lyric, floating piano
9. 3:49 – speedy rhythm, soulful vocal, flits and flutters… hot drum solo
10. 8:41 – excellent solo bass intro, then deep soulful vocals… really good!
11. 7:05 – Nina Simone’s empowerment classic, jazzy with deep feeling

[ Fo ] 05/10/09