Musicians
Jim Oatts, Trumpet/flugelhorn; Doug Haining, Reeds; Kent Saunders, Guitar; Rick Carlson, Piano; Gordy Johnson, bass; Steve Pikal, bass; Ricky Peterson, Piano
Tunes
If you like your female jazz vocalists without the fancy frills and embellishments that we're sometimes inundated with, then take a listen to Sue Tucker. On her latest, self produced, CD release "Meant for You," she displays an easy and unrestrained sense of swing somewhat reminiscent of a Mildred Baily. Her vocal style is like that of another horn in the band. Sue comes from a family of known Jazz musicians, notably New York saxophonist, Dick Oatts.
She starts the set with A foggy day which sets up an invitation to her styling. There is a nice Basie styled rhythm section backing her. This follows with a nice solo by brother Jim Oatts on trumpet and a tasty muted drum exchange by Brett Forberg.
You'd be so nice to come home to gets a nice straight ahead reading .
Sue feels relaxed on the Stanley Turretine line, Sugar. Her entire repertoire has that nice intimate and at home feeling throughout. There's an extended bary solo by Doug Haining that complements her vocal.
I hear a bit of Anita O'Day on Easy Street. I guess that somewhere in Sue's life Anita may have filtered through.
I've got the world on a string, is more of that easy straight forward horn-like treatment so rarely heard in jazz today. This is a welcome set of standards unhurriedly done at a toe taping tempo.
My favorite cut on the set is the Ray Noble evergreen, The Very thought of you. For me, Sue proves her sensitivity and understanding for the lyric here. This song has some distinctive changes that Sue takes without rushing through. This is quality singing that's a joy to listen to. Doug Haining adds a lush and controlled solo to put some topping on the line.
Sue feels a bit uncomfortable with Too close for comfort. Maybe I just didn't like the tempo too much. Or maybe this song is not for her. I don’t know. It seems to bounce about too much without real direction.
But Undecided has her back on track again. Her reading of the verse leads her nicely into the tune with a crafty arrangement and wonderful backing.
She really shines and shares the sadness in Blame it on my youth. She touches each word in the lyric directly with her heart and does so without the use of mellow dramatics. Brother Jim helps out with a touching solo on flugelhorn.
The Bill Evans classic, Waltz for Debbie moves along nicely and gets a nice reading from Sue. Multi -reed player, Doug Haining offers a nice solo on clarinet.
The final cut on the set is the only original on the CD. Written by Sue and brother Dick Oatts, Meant for you is a touching song that, I'm sure, has a lot of significance, meaning and a place in her life.
All in all Sue Tucker is a sincere straight
forward interpreter with a strong respect for good lyrics and a lucid
sense of jazz styling. Coming from way up in Minnetonka Minnesota,
I'm sure that her warmth has melted many a winter's snowstorm.
Listen
to some clips
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Musicians
Sue Tucker - Vocals
Dick Oatts - Woodwinds
John Mosca - Trombone
Joe Magnarelli - Trumpet
Ted Rosenthal - Piano
Kent Saunders - Guitar
Paul Gill- Bass
Andy Watson - Drums
Marc Anderson - Percussion
Tunes
The Best Thing For You
If You Don't See It Too
May I Come In
It Could Happen To You
Like Someone In Love
I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life
You Turned The Tables On Me
Long Ago And Far Away
Any 'Ol Thing That You Like
I'll Remember April
Review
Just as she did in her previous release: "Meant For You," Sue Tucker delivers another winner with her latest, self produced ,CD, "May I Come In." Sue is a restrained vocal stylist that has the deepest respect for the lyric and puts her emphasis on the words rather than on dynamics and technique. Her style is straight forward and can dramatize the meanings of a line by bending a note this way or that. She leaves us with a sincere approach to singing that may not leave the listener breathless, but will certainly leave them interested and satisfied.
Listening closely to Sue there are times when her vibrato echoes that of Anita O'Day. This is not to say that she is replicating Anita in any way. It's probably that Anita has flowed through Sue at one time or other and has helped define her approach to singing jazz. All right, La Barbera what really defines a jazz singer from all the others? The jazz singers swing! Sue Tucker Unequivocally swings and without restraint.
She is fortunate to have some wonderful musical accompaniment along for the ride. Her brother, the all too under heard, Dick Oatts lends some great support. There is a lot of good soloing up and down the CD notably by Oatts, John Mosca on trombone and Joe Magnarelli on trumpet. Ted Rosenthal lends some good saloon piano on the opening lines of "You Turned The Tables On Me." From there the ensemble takes it in unison and Ms. Tucker is right on the lyric and swings hard to bring it out.
The set is made up of originals and some tasty standards. Sue is a wonderful writer and lyricist. Listen to the sophistication and hip lyrics to her line; "If You Don't See It Too." While there are no eyebrow raising surprises in the presentation of her music it will satisfy anyone that has a penchant for good, steady straight ahead jazz vocals. I am already a Sue Tucker fan. I hope the readers will discover her CDs and jump on the wagon.
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