Unlike many of her contemporaries who seem to be tilting towards coffee table Jazz crossover fodder, Zoe Schwarz goes for a more challenging repertoire.
Schwarz has an edge the others lack, tending to mix’n’match her self-penned
songs with standards and other co-writers, bringing a fresh approach to the genre.
The covers aren’t obvious ones either. Here she goes for Billie Holiday’s 1957
classic Fine and Mellow, regarded as one of America’s most important
musical works of the 20th century. Her version is not a laid back as Holiday’s
original, nevertheless she dazzles on this more upbeat cover. Sue Hawker and
Hilary Cameron also contribute to this track adding real gusto to the lyrics.
Nina Simone’s often overlooked gem I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl
is delivered with as much sensuality as the original and Ian Ellis’ tenor sax
adding some steamy textures. On 1936 Blues and Jazz standard Why Don’t You Do Right
(Kansas Joe McCoy) Zoe and Sue Hawker double up magnificently on the 12 bar
blues, considered the classic ‘woman’s blues’.
A cover of Woodrow Wilson Johnson aka Buddy Johnson’s Since I Fell For You
is executed in a totally stripped back format, just Schwarz, and Malcolm Creese’s
double bass adding to this magnificent torch song. Schwarz pulls off a truly
scintillating and disciplined vocal, possibly the best on Step Up.
Published in 1936, Until The Real Thing Comes Along is once again kept
to the basics. Schwarz once again delivers some nifty vocal gymnastics, reminiscent
of Holiday at her peak. Originals like Dear Annie sparkle with equal class,
with Sue Hawker duetting superbly on this laid back gem boosted by some sublime
sax by Ian Ellis and Rob Koral’s bluesy breaks.
Hawker and Schwarz have a ball duetting the jaunty swing-groove of Step Up, Play The Blues.
Smouldering I Can Dream is a stylish song.
Ellis’ tenor sax oozes sensuality followed by Koral’s deft guitar licks with
Quinny Lawrence’s shuffling brushes completing the intimate ambience, while
Blues To Frankie And Johnny packs a real punch.
1. Fine And Mellow
2. I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl
3. Blues To Frankie And Johnny
4. I Can Dream
5. Why Don’t You Do It Right
6. I’m Alright Jack
7. Just Another Day
8. Since I Fell For You
9. Danger Man
10. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
11. Dear Annie
12. Step Up, Play The Blues
13. These Times We Live In
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2008.
