JANIS SIEGEL

THE ART OF VOCALESE

Origin Records

Janis Siegel, vocals; John Di Martino, piano/keyboards; Lonnie Plaxico, basses; Frank Vignola & Ed Cherry, guitars; Vince Cherico, drums/guagua; Wayne Escoffery, tenor saxophone; Bobby Sanabria, percussion. SPECIAL GUESTS: Raul Midon, Lea Delaria vocals; Jalala: Janie Siegel, Laurel Massé, & Lauren Kinhan.

The unique voice and style of Janis Siegel is relevant to the jazz scene. With her roots planted deeply in the historic landmark vocalese of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, she was part of the iconic Manhattan Transfer group that came later and modernized that style. In fact, one of her mentors was the late, unforgettable Jon Hendricks. On this recording, she shares some previously unrecorded Hendricks lyrics.

On the opening tune “Barbados (Back to Barbados)” Siegel sets the bar high.  Her perfect tones on this solo vocalese support her album title, “The Art of Vocalese.”  This is a Charlie Parker composition with lyrics by Jon Hendricks.

Siegel has spent five decades in the music business, celebrating the vocalese style and devoted to storytelling, vocal harmonies, but also inclusive of creating her own solo career. Joined by pianist and arranger, John Di Martino, this supportive and exceptional band invites a host of special guests who lift the production higher including Raul Midon. He appears as a guest vocalist on “Bye Bye Blackbird.” In the style of Eddie Jefferson, Midon uses lyrics to sing a solo vocal that replicates what a horn would do. Janis Siegel’s vocal sounds exactly like a trumpet. Impressive!

A tune from Claus Ogerman, from the Ogerman and Michael Brecker’s album “Cityscape,” is another gem. Siegel sings lyrics to three choruses of Michael Brecker’s solo. The tune is titled, “In the Presence and Absence of Each Other.”

Handclaps and a bass line open “Unsquare Dance” with energy and challenging timing. Siegel handles these multi-meter beats with grace and perfection singing “1-4-7-1” to try and teach us how to count this happy tune, with the handclaps slapped like a descant behind the rhythmic lyrics. Siegel makes music amazing and fun!

“It’s Sand Man” is another swinging tune that brings back memories of the Jitter Bug dance and is a great tune for swing dancers everywhere to tear up the dance floor!

On the song, “Down for Double” Siegel features one of the members of a group they call Jalala. One member is Lea DeLaria, who sounds very much like a contemporary Ella Fitzgerald. This tune is from the Basie songbook.

Janis Siegel has chosen nine compositions to celebrate with her gift of vocalese. This artform is extremely challenging and difficult, demanding excellence of timing and pitch, matched with the ability to swing.  Like Annie Ross, Siegel continues to carry the torch for “The Art of Vocalese” on this album and forward.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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