Jackie Ryan: Listen Here (2013)

Dan Bilawsky

Senior Contributor since 2010

Jazz fan, music educator and writer.

Recent articles (594 total)

Published: January 3, 2013

Jackie Ryan isn't simply a singer; she's a force of nature. Her voice possesses a weighty power, yet soars with grace and ease. Her ability to transmute into different characters and forms, as dictated by the song, lyrics and style, makes her one in a million and she's managed to parlay that unique gift into project after successful project with some of the best in the business backing her up. This date is no exception.

Ryan recruited bassist/arranger extraordinaire John Clayton John Clayton
b.1952
bass, acoustic to build a band around her voice and he reached out to some of his first-call friends and relatives from the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
b.1995
band/orchestra and the Clayton Brothers Clayton Brothers
Quintet. Together, this group of West Coast jazz elites makes magic. Saxophonist Rickey Woodward preaches from the soul with horn in hand ("Accentuate The Positive"), trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos Gilbert Castellanos
brings the heat, guitarist Graham Dechter Graham Dechter

guitar proves to be a wonderful accompanist when Ryan opens up her Spanish heart for all to see ("La Puerta"), and drummer Obed Calvaire Obed Calvaire

drums shifts effortlessly from style to style.

Each of those individuals adds volumes to the album, but John Clayton and his unbelievably musical offspring—pianist Gerald Clayton Gerald Clayton

piano —prove to be the two most valuable players. The elder Clayton's impeccable time and feel, along with his instincts and arranging skills, help to sell the songs. Gerald Clayton demonstrates an encyclopedic knowledge of styles, sounds and suggestive maneuvers. He can thrive in a dark, brooding and funky headspace ("Comin' Home Baby"), deliver churchy, Richard Tee Richard Tee
1943 - 1993
keyboard -like backing without a problem ("Accentuate The Positive") and inhabit a Count Basie Count Basie
1904 - 1984
piano -esque, less-is-more mindset (Anytime, Any Day, Anywhere").

As good as the instrumentalists may be—and they are damn good—this date still belongs to Ryan and she makes sure that nobody forgets it. She can proselytize with the best of them ("Accentuate The Positive"), inhabit a Billie Holiday Billie Holiday
1915 - 1959
vocal -like space ("Anytime, Any Day, Anywhere"), commune with the blues ("No One Ever Tells You"), deliver brilliantly emotional performances ("Throw It Away," "A Time For Love") and carry directness in her words ("Listen Here"). Her sense of passion for this music comes through at every turn and her skills as an interpreter are second to none.

Listen Here makes an impression in a big way and furthers the already sterling reputation of one of the current vocal treasures in the world of jazz.

Track Listing: Comin' Home Baby; The Gypsy In My Soul; Throw It Away; Accentuate The Positive; Anytime, Any Day, Anywhere; I Loves You Porgy; How Little We Know (How Little It Matters); La Puerta; Rip Van Winkle; A Time For Love; No One Ever Tells You; Before We Fall In Love; To The Ends Of The Earth; Listen Here.

Personnel: Jackie Ryan: vocals; Gerald Clayton: piano, organ; John Clayton: bass; Gilbert Castellanos: trumpet; Graham Dechter: guitar; Obed Calvaire: drums; Rickey Woodward: saxophone.

Record Label: Open Art Productions
Style: Vocal