Jenny Davis

Jenny Davis - Inside You - 2009 - Independent

“A pure voice and laser like pitch!” (Katie Malloch, CBC Radio)
“Goes deep and makes you feel the lyrics” (Jazz Times)
“Vocalese doesn’t get any better than this!” (All About Jazz)
“A welcome addition to the history of jazz vocalists” (All About Jazz)
“Stellar vocal jazz…magnificent…talented!” (Smother)

On her third album, Northwest singer Jenny Davis continues a thread started in previous releases. Instead of drawing solely from the American Songbook, as is common for contemporary jazz vocalists, Davis digs through other elements of the jazz repertoire. The classic Songbook writers are all present, but often in tracks that were perhaps better known as instrumentals: "On Green Dolphin Street" indeed is probably better known in association with Coltrane or Miles Davis than Ned Washington. Davis ably transitions Jobim's "No More Blues" into more of a modern nightclub sound with only the slightest Brazilian inflection. She warbles over Charlie Parker's "Confirmation" in a solfege-like delivery reminiscent of Annie Ross (or even Dizzy Gillespie). She softens the Beatles' "Blackbird" just a bit before leaving as well. Through the whole, Davis is backed up by the ever-present guitar of Chuck Easton and its bubbling, bouncing sound, as well as the standby bass of Ted Enderle. The album feels a little less adventurous than her previous outings, but is still a fine set from a fine singer. © Adam Greenberg © 2012 Rovi Corp | All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/album/inside-you-mw0002089988

Jenny Davis' It Amazes Me (Self Produced, 2006) was a relaxed tuneful affair employing a crack quintet capable of multiple layers of musicianship. For Inside You, Davis whittles her quintet to a duo, featuring her regular guitarist Chuck Easton, and bassist Ted Enderle, furnishing a stripped-down swing that depends on its own momentum with which to propel it. From the near orchestral duet with Easton on "When Your Lover Has Gone" to the brilliantly spare duet with Enderle on "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise" Davis displays major deep and dense growth since her flagship It Amazes Me. Outstanding in the mix is Davis' note-perfect performance of Eddie Jefferson's lyric-fortified version of Charlie Parker's "Confirmation." Where King Pleasure was able to divine Parker's blues aesthetic from "Parker's Mood," Jefferson captures the whole of be bop in his love affair with "Confirmation." Fast, complex, and readily engaging, the head of "Confirmation" invites intricate duets like that of alto saxophonist Art Pepper and bassist George Mraz from Art Pepper: The Complete Village Vanguard Sessions (Contemporary,1995). Davis and Easton dodge raindrops in a spring shower as they skip through it, with Enderle showing the way. Easton and Enderle each take a chorus solo, each supporting the other, before scooping up Davis for the coda. Vocalese rarely gets better than this. By & © C. MICHAEL BAILEY, Published: November 19, 2010 © 2012 All About Jazz and/or contributing writer/visual artist. All rights reserved http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=38053

Jazz vocalists are ten a penny but Jenny Davis is an exception, with clear, light, laid back vocals and a pure effortless voice. She is not trying to mimic any other singer and is not trying too hard as some jazz singers are doing today. She is also a talented songwriter and penned the title track on this album. There is also some lovely guitar on this album from Chuck Easton. Listen to Jenny's "It Amazes Me" album. For more great modern vocal jazz albums, listen to Carolyn Leonhart's "New 8th Day", Susan Wong's "Close To You", and Jacintha's beautiful "Lush Life" albums [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 76.5 Mb]

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1. When Your Lover Has Gone (E.Swan) 2:40
2. On Green Dolphin Street (Kaper, Washington) 3:21
3. Inside You (Jenny Davis) 2:23
4. My Romance (Rodgers/Hart) 3:53
5. Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall (Fisher/Roberts) 2:48
6. Morning Glory (R. Grant) 4:25
7. No More Blues (Jobim) 3:54
8. Confirmation (C. Parker) 3:09
9. Blackbird (Lennon/McCartney) 2:12
10. Softly (As in a morning Sunrise) (Romberg/Hammerstein) 3:53

MUSICIANS

Jenny Davis - Vocals
Chuck Easton - Guitar, Flute
Ted Enderle - Bass
Louis Aissen - Tenor Sax (Track 5)

SHORT BIO

Jenny Davis is an international jazz vocalist and composer advancing on Canadian jazz charts following her main stage performance at the 2010 Victoria International Jazz festival, where she shared the main stage with such noted jazz greats as Joshua Redman, Stanley Clark, Mike Stern and Nikki Yanofsky. A Seattle native, Davis earned her Bachelor of Music from the prestigious Cornish College of the Arts. A 20-year steward of straight-ahead jazz, she actively performs throughout the U.S. and Canada in clubs, festivals and jazz venues. A true original with an authentic sound, Jenny has that rare vocal ability to swing hard in the pocket and hold her own with the best musicians in the business. Jenny’s commitment to the art form is never more evident than in her third, and newest CD release of INSIDE YOU, where legendary jazz composer Rodgers Grant sought her to record his beautiful ballad ‘Morning Glory’. A versatile vocalist, she is a highly requested and is considered one of the Pacific Northwest’s top big band vocalists. A passionate steward of jazz, Jenny passes on the tradition as a jazz educator, and vocal coach. Davis is inspired by such great jazz vocalists as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Mel Torme’, Shirley Horn, June Christy and Kurt Elling. © http://jennydavisjazz.com/media/jd_shortbio.pdf