Stacey Kent has become somewhat of my secret weapon.
The New Jersey born, England-resident, Jazz vocalist will be whipped out for those sad occasions when a soft, plaintive voice is needed to set the mood for some self-pity. Listen to her bittersweet
Little Girl Blue and tell me you won't be flushed with melancholy.
But lest you think Stacey's all 'Tears For Fears', she's not so one-dimensional
lah. Which is more than I can say about the other Jazz-diva, Diana Krall, who, from certain angles, resembles a Klingon maidservant.
Ms Kent's lastest offering on newly-joined Blue Note Record's Breakfast On The Morning Tram, features more cool, American-Songbook-like tracks written by her hubby, Jazz Tenor-Saxophonist Jim Tomlinson. Interestingly, 4 tracks from the album were also co-written with Japanese-born, British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro (He of The Remains of The Day fame) who I think contributed with the lyrics.
And like Mr Ishiguro, Stacey's got me hooked, not necessarily now when I only feel like wallowing.
Because she makes even a Louie Armstrong classic sound good.
Labels: Music