BONNIE J  JENSEN

RISE

Metropolitan Groove Merchants

Bonnie J Jensen has a warm tone.  When she sings these lyrics, I believe her.  Ms. Jensen is a storyteller who has chosen a repertoire full of tales to tell. She begins with the popular “People Make the World go Round” tune. Many jazz artists have transformed this R&B/Pop song into a piece of jazz beauty and Jensen accomplishes the same.

Australian vocalist, Bonnie J Jensen, offers a fresh take on some wonderful old songs on this, her fifth album.  I was impressed when she jumped with both feet into a powerhouse swing arrangement of “The Great City,” one of my favorite tunes and not often heard. Ray Cassar is dynamic during his trumpet solo.

Jenson offers a dozen well sung and beautifully arranged songs that we know and love, including gems like Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island” singing the lyrics of Mark Murphy.  She puts a new face on the Michael Franks tune “Jive,” and does an exciting job of interpreting Chick Corea & Joaquin Rodrigo’s popular and challenging “Spain” composition. Graham Jesse’s flute compliments both this arrangement and Jensen’s vocal delivery. He tastily fills the empty spaces with imaginative, improvised flute melodies.

I believe that any serious jazz singer has to be able to sing the ‘blues.’  Bonnie shows up! She competently sings the root of jazz on a tune called “Hughes’ Blues” and she closes her album, on “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight.”  Both tunes are genuinely blues-based, and guitarist Geoff Hughes puts the “B” in Blues, with his soulful guitar solo.

This is an album that was a pleasure to listen to, with great musicianship, wonderful arrangements, and a vocalist who can swing, tell stories and sing the blues.  To top off all that talent, she sings one song in French. On  “La Belle Dame Sans Regrets,” she also scats along with the band.  Bonnie J. Jensen is a well-rounded entertainer and vocalist.

BONNIE J JENSEN BAND: Bonnie J Jensen, vocals; Matt McMahon, piano/Fender Rhodes & Nord; Nicholas McBride, drums/percussion; Brett Hirst, double bass; Geoff Hughes, guitar; Graham Jesse, flute/alto flute/soprano, tenor & alto saxophones; Andrew Robertson, tenor saxophone; Nick Bowd, baritone saxophone; Ray Cassar, trumpet/flugelhorn; Simon Ferenci, trumpet.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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