 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amanda Carr REVIEWS/PRESS |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Nat Hentoff - Wall Street Journal, Sept. 2007 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
“Amanda Carr, a true jazz singer in a time of wannabes. . . she sings and swings with the unaffected confidence of a genuine jazz improviser. I’ve rarely heard a jazz singer fuse so naturally and pleasurably.... She is an authentic musician in the front line with her longtime colleagues on "Soon" . . |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
JERSEY JAZZ, December 2008 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Soon ... by AMANDA CARR is one of those albums that feels right from the very beginning right through to the last notes. This Boston-based vocalist is right on is her renderings of twelve pop and jazz standards. She sounds like the kind of vocalist that you might have seen singing in the club that was a central part of the old Peter Gunn television series if Lola Albright had not been already on the scene. The tunes are wonderfully chosen, as is the band consisting of Arnie Krakowsky on tenor sax, John Wilkins on guitar, Bronek Suchanek on bass, Kenny Hadley on drums and percussion. The tracks that really stood out for me were “Easy Street,” “Soon,” “Flamingo, “Funny (Not Much),” and a killer “Good Bait.” Amanda Carr is not a newcomer to the jazz vocal scene, but this is my first exposure to her artistry. I shall make sure that it is not my last. Joseph Lang -- New Jersey Jazz Society |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
JAZZ IMPROV Magazine 2008 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
While a “new standards” movement has been brewing for a while, there are still plenty of musicians guarding and promoting the old chestnuts from the Great American Songbook. Vocalist Amanda Carr is one such person.. and she does so with great style and class.... While the popularity and longevity of these songs is based on their lyrical and musical content, the ultimate success lies in the delivery and Carr proves to be an ace in this department. Dan Bilawsky |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ALLABOUTJAZZ.com |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2008 Recently, I had the pleasure of hearing vocalist Amanda Carr perform an impromptu duet with the great jazz vocalist Giacomo Gates at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York. … I was so impressed by her talent, spirit and onstage charm that I felt compelled to pick up soon. I'm very glad I did.… Soon wastes no time in demonstrating Carr as a vocalist who can burn and cool. an extremely talented, delightfully engaging vocal artist. Amanda Carr is—to coin my daughter's phrase—”amazable.” Nick Mondello visit www.allaboutjazz.com for more |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The New York Sun |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
“... Amanda Carr, a talented female vocalist ....” Will Friedwald -“The Gates of Eccentricity” 4/08 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
L.A. Jazz Scene |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Amanda Carr gives the Great American Songbook quite and uplifting interpretation.... She’s original!!... this singer is well on her way to international renown. Soon predicts her future with certainty... Carr has the right stuff, and her album proves that beyond a doubt. Jim Santella 11/2007 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Worcester Magazine |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
“Listening to Soon, her fourth release, one notices the level of maturity she brings to the show. Rather than wow you with vocal histrionics, Carr sings the melody straight with an emotional restraint that is refreshing. At the same time, she reads a lyric with complete understanding. In the process we hear Carr singing her song. It’s the mark of a great jazz singer. Hentoff certainly recognized it; maybe it’s time she does as well.” Chet Williamson 11/07 (Click here to read entire article) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
TOKYO Jazz Critique Magazine |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
“... although the CD jacket is really wonderful, the music inside is even better. This is one of the best records I’ve purchased recently. ...Amanda has “real” singing ability and treats the material in a delightfully unique way. ...“If You Could See Me Now” demonstrates her taste for nostalgia.... It’s hard not to like her voice on everything she sings.” Iwanami 11/07 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The HARTFORD COURANT |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
“ Instead of sounding as if she's reading her lines for the first time ever from cue cards, Amanda Carr is a rare singer who gets inside a song's lyrics, convincing you that all the emotions expressed have actually been lived by her. Another one of the Boston-based vocalist's virtues is that she never goes for overkill, that common compulsion to mercilessly inflict every single item in your musical tool kit on your audience as if you're competing on "American Idol."With warm backing from first-rate Boston musicians, Carr applies these two fundamental principles to a zesty mix of what she calls "hidden jewels" from the American Songbook.With her smooth-running rides through tunes ranging from George and Ira Gershwin's "Soon" to Fats Waller's "Squeeze Me," Carr finds success without excess.Her hip minimalism in no way means that she can't swing. Swing she does on an eye-opening, uptempo version of "Close Your Eyes. Nor does her moral objection to overkill imply any lack of wise embellishment, as on her wry bending of the rhyming words "guise" and "eyes" on "If You Could See Me Now." Carr and her partners in swing are a true collective, a musical family. Her emphatically empathetic collaborators are guitarist John Wilkins, tenor saxophonist Arnie Krakowsky, bassist Bronek Suchanek and drummer Kenny Hadley. Seasoned pros, they checked their egos but not their creativity at the door.” Owen McNally 11/07 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
