The final instalment of JAZZ IN JULY at the 92Y was a family affair: artistic director Bill Charlap on piano, his wife Renee Rosnes on a second Steinway grand and his mother Sandy Stewart on vocals.
I'm a huge fan of the Stewart/Charlap cd "Love is Here to Stay" and the Rosnes/Charlap cd "Double Portrait" so I booked for this concert months ago and got front row seats.
Sandy Stewart's dramatic vocals are reminiscent of Morgana King and the first song of the show, "Always" was a master class in phrasing and breath control which actually elicited bravos from the audience. She also scored with a sultry "Change Partners" and a dark bitter reading of "Remember?"
The other vocalist was new to us but not for long. We were so knocked out by Sachal Vasandani's performances in act one that we bought two of his albums in the foyer at intermission.
We were sitting directly in front of Joe Locke who played vibes with such emotional involvement that it bordered on a sexual experience. His performance on "Suppertime" was breathtaking.
The entire programme had us grinning from ear to ear all night, certainly fostered by the family feeling onstage as well as the consummate artistry of each musician. Fabbo.
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