Jen Brett

Mosaic

Birdland, NYC, October 8, 2023

Reviewed by Chris Struck

Jenn Brett

Jen Brett truly impressed in her Birdland debut. She packed the place with adoring fans and quickly showed why they were there. From her first song, her vibrant style and high-powered vocals were examples of the best that Birdland has to offer. Her friendly personality and the support of her talented guitarist husband, Ricky Westrip, ashowed why she’s gained a fanbase.

Every word fell in place as she described the meanings of her songs, many of which came from the movie Burlesque. Other selections sometimes had a subtle Caribbean feel (perhaps because her trio, which included drummer Ryan Knutsen and bassist Coleman Cook, had initially working on cruises.)

Brett’s voice could hit octaves easily, and despite the modern bent of many of her song choices, she recalled the best of the up-tempo, swing-jazz style. She kicked off the evening with a strong rendition of “Feeling Good” (Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse). This was especially poignant, especially in the lines “Blossom on a tree, you know how I feel” and “Dragonflies all having fun,” which were particularly enchanting. Her performance was not rushed, and despite performing few solos, the group was able to sink into the songs, as they capably supported Brett’s booming vocals.

They even added some high-pitched back-up vocals that seemed to surprise Brett and the audience with how well they matched her tone. Many times, Westrip showed just how well he plays the guitar, patricularly on a brief solo that gave Brett some respite from wowing us with her tremendous range.

My favorite performances of the evening included “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” (Gerry Goffin/Carole King/Jerry Wexler), “Lady Marmalade” (Bob Crewe/Kenny Nolan), and “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” (Etta James/Leroy Kirkland/Pearl Woods). These songs came in the middle of the show and showcased Brett’s vocal ability well, especially considering the singers who made these songs famous—Etta James and Aretha Franklin. When she sang, “Oh, it must be love” and when she kicked off “Lady Marmalade” with “Hey sister, go sister,” it provided a taste of many wonderful performances to come. Even though she was vocally powerful, she could me tender with her lyrics, especially when she sang to and about Westrip. One example of this was Cole Porter’s classic, “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To.”

With efficiency and of course some glam, Brett hit every note well and demonstrated what many in the audience already knew: that she is incredible and that she sparkles under the bright lights. I truly hope to see her back at Birdland for another show soon.