Search - Rebecca Kilgore :: Harlem Butterfly: Remembrance of Maxine Sullivan

Kilgore + Gordon = A-1 Tribute to Maxine Sullivan

Steve Emerine | Tucson, AZ United States | 09/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jazz singer Rebecca Kilgore was an ideal choice for this tribute to the later years of Maxine Sullivan's recording career. Kilgore is a student of the music of her predecessors, and her voice is in many ways similar to Sullivan's. Jazz fans will recall that Sullivan had a two-part career, singing "Loch Lomond" and similar songs with a big band, then dropping out of sight to raise her children and work in health care before re-emerging about 20 years ago to sing an entirely different genre of songs.This CD, issued by George Buck's Audiophile label, features tunes from the latter era, including "Harlem Butterfly," "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now," "A Hundred Years From Today," "We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye," "As Long As I Live" and "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams." Backed by the wonderful clarinetist Bobby Gordon and his trio of Kilgore-friend Hal Smith on drums and Chris Dawson on piano, Kilgore sings 17 songs (including two versions of "Harlem Butterfly") while providing 73+ minutes of wonderful singing.I recently was lucky enough to hear Kilgore sing many of these tunes in tribute to Sullivan at the Los Angeles Sweet 'n' Hot Music Festival -- at the same venue where I heard the late Ms. Sullivan sing the originals 15 years earlier. I think producer Buck, who also was in the audience, would agree that Maxine would have enjoyed the performance."

What Happened to the Vocalist ?

Steve Emerine | 09/02/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Most disappointing as there are too many instrumental interludes by the trio limiting Rebecca Kilgore's vocalizing. I purchased the album to hear the vocalist, not the Bobby Gordon Trio. Album should be retitled: BOBBY GORDON & TRIO PLAY MAXINE SULLIVAN w/limited vocals by Rebecca Kilgore."

Buy everything from Becky

Carlos Torres Moura | Brazil | 11/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rebecca singing Maxine`s songs? It`s enough to buy it. I did. Why? Because I know she always swings right and calm. Because all Becky Kilgore`s releases are delicious. If you don`t know her, try and buy. But if you like Celine Dion & limited companies, avoid her. Rebecca will never sing disaster songs at the bore nights of the Oscar."