Modern Antique is the Jumbo Shrimp of Contemporary Classic - It s old news that when it was released in 1982, Steve Miller s Abracadabra, with the icy fire of his loud whisper, and the obvious innuendo of the lyrics created a mild sensation. Twenty six years later, Robin McKelle s jazzy remake is the only choice for leading off her interesting recording, Modern Antique. That catchy lead-off was really all I needed to want this recording, but on the whole, I find the entire CD exuberant and invigorating. Robin s sound is as attractive and flowing as the pretty pink dress in the liner notes, and her professional approach can be appreciated even in the absence of a single defining characteristic of her music. She s scats with enthusiasm, takes a pleading tone, mocking tone, or whatever each song calls for. She s multiple muses all in one. Seriously, she s efficient and accurate, and when singing the jazz standards that make up most of the rest of this recording, like Comes Love, Lullaby of Birdland, Lover Man, and Cheek to Cheek, that is really what demanded. It also helps that she has the equivalent of a big band supporting her, which keeps the excitement level high and the music robust and full throughout. I suppose Robin will never be accused of being a genuine imitation, even if she almost exactly duplicates some of the original copies of other singers that came before her. But that s why when other performers are found missing, Robin can act naturally and pull off a terribly pleasing piece of vocal jazz.
With Her It s The Fab Band! - It seems to me that with many of the talented standards singers we have now, the songs are about only their voice or sometimes you re left thinking, Didn t much care for the singing, but the band was very good. With Ms. McKelle who has an outstanding voice and wonderful excitment in her enterpretations, I say no either/or here! It s as close as we re going to get to those great Big Band moments that our grandparents were lucky enough to experience. On both of her CDs, Ms. McKelle shares the space with some outstanding musicians who make these tunes more than a great time. So, it s a two-fer, and a grand listening experience. Swing on!
Another over-rated performance amidst a lot of hype - I m so tired of singers who possess a certain level of chops but seem incapable of connecting to the lyric that they re singing. It s tiresome. No matter how fine the musicians, arrangements, no matter how good a person looks, it doesn t matter if there s little actual connection to the music. Another disappointment.
Simply Amazing - I was wandering through a local bookstore the other day and heard this amazing music playing in the background. I immediately stopped in my tracks and asked the first employee that I saw who it was. I was directed towards the music section and was shown this CD of Robin McKelle.I had never heard of this singer before, but after listening to just a couple of the tracks I was immediately hooked. I remember telling the sales clerk that the vibe I was getting was simply intoxicating. If you re into vocal jazz or big band music, you will not be disappointed!
Jazz Times Review - August 2008! - Jazz Times, August 2008She s a Berklee grad and a Thelonius Monk Vocal Jazz Competition finalist. She often sounds a lot like Anita O Day, except when she sounds eerily like Nancy Wilson. She s blessed with O Day s indefatigable verve as well as her innate sense of swing, and echoes Wilson s relaxed authority. Two years ago, she delivered a dynamite debut disc, Introducing Robin McKelle, embracing a retro big-band vibe with the ease and intelligence of a softer-edged Bette Midler. Now she s back with a second big-band effort even better than the first. Willie Murillo, who steered much of the previous album, again serves as principal arranger. But Chris Barron, Gordon Goodwin, Randy Waldman, pianist Alain Mallet and McKelle herself also contribute arrangements, and remarkably, considering the number of cooks stirring the pot, the results are not only consistently good but also seamlessly consistent. For fans of gorgeous standards lovingly nestled in ideal settings and sung with impeccable beauty and style, Modern Antique is essential listening. But McKelle and company go a few captivating steps further: first by transforming rocker Steve Miller s 80s chart-toppet Abracadabra into three-and-a-half minutes of pure, inventive jazz pleasure, then by doubling the strength of the Nina Simone anthem Go to Hell by defusing its anger and replacing it with assured wisdom, and, finally, by exiting on tiptoe (just McKelle on vocals and piano, supported by a gentle wave of strings) with the tenderly reflective, self-penned ballad Remember.