Judy Barnett

JUDY BARNETT - SWINGIN' (1998)

1. Let's Face the Music
2. Just One of Those Things 3. Dancing in the Dark
4. Begin the Beguine
5. This Can't Be Love
6. Azalea
7. Way You Look Tonight
The, 8. Willow Weep For Me
9. Can't We Be Friends?
10. Bolt From the Blue, A
11. Where or When
12. You'll Have to Swing It
13. Can't Take You Nowhere

On this set, Judy Barnett, a talented, always-swinging jazz singer, is backed by different instrumentation on most of the selections, including such guests as guitarist John Pizzarelli, Ken Peplowski on tenor and clarinet, trumpeter Bud Burridge, ... Full Descriptiontrombonist Mike Christianson, and a string quartet. Pianist Ted Kooshian provided the diverse arrangements. Barnett really digs into the lyrics of the songs, treating some as serious (and usually including the verses) and others as more lightweight, but still with charm. Among the songs she uplifts are "Just One of Those Things," "Begin the Beguine," Duke Ellington's "Azalea," "The Way You Look Tonight," an excellent version of "Willow Weep for Me," and "Where or When." She also does a close impression of Ella Fitzgerald on "You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)." Well worth checking out, Judy Barnett deserves to be better-known. ~ Scott Yanow

Personnel: John Pizzarelli (guitar); Heidi Modr (violin); Dana Winograd (cello); Aaron Heick (flute, alto saxophone); Ken Peplowski (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Bud Burridge (trumpet, flugelhorn); Mike Christianson (trombone, bass trombone); Ted Kooshian (piano, synthesizer); Joe Ascione (drums)