REBECCA KILGORE — Moonshadow Dance (review)

REBECCA KILGORE — Moonshadow Dance album cover Album · 2016 · Vocal Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Carmel
Rebecca Kilgore is a song stylist extraordinaire, known for her effortless portrayals of the Great American Songbook, with more than 40 recordings to her credit. She has appeared with Michael Feinstein at Carnegie Hall and on “A Prairie Home Companion,” and has been a frequent guest on National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross. She was inducted into the Jazz Society of Oregon’s Hall Of Fame in 2003 and to the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in 2010. What is so uniquely keen about this project is it marks her debut as a songwriter, partnered with a pillar of the Portland jazz community Ellen Vanderslice; (though an architect by trade) she is an accomplished and prolific composer as well. The two are united with fellow songwriter, vibraphonist and pianist Mike Horsfall for a delightfully engaging offering entitled Moonshadow Dance.

The album traverses from romance to heartbreak to full of fun, and lyrically hints to her great pal Dave Frishberg, none is a better example than the sardonic “I Live in a Condo,” filled with swinging precision and instantaneous chuckle, penned by Horfsall it’s a delightful way to open the disc and set the mood. A rumba version and Kilgore’s original “Birthday Song, Generic” further endeavors the easy going, breezy feeling. What an injection of joy this album can bring to any day of the week, but don’t let the seemingly deceiving easy going vibe fool you, the musicians are top-shelf and the songs are so standard similar, you almost have to pinch yourself to remember you are listening to originals.

A highlight for me was “Aeolian Shade” a harmonically dark tune, gave me a chance to hear Kilgore represent a smoky timber of her voice. Penned by Vanderslice and Horfsall, Kilgore effortlessly shines; she is introspective and poignant and dips down deep in her range and floats effortlessly atop the accompaniment. Other highlights include and passionate “I’m Not Susceptible to You,” an up-tempo Latin take on “Cantando o Amor,” be sure to note there is also a reprise version of this track which is scaled down to voice and guitar with Marco de Carvalho at the helm of nylon strung guitar. This is particularly delightful, as you can hear each intent of the notes sung by Kilgore and played by de Carvalho. Moonshadow Dance does not disappoint, Kilgore continues to show why she is such a consummate jazz vocalist, her swing is effervescent, her tone of voice is timeless and she is an effortless technician. Truly another highlight to add to your collection, highly recommended.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Cabaret Eclectic Fusion
MARIUS NESET
Buy this album from MMA partners
Living Ghosts Post-Fusion Contemporary
MICHAEL WOLLNY
Buy this album from MMA partners
Live at Donte's, Vol. 1 Vocal Jazz
MIKE CAMPBELL
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sunday Afternoon Fusion
FURIO DI CASTRI
Buy this album from MMA partners
São Paulo Creative 4 : Supernova Avant-Garde Jazz
IVO PERELMAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Sunday afternoon
FURIO DI CASTRI
snobb· 7 hours ago
Harmônicos
FABIANO DO NASCIMENTO
js· 21 hours ago
Con Alma
GENE BERTONCINI
js· 1 day ago
Our Walk (Live)
BEN MARKLEY
js· 1 day ago
Solar (feat. Vicente Archer & Otis Brown III)
JERRY LÉONIDE
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed