Pianist George Kahn is one of the few guys around who makes jazz both
swinging and musical enough for the cognicenti and yet entertaining
enough for their dates. The Angeleno does this balancing act by bringing
together some of the best locals around, such as Lyman Medeiros/b, MB
Gordy/dr, Eric Marienthal/as-ss, Chuck Manning/ts, Pat Kelly/g and Dr.
Bobby Rodriguez/tp and having them deliver accessibly driving tunes such
as “Afro Blue” and “Cantaloupe Island” in a way that would satisfy
either the hipster or Valley Girl.
He does it by incorporating the terrific trio of vocalists Gina
Saputo, Crystal Starr and Courtney Lemmon to deliver the lyrics in both
lead and backup form in a ways that can veer from cutsie putsy as on the
Andrew Sisters-inspired “Beat Me Daddy Eight To The Bar” the a stomping
STAX R&Bish “I’d Rather Go Blind.” The ladies deliver a funky take
of the Crescent City classic “Yes We Can Can” while going even deeper
down Bourbon Street with Rodriguez’s horn on a growling “Summertime.”
Some swampy tenor sax make and grizzled guitar make for hard hitting
readings of “Rock Me Baby” and “God Bless The Child” respectively while
the choice of Bill Withers’ “Use Me” has the husky toned harem
delivering the lyrics with street corner savvy.
Each lady has her own
delivery and style, from the gal next door Betty’d Lemmon on “Yes We Can
Can” to the world wise Veronica’d “Saputo on “Shoo Shoo Boy.” This team
should make every vocal group in NYC quiver with fear if they ever
decided to leave the land of In N Out Burgers for the land of
Lombardi’s. Unique, yet universal.
http://www.jazzweekly.com/2015/04/george-kahn-jazz-blues-revue/
