Reviewed: 2018-03-31
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: The long-running debate over what defines a jazz singer simply dissolves when Betty Carter’s name comes up. She transcended the entire category and took her place in the music pantheon as one of jazz’s most profound and game-changing innovators. In this concert, she performs in a variety of settings: piano trio, big band, & string section
If You Like: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
1/ Mrs. B.C. – (spoken intro). Long pause> drums start> uptempo jam slows into a languid song> orchestra breaks> slow song> fade
*2/ Make It Last – piano starts> slow languid song> slow fade
*3/ 30 Years – piano starts> midtempo song builds in volume & intensity> vocal crescendo & fade into next track
**4/ Why Him?/ Where Or When/ What’s New? – piano starts> slow song> piano solo> slow song builds to midtempo, then slows> slow fade
**5/ Tight!/ Mr. Gentleman - piano starts with heavy notes> uptempo song> sizzling piano solo> uptempo song> uptempo song> crescendo end
*6/ Social Call – big band horns swing out> slow song> band swings> trumpet solo> uptempo song> crescendo end
7/ Moonlight In Vermont – big band starts> slow song> band break> slow song> crescendo end
*8/ The Good Life – piano starts> midtempo song with trio> piano solo> uptempo song> fade
***9/ Bridges – piano starts> uptempo song with trio> piano solo> scat solo> uptempo song & scat> crescendo on vocal end
*10/ If I Should Lose You – piano starts> slow song with piano accompaniment> piano solo> slow song> fade on vocal
11/ Most Gentleman Don’t Like Love – piano starts> Betty addresses the audience> midtempo song> pause Betty addresses the audience> uptempo song> Betty addresses the audience> song> Betty addresses the audience> end
12/ Make Him Believe – strings start> slow song with strings> slow fade
*13/ Frenesi – full big band starts> fast song> scat solo> uptempo big band jam> crescendo & thank yous