We will be hosting a vocalist as a guest in this edition of Körleme (Blindfold). Taşar has won the award for “Best Interpretation” at JAmZZ Akbank Jazz Festival Young Talents Competition in 2013. Her success was followed by being awarded the first place at Nardis Youth Jazz Vocal Competition and then going as far as the semi-finals during Estonia Jazz Vocal Competition. Deniz Taşar has participated in Istanbul Jazz Festival for two years and is currently planning to release two albums; “Songs From A Breeze” with her duo she formed with the bassist Şentürk Öztaş, and ‘Uykuda Bir Bulut’ with her own quartet before the end of 2016. We wished her good luck and presented her with our selection.
Sarah Vaughan
Brazilian Romance
Nothing Will Be As It Was – R.Bastos/M.Nascimento
CBS – 1987
Sarah Vaughan (vo)
Milton Nascimento (vo)
Chuck Domanico (tr.5) (b)
Ernie Watts (tr.6) (as)
Gracinha Leporace, Kate Markowitz, Siedah Garrett (back vo) (tr.10)
Alphonso Johnson (b)
David Speltz, Larry Corbett, Suzie Katayama, Todd Hemmenway (cello)
Carlos Vega (d)
Marcio Montarroyos (tr.2) (flgh) [solo]
Hubert Laws (tr.8) (flt) [solo]
Dan Huff, Dori Caymmi (g)
Gayle Levant (harp)
George Duke (keyb)
Tom Scott (tr.3) (lyricon) [solo]
Paulinho Da Costa (perc)
Tom Scott (tr.1) (ts)
Marcio Montarroyos (tr.1) (tp) [solo]
Gareth Nuttycombe, Herschel Wise, Kenneth Burward-Hoy, Marilyn H. Baker (viola)
Arthur Zadinsky, Barry Socher, Bill Hybel, Robert Sanov, Connie Kupka, Gordon Marron, Irving Geller, Jay Rosen, Jean Hugo, Joseph Goodman, Marilyn Graham, R.Hill, R.Folson, S. Zippert, W. Nuttycombe (violin)
You know, there is always that particular person you listen to in order to learn a piece. This is one of those voices… A go-to vocal. It isn’t a new recording, the ideas are old but it is a quality recording. It sounds like someone who sings old school style, but doesn’t belong to older times, like Dianne Reeves, but not her. Her voice sounds like Dee Dee Bridgewater, but not her style. This isn’t a singing style that I am very fond of, not something I listen to often. It even sounds like Nina Simone but this music isn’t her style.
Sarah Vaughan, Brazilian Romance.
Timestamp: 17.17 – 20.03
I had listened to her in the past, that’s why she sounded familiar. I surely listened to her while learning a particular song!
Gretchen Parlato
In A Dream
I Can’t Help It – Michael Jackson
Obliq Sound – 2009
Gretchen Parlato (vo, perc)
Lionel Loueke (acoustic g, vo)
Aaron Parks (p, Fender Rhodes, synth, glockenspiel)
Derrick Hodge (b)
Kendrick Scott (d)
The piece is I Can’t Help It by Michael Jackson. I listened to Esperanza Spalding’s version of this song quite a bit of times. I think might be Gretchen Parlato. Both Gretchen and Esperanza have a cappella performances. However; there is a male vocal here as well in the background. I am thinking of Bobby McFerrin, who sings in this style.
I have never listened to Gretchen’s interpretation of this piece. I have always identified this song with Esperanza for some reason. I think the back vocal is a current singer and is of African American origin.
Gretchen Parlato. In A Dream album.
Yes, Robert Glasper did the arrangements for this album. I had thought that this style of music might be right up his alley actually!
Victoria Tolstoy
My Swedish Heart
From Above – Lars Danielson / Per Holknekt
ACT – 2005
Viktoria Tolstoy (vo)
Jacob Karlzon (p)
Lars DK Danielsson (acoustic b, cello)
Peter Danemo (d)
Ulf Wakenius (g)
Nils Landgren (vo, tb)
This music sounds very interesting. I can hear Eastern and Balkan influences. She sings it as if it was a musical! This voice isn’t familiar to me. I am trying to figure out where she is from. She has an accent, but she sings properly at the same time. She pays attention to sing like an American. Those Balkan sounds make me think the musicians could even be Turkish. This piece sounds like it is focusing on the pianist. The vocal sounds barely as if she is doing her job as a vocalist.
Leo Tolstoy’s granddaughter, Viktoria Tolstoy. My Swedish Heart album.
Really? I didn’t know that! I haven’t listened to her before. I now understand where her accent comes from.
Robert Glasper
In My Element
Everything in It’s Right Place / Maiden Voyage – Radio Head / Herbie Hancock
Blue Note – 2007
Robert Glasper (p)
Vicente Archer (b)
Damion Reid (d)
I like this piece the most among the ones we have listened to so far. The trio sounds like Robert Glasper’s. The drummer, bassist and pianist sound like an all star team. Of course, I listen to projects with vocals more frequently.
Robert Glasper. In My Element album.
Yes, a good adaptation. Radiohead and Herbie Hancock together.
Thank you for this enjoyable Blindfold.
Thank you as well.
