I Look for Better in the Future
Gary L Connely | Hercules, CA | 05/02/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Colleen McNabb is a jazz singer, working out of Chicago. She studied with Jackie Allen and Patricia Barber, and has toured with Joey DeFrancesco, (who backs her up on this album). She has also appeared with folks like George Coleman, Ron Blake, Von Freeman and David "Fathead" Newman.
Ms McNabb's style has been compared to Carmen McRae and Shirley Horn - although she does not deliver a lyric with the same "authority" those ladies brought to the party - of course, that may come with time.
According to the liner notes, "don't go to strangers," is Ms McNabb's debut album. That's a little odd since there is another album, "It Might as Well be Spring," featuring her vocals and apparently released more than five years ago. A little mystery - but be that as it may, "... strangers" certainly has the "feel" of a first-effort.
There is another album bearing the title "Don't Go to Strangers," (this one properly capitalized). The 1960 break-out album by Etta Jones - one of the best, (although under appreciated), jazz singers ever recorded. As I listened to Ms McNabb's version of "don't go to strangers," I couldn't help but compare her to Ms Jones. That comparison didn't work in Ms McNabb's favor - but then, in all fairness, there are very few singers who can keep up with Ms Jones.
Ms McNabb's "don't go to strangers" is a set of standards. Besides the title song, it includes such old favorites as "I'm in the Mood for Love," "Waltz for Debbie," and "Save Your Love for Me."
Ms McNabb has a pretty, well-trained, mid-register voice. But, at least at this point in her career, she lacks the ability to take "ownership" of a song the way Ms Jones, or for that matter, Ms McRae and Ms Horn did. Great jazz singers have the ability to BECOME the song - Ms McNabb simply sings the lyrics - the words are there, but the emotional content is not.
The sonics are well done: Ms McNabb's voice is clearly and precisely presented while Mr DeFrancesco's stuttering, skittering organ chords weave in and out of the mix, (indeed, Mr DeFrancesco's organ work is outstanding - an excellent counterpoint to Ms McNabb's vocals).
Ms McNabb is clearly a talented singer. I look for more and better records from her in the future."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1