Will Friedwald, author of Jazz Singing
There have been albums
of jazz singers doing The Beatles before, most notably Sarah
Vaughan's in 1977. But where Vaughan, at
that late stage in her career, was dark and heavy, "Let It Be Jazz:
Connie Evingson Sings The Beatles" (Summit DCD1021), is light and
whimsical, translating the psychadelic humor of The Fab Four into
jazz terms. The Minneapolan Ms. Evingson takes "When I'm 64," one
of Paul McCartney's numerous vaudeville-like turns, and re-imagines
it twice, both times using Mr. McCartney's capriciousness as
a
starting point: first like a tango or beguine, complete with
accordion, then in a sort of ragtime-stride approach, with racing
piano and hot clarinet. The two treatments are so different and
inspired that they help to make my point that fresh ideas and
good
arrangements are the main reason to listen to contemporary jazz
singers.
by Will Friedwald
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