Laurie Krauz’s Jazz Soup: A Celebration of Sheila Jordan

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Laurie Krauz’s Jazz Soup:

Be Careful—Contents May Be Hot!

A Celebration of Sheila Jordan

Metropolitan Room, NYC, November 11, 2014

Reviewed by Elizabeth Ahlfors for Cabaret Scenes

Laurie-Krauz-Jazz-Soup-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine_212Although it appeared one night only in November, Laurie Krauz’s Jazz Soup promises to be a regular on the menu. The next Soup night is scheduled at the Metropolitan Room on December 2 when she and The Daryl Kojak Trio salute another jazz legend and, if things continue as they did on Sheila Jordan’s night, the contents will be just as hot.

Hosted by Krauz, the debut evening celebrated Jordan, subject of a new biography by Ellen Johnson– Jazz Child: A Portrait of Sheila Jordan. An outgoing and communicative performer, Jordan discovered bebop in the 1940s when she heard a jukebox recording of Charlie Parker on “Now’s the Time.” She decided this was her time to start performing and mentoring, delivering her expressive and emotional interpretations and never forgetting the special musical influences of Bird. This night, on her 86th birthday, she heard a group of A-1 jazz vocalists demonstrate how she has influenced them. As a shrewd touch, Kojak added to his trio bass player Cameron Brown, a longtime accompanist to Jordan. On drums was Dwayne “Cook” Broadnax.

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Krauz, a dynamic, rangy vocalist, ignited the night with an effervescent tune by Billie Holiday and Buster Harding, “Please Don’t Do It in Here,” a piece Holiday never recorded— but Krauz did, on her album, Catch Me If You Can. After some patter about Jazz Soup and Jordan, she brought on the first of five singers: elegant Tessa Souter, whose rendition of “The Peacocks” (Jimmie Rowles) showcased her crystalline tone and skillful, searching phrasing.

Kevin Fitzgerald Burke’s mesmerizing “The Very Thought of You” (Ray Noble) swayed with a Latin beat as the chorus continued with his uncanny scat, fingers walking and strumming an imaginary bass, stretching out lines with pliant volume. Carol Fredette offered a standard, “You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me,” but not your mother’s usual rendition. Fredette gave the Harry Warren/Al Dubin number (introduced in the film 42nd Street) a slow, sly, seductive invitation to romance.

Jay Clayton is an accessible interpreter of lyrics along with improvisational avant-jazz savvy.

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She opened with Irving Berlin’s “How Deep Is the Ocean (How High Is the Sky)” and moved into “You’ll Never Know” (Warren/Mack Gordon). She joined Jordan in a minor blues tune, delivering a potent, layered vocal conversation.

Jordan went on to dedicate “Dat Dere” (Bobby Timmons/Oscar Brown Jr.) to her daughter, Tracey, who was in the audience, and Vernon Duke’s “Autumn in New York” was “for the great musicians of my time.”

A night of brilliance. Whatever is cooking for future Laurie Krauz’s Jazz Soup productions, she has proved it will be something to look forward to.