Artist: Alison Bentley
Title: Songs of Leonard Bernstein & Irving Berlin
Cat Number: SLAMCD248
Year released: 2002
Format: CD & all digital platforms
Barcode: 5028386024828
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Jazz vocalist Alison Bentley performing the songs of Leonard Bernstein and Irving Berlin, alongside special guest trumpeter Steve Waterman and saxophonist Martin Speake.
Recorded and mixed at Gateway Studios, Kingston, London, 21st June 1998 and 21st February 2002.
Alison Bentley: vocals
Dave Frankel: piano
Dave Jones: bass
Paul Cavaciuti: drums
Steve Waterman: trumpet and flugelhorn (tracks 1,2,7,9,10)
Martin Speake: alto saxophone (tracks 1,4,6)
“Bentley has a very good, strong voice and inclines quite definitely towards the jazz end of the current genre of young jazz-pop singers. Even so, her very imaginative interpretation of the standards in her repertoire is such that I feel she will win over those of you who like to recognise the tune. The accompanying band has hard bop leanings and add vigorously to the proceedings. The core trio swings fluidly and all take fine solos as do Waterman and Speake…a CD to recommend. Good sound with brief notes on the songs by the singer herself.” – Bruce Crowther, Jazz Journal
“It is worth listening to the musicianship of all involved and the way they have revived well-worn standards, maybe reminding some of us why the songs have such longevity and were so memorable in the first place.” – Paul Donnelly