JOHN STEIN

AMONG FRIENDS

Tiger Turn/JS Jazz

John Stein, guitar; Fay Whittaker, vocals; Chris White, cello.

It was 1997, just a few years after the versatile guitarist, John Stein, launched his recording career. That day, he invited a couple of friends over to his house.  One was jazz singer (Fay Whittaker) and the other was a cello player, Chris White.  Stein had borrowed a DAT recorder and suggested that they record a couple of standards as a trio, just for the fun of it.  Twenty-eight years later, Stein has decided to release this historic, impromptu session as his twentieth album.  The title of this album captures the trio’s camaraderie. It’s called, “Among Friends.”

All three of these musicians are prominent players in the Northeast of the USA.  While living in Vermont, John Stein first met Chris, a classically trained cellist with a deep love for improvised music.  Like John, Chris White became very interested in jazz. You will enjoy listening to these two friends merging their talents. They offer wonderful duets, where White provides both a bass part and creatively excels, offering his own string melodies. Chris blends perfectly with Stein’s guitar. Like Stein, the cellist enjoyed accompanying singers.  John has worked with a number of female vocalists during his career, but especially back in Boston at a popular café.  His favorite singer was the warm, husky vocal style of Fay Whittaker.

Fay’s mother was a professional singer.  The young Whittaker found her own voice and began a career in jazz singing during the late 1980s. She quickly established a reputation as a proficient jazz vocalist and stylist.  She adds her voice on several songs.

They open with the swinging little standard, “I Thought About You.”  The minimalist recording allows the listener to enjoy Stein’s amazing talents on the guitar and Whittaker’s rich, soulful voice. She reminds me a little bit of Sarah Vaughan.  Chris White provides a walking bass line on the cello.  It’s just a lovely trio sound, uncluttered and musically solid. When White takes his solo on the cello, it lifts the arrangement in a beautiful way.

They follow this familiar standard with another recognizable jazz song, “It Might as Well Be Spring.” This time, Whittaker and Stein perform as a comfortable duo. Stein provides a rhythmic guitar that holds the tempo in perfect time, and he shines during his guitar solo.

Next comes “Prelude to a Kiss” with Chris White opening the tune with a lovely cello introduction.  Whittaker’s warm alto voice caresses each melodic note. Fay also sings her rendition of the R&B hit record, “Since I Fell for You,” displaying the bluesy part of her voice.

John Stein throws in some of his original tunes for good measure.  One is titled, “Sarlat,” a minor key composition that is performed as a duet with cello.  He also composed “Our Love Will See Us Through” a ballad, that has lyrics written by another vocalist, Ron Gill.  Fay Whittaker performs this song with tenderness and believability.  His final contribution is titled “Switch-A-Roo.”  It’s a funky little number that closes this album as a duet of guitar and cello.

What I love about this album is the relaxed feeling between three good friends getting together simply to make music. A live rehearsal, no overdubs.  No punching in parts or editing out the natural flow of their moments together.  This is pure, unadulterated, improvised jazz at its very best.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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