Vicki Burns
Cool Fall Nights Jazz Series
Pangea, NYC, December 8, 2021
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
Vicki Burns spreads a warm spell over her audience as she invites them to enjoy some of her favorite songs. The welcoming can be found in her delivery of music; her voice contains music even when she speaks. She is very casual in her delivery, and attending her show is more like being invited into her living room than seeing her in concert. Her superb musical team seemed to join in this illusion; it included John Di Martino on piano (the first time they worked together) and Sam Bevan on bass (he also provided some very tasty music arrangements).
Her personality helped to tie together a set list of very disparate numbers with no through line other than that Burns likes them all. There were a few holiday songs, including a spirited “Winter Wonderland,” and a fresh and sweet delivery of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” There were also three works featuring lyrics by Roger Schore, who was in attendance: two written to melodies by Billy Strayhorn “Lotus Blossom Days”—insinuating and exotic—(she lost her original arrangement of the song in her divorce—“I had a husband… once” she deadpanned), and the appropriately dubbed “Bittersweet” (presented with just piano to highly emotional effect). Schore also contributed lyrics to a moving melody by Eddie Higgins, “Almost Christmas.”
Otherwise, it was a mix of familiar names: Cole Porter (a full-bodied delivery of “In the Still of the Night”), the Gershwins (a sprightly “I Was Doin’ Alright”), and Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer (a soulful “Out of This World”). Then there was “Love Spell” written by Burns—pure seduction and eroticism. It might be interesting to hear a medley of this composition and the classic “I Put a Spell on You.”
If there was a flaw in the evening, and there was, it is the same issue that haunts a great number of jazz vocal evenings: a lack of variety in the format of the selections. Every song began with a vocal by Burns, followed by an extended solo for one or both of her fine musicians, and then a return for the songstress. Mixing up this layout would add some surprises for the audience and enliven the proceedings. But that challenge aside, spending time with this artist is a lovely experience. Her musicianship, wit and warmth add up to a pleasing program, and one well worth your time.
