Happy as the Day Is Long - Rebecca Kilgore, Arlen, Harold
Sweet Substitute - Rebecca Kilgore, Morton, Ferdinand J
I Saw Stars - Rebecca Kilgore, Goodhart, Al
For Heaven's Sake - Rebecca Kilgore, Bretton, Elise
Say It Isn't So - Rebecca Kilgore, Berlin, Irving
He Needs Me - Rebecca Kilgore, Hamilton, Arthur
Jeepers Creepers - Rebecca Kilgore, Mercer, Johnny
No Love, No Nothing - Rebecca Kilgore, Robin, Leo
Everything I Have Is Yours - Rebecca Kilgore, Adamson, Harold
Exactly Like You - Rebecca Kilgore, Fields, Dorothy
A LonelLonely Co-Ed - Rebecca Kilgore, Ellington
This Is No Laughing Matter - Rebecca Kilgore, Block, Martin
A Fine Romance - Rebecca Kilgore, Fields, Dorothy
I'll Be Around - Rebecca Kilgore, Wilder, Alec
You Can't Lose a Broken Heart - Rebecca Kilgore, Johnson, James [01]
Symphony - Rebecca Kilgore, Alstone, Alex
Princess - Rebecca Kilgore, Brubeck, Dave
Dan Barrett's imaginative arrangements bring to center stage the vocal talents of Rebecca Kilgore, whose singing style is reminiscent of the most appealing big band singers of days gone by. Dan provides her accompaniment, ... more »with Dave Frishberg, Bucky Pizzarelli, Scott Robinson, Chuck Wilson, and Michael Moore.« less
Dan Barrett's imaginative arrangements bring to center stage the vocal talents of Rebecca Kilgore, whose singing style is reminiscent of the most appealing big band singers of days gone by. Dan provides her accompaniment, with Dave Frishberg, Bucky Pizzarelli, Scott Robinson, Chuck Wilson, and Michael Moore.
"In the September, 2005 issue of "Jazz Times", its writers and contributors picked their top 50 jazz albums of the past 35 years. Of the 50, only 3 were vocal jazz albums. The first was "Tony Bennett and Bill Evans." No argument there. The second was Mark Murphy's "Bop for Kerouac." Again, truly no argument, and what a shame that it's out of print at this time.
The third was this one. Not Cassandra Wilson's "Blue Light 'Til Dawn"; not Andy Bey's "American Song"; not Kurt Elling's "The Messenger"; not Tierney Sutton's "Something Cool". This one.
And I was intrigued. To be frank, I was totally unfamiliar with Rebecca Kilgore. No surprise, considering she hails from Portland, Ore. and rarely ventures outside the Pacific Northwest. Granted, "Jazz Times'" list is a personal list; but is this album worthy of such accolades?
In a word, hellyes.
This is an album of Ms. Kilgore, two well known jazz musicians (Dave Frishberg (p.) and Bucky Pizzarelli (g.)), and four relatively unknown musicians. This is not some producer's idea of a jazz album that will sell to the masses. Rather, this is an album that has the feel of 7 musicians getting together after hours and deciding to do an album of old chestnuts where they do one and only one thing: play their butts off.
And that's exactly what they do. From the first bar of "Happy As the Day As Long" to the last bar of the last song, this is an album that grabbed my attention and had me tapping my toes, humming along, and marvelling at each musician's intuition on every cut at every listen.
Ms. Kilgore has the perfect voice for jazz singing. She has the purity of a Tierney Sutton or a Laurie Wheeler, and intonation-wise, is dead on. With these arrangements, she sounds like Anita O'Day or June Christy with a select combo from a big band such as Stan Kenton or Woody Herman.
And Frishberg is the perfect foil for Ms. Kilgore. He throws in quotes from everything from "I Pagliacci" to "Old Black Joe" throughout.
Basically, what you have is 7 musicians having a whale of a time, performing at the top of their individual and collective games. If you like jazz at all, you gotta get this one. Very, very highly recommended. RC"
You'll Hear A Star
Jim Andrews | Chicago, Illinois USA | 04/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Becky Kilgore is about as unknown as they come except for her local, loyal following. But, surprise, surprise, she turns out to be one of the freshest, most able, appealing vocalists around. With the greatest taste in songs, apparently limitless knowledge of obscure tunes past and present, and terrific help from the musicians. Her albums are like a cooling lemonade on a hot summer day, welcome and refreshing."
I'VE DISCOVERED REBECCA KILGORE
DAVE.ZL1BNY@XTRA.CO.NZ | New Zealand | 09/06/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD "I saw stars" is a mixture of well known standards and some not so well known by a singer who is new to me, Rebecca Kilgore, who swings and the style is pre be-bop which suits me fine, ie the music is froom the days when you could remember a tune! The backing is headed by Dave Frishberg pianist and a small group of tenor, trumpet, guitar, bass and drums with the odd chorus thrown in for good measure. A lovely smooth mainstream jazz album. I'll follow up Rebecca some more!"
A Wonderful Singer with Great Accompaniment
BrianOC | NYC | 08/12/1998
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I love this album - Kilgore's voice is so effortless and the arrangements are so joyful, it's great fun to listen too. Especially if your taste runs to pre-be-bop styles of jazz."
A little taste of heaven in a time of war. Like the andrews
C. Bergstrom | Ramstein, Germany | 12/25/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A taste of sweet honey from the heavens. Becky and her musical group are amazing. I heard you this Christmas for the first time on NPR worldwide radio from Ramstein Air Base in Germany and bought your two BED CD's immediately after I got home on Christmas day. Yes, I had to work on Christmas, but your Christmas songs made me feel good from deep within my soul.Made me feel the way I did when I was just 16 and discovered Bing Crosby and all of the great singers from the 30's and40's, but your's is new! I love you and your music!!! I recommend this group and Becky Gilmore to anyone. I am 31 years old and in the Air Force, but I can really enjoy the sounds produced by her and her band. Excellent! Although my favorite singer of all time is Bing Crosby, I have my own band that sounds nothing like him. www.thewenzels.com Not signed yet, but featured on many albums. Similar to Becky. Keep up the great work and everyone should buy this refreshing album and all of the others she is featured on! Keep it local and real, but go for the gold! Thanks BED! Chris from San Diego, but stationed in Germany!"