JAZZ USA |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
“Soon” is worth multiple spins!Matthew Robinson 07/ 07 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BOSTON MAGAZINE |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
“Amanda Carr’s rich alto, expressive lyrics and intimate stage presence are marks of an exciting new jazz vocalist.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RADIOPHONE, GREECE |
|||||||||||||
|
As an offspring of jazz musicians the Bostonian singer knew how to choose classical songs from the American repertoire to present in her forth album. The compositions she opted for are the ones with which the average listener would confirm the jazz perform stereotype. Her voice is characterized by a slightly masculine timbre but never lacks expression, which appeals to our many listeners. Her new release is exceptional and has received a great response. Studying her musical preferences we can suspect that her tastes go well behind her songs. And if we are allowed to make a comment regardless of the good quality in her music, the photo of her on the cover does not do her justice. George Politopoulis, October 2007 |
|||||||||||||
|
BOSTON HERALD |
|||||||||||||
|
“From the oversize gig to the warm confines of a jazz club, last evening I sat and watched Amanda Carr sing a mix of standards and lesser known tunes that prove beyond a shadow of a doubt the power of desire. Carr was a guest on my late 1990’s talk show on WRKO, where she showed incredible poise by singing with nothing but acoustic guitar accompaniment. Her voice is like a soft blanket that surrounds you and instantly provides a sense of comfort and contentment. Blessed with a wonderful range, you hear every word, and the lowest notes are the sweetest. Somewhere in the set at Scullers I recalled why my father said he loved Sarah Vaughan so much - it was that compelling low end that brought home the songs so effortlessly. Carr recorded an album in Italy, but we can claim her as Boston’s own. Don’t miss her when she brings her romantic style and smile to a stage near you. The pop culture landscape may be filled to the brim with fakers who can’t hold a note, but Amanda Carr is the real thing, and yes, I would pay to hear her sing the phone book.” --- Tai Irwin 11/06 |
|||||||||||||
|
FOUR STARS: All MUSIC GUIDE!!! |
|||||||||||||
|
“With so many female vocalists releasing new jazz CDs in a given year, it is extremely difficult to grab one's attention; Amanda Carr's CD, though released by a small label, has the ingredients necessary to do so......Amanda Carr deserves greater attention in the jazz world." -- Ken Dryden |
|||||||||||||
|
JAZZREVIEW.com |
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
"Female jazz vocalists seem all the rage at the moment, yet despite this fact, few seem to gain much attention from the general public....Her warm alto voice coupled with her expressive phrasing make her a first-rate vocalist.....Carr’s fine delivery and easy swinging style elevates what could be standard jazz vocal album to an exceptional listening experience. This is one CD that I’m sure you’ll play over and over again." -- Lawrence Williams |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RHAPSODY.com |
|||||
|
“Amanda is a very good jazz singer who displays Carmen McRae's control and Diana Krall's sporty good looks She is more daring than Krall.getting into Bop, but like McRae Carr keeps the experimentation focused on the song at hand. Carr has performed with James Moody and the ArtieShaw Big Band, but her own backing group is featured to good effect here. Along with standards, Carr has written a few tasty originals.” -- Nick Dedina |
|||||
|
ALL ABOUT JAZZ |
|||||
|
|
|
"More and more, jazz singers seem determined to present their versions of Abbey Lincoln's “Throw It Away,” and Carr doesn't disappoint with her take on the tune....I enjoyed Tender Trap and look forward to Amanda Carr's next venture." Michael P. Gladstone |
|
|
|
"Amanda Carr, jazz vocalist, has raised the bar on interpreting the American Songbook! In her fourth excursion as leader, "Soon", she avoids the common practices of excessive scatting, melody altering and emotionalism. Amanda's understated, comfortable approach and shear vocal beauty urge you to keep listening. Beautifully sung, swinging, in tune, with gorgeous phrasing, every track is a praise-worthy tribute to many neglected gems, including the title track "Soon", "Easy Street","Funny", and "Where Can I Go". Tastefully seasoned with terrific arrangements, outstanding musicians, and a wonderful song selection, "Soon" rises to the top of an ocean of new vocal CDs. If you don't pick it up "Soon", you might be too late." Monica Hatch, Vocalist & Host of JAZZ MATINEE WICN Radio 90.5 FM (npr) |
|
|
|
|