Press and Reviews
Shepard Park, Lake George, NY – September 13, 2008
ALBANYJAZZ.COM
Lake George Jazz Weekend
(featuring Marilyn Maye & the Tedd Firth Trio, Roswell Rudd & Shout, Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers, and Andy Narell)
by Tom Pierce
Knowledgeable Jazz festival program coordinators are always eager to present musical diversity and also an exciting opening act to energize the audience. Paul Pines, who has been bringing in artistically stimulating groups to the Lake George Jazz Festival for its 25 year existence, surely scored “big time” on both counts in its Saturday afternoon segment.
Vocalist MARILYN MAYE is a name familiar to serious lovers of sophisticated singing, as well as casual fans who caught many of her record (76) appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight show. For the last few years she's been accompanied by renowned pianist Tedd Firth, originally from Hudson Falls and now heavily in demand in the New York metropolitan area.
His trio with bassist Tom Hubbard (veteran of numerous instrumental and vocal recordings & live performances) and drummer Jim Ecklof of Kansas City (Ms Maye's percussionist for 47 years) was a huge asset. They jump-started things at 1 PM with a driving uptempo version of a tune, “Sunday”, that Firth explained he always liked when sung by the legendary Carmen McRae. A more deliberate, but gently syncopated version of “I've Never Been in Love Before” (from “Guys & Dolls”) followed. They closed their introductory segment with a torrid take of “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” which clearly showed that in addition to his reputation as an invaluable accompanist to vocalists, Firth has a stirring dexterity as a jazz soloist.
Maye's entrance at that point with an energetic, but very poised interpretation of Andre and Dory Previn's “You're Gonna Hear From Me” immediately displayed the obvious sense of command she has on stage. This was then further exemplified with a striking, tour-de-force medley of “You” songs, including “Here's Looking at You”, “I Concentrate on You”, “I Get a Kick Out of You”, “I've Got You Under My Skin” and “All of You”, plus several others. Her facile changes in tempo and subtle ability to inject just the right amount of drama skillfully avoided any of this extended number coming across as a gimmick.
Her engaging stage presence was also demonstrated while introducing her masterfully phrased rendition of Billy Strayhorn's unforgettable “Lush Life”, which she sang at the Metropolitan Room in Manhattan, where she noted that it was an example of the torch songs that showed “People are happiest when they're drinking and crying”. A somewhat playful, but intensely moving version of “Just For A Thrill” (from her “Maye Sings Ray” CD) showed her respect for Mr Charles' classic performance of this on his extraordinary 1959 album, “The Genius of Ray Charles”; but was delivered with her personal approach, including a slightly faster tempo.
Other selections, such as “Let There be Love”, “Pick Yourself Up” and “Mountain Greenery” all exhibited the appealing qualities of this multi-faceted vocalist, whose stylistic range comfortably encompasses Jazz, Pop & Musical Theater. Those in the audience, who primarily focused on pure vocal skills, were appreciative of her resonant, clear tone supported by strong breath control and consistent intonation, despite the creative phrasing chances she occasionally took, that made her performance enormously interesting.
For Jazz fans, perhaps most impressive was her and the trio's adept handling of the difficult 5/4 rhythm of “Take Five”, written by saxophonist Paul Desmond, for another truly classic 1959 album, the Dave Brubeck Quartet's “Time Out”.
It would be admirable for a vocalist of ANY age to display the qualities of Marilyn Maye, in addition to connecting so vibrantly with an audience. But it was even more eye-opening, when one reflects on the fact that she turned 80 earlier this year.
Tom Pierce has had a burning passion for Jazz for over 45 years, initiated and fueled by seeing live in New York City, starting in the early 1960's, virtually every major artist still performing. He's been very happily living in Guilderland the last 5 years, as an active retiree sharing his love of music by writing online reviews for a number of web sites, preparing DVD presentations to various groups, co-Hosting Radio programs showcasing his favorite artists and busily supporting A Place for Jazz and the SwingTime Society in a variety of way.