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CD/LP/Track Review
Jackie Ryan: Doozy (2009)
Larry Taylor
Larry retired from teachng college journalism after over 20 years, coming to teaching from 15 years in the newspaper business working for Ridder-Johns Newspapers.
This two-CD set is vocalist Jackie Ryan's third recording and it's definitely a keeper. On the heels of her 2007 success, You And The Night And The Music (Open Art Productions), which landed on the charts, With her clear, rich voice, Ryan undoubtedly has one of jazz's great vocal instruments—no low-note warble or reedy high notes for her and with a 3-1/2 octave range, she handles each song with aplomb. In addition, she has a sure sense of phrasing and an unerring accuracy for getting to the heart of a song. To say she always swings is an under-statement. Based in the San Francisco Bay area, Ryan has played around the world—London, Japan, Amsterdam and made a memorable 2006 appearance in New York at the Lincoln Center. Along the way, she has been backed by some of the best, including Clark Terry Her accompaniment here is led by peerless pianist Cyrus Chestnut Ryan includes a collection of pop tunes, Latin American songs and under- appreciated jazz compositions. Everything stands out on about the CD, making it difficult to choose highlights, but here are a few: On the opening title track, her original vocalese interpretation brings to mind the great Annie Ross Lubambo's guitar magic is conjured particularly well in Jobim's "Caminhos Cruzados." His infectious bossa nova rhythm frames Ryan's sensual rendering. Later, their duo on Augustin Lara's classic "Solamente Una Vez" is blissfully beautiful. Leonard Bernstein's "Some Other Time" finishes off the set, featuring just Ryan and Chestnut. Someone once said that "less is better." That maxim is proven with the stark beauty of this piece. Track Listing: CD1: Doozy; You'll See;Caminhos Cruzados; Do Something; Speak Low; I
Must Have That Man; Dat Dere; Beautiful Moons Ago; My How The Time
Goes By CD2: Opportunity Please Knock; I Haven't Got Anything Better
To Do; Brigas Nunca Mais/A Felicidade; Spring Can Really Hang You Up
The Most; Solamente Una Vez; Summer Serenade; Get Ride Of Monday;
Midnight Sun; Tell Me More And More And Then Some; Some Other Time. Personnel: Jackie Ryan: vocals; Eric Alexander: saxophone; Jeremy Pelt: trumpet,
flugelhorn; Cyrus Chestnut: piano; Romero Lubambo: guitar; Ray Drummond: bass; Dezron Douglas: bass; Carl Allen: drums; Neal Smith: drums.
Record Label: Open Art Productions 
Clark Terry
b.1920
trumpet
, Toots Thielemans
Toots Thielemans
b.1922
harmonica
, Barry Harris
Barry Harris
b.1929
piano
, Terry Gibbs
Terry Gibbs
b.1924
vibraphone
, Buddy DeFranco
Buddy DeFranco
b.1923
clarinet
and Red Holloway. 
Cyrus Chestnut
b.1963
piano
, and includes a superb front line of tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander
Eric Alexander
b.1968
sax, tenor
, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt
Jeremy Pelt
b.1976
trumpet
and the great Brazilian guitarist, Romero Lubambo
Romero Lubambo
guitar
. 
Annie Ross
b.1930
vocal
, with tasty solos delivered by Pelt, Alexander, and Chestnut. Ryan's ability to tell a story and the flexibility of her voice is displayed in "Do Something," as she ranges up and down the scales and in and out of the melody. Also, Chestnut's expertise as an accompanist is reaffirmed in his embellishments. Another favorite, "Speak Low"—executed with a samba beat—is a vivid example of how Ryan builds dramatic intensity.
Style: Vocal
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