submitted on Sat, 11/15/2008 - 07:05 in Jazz Group by Mike_Longo 
A key aspect of the art of jazz singing is the ability to interpret lyrics with musical depth grounded in improvisation and blues resonance. I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good is a good example of traditional jazz singing, a genre few perform very well these days.
Hearns is blessed with a pleasing voice, superb intonation and trained restraint. She escapes the trap of mimicry, having already incorporated traces of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Julie London into her own aesthetic. On the title track, Hearns embellishes the lyrics with melodic blues riffs; on "Easy Living," taken a wee bit fast, she sounds sprightly and youthful. Throughout, bassist Kelly Friesen, pianist Keith Ingham and drummer Arnold Wise (and on four tunes, guitarist Howard Alden) are an elastic yet tight rhythm section...
Source: allaboutjazz
Author: Greg Thomas
