Shelley Neill - Diaphanous Apertures

All Music Guide

Boston-based Shelley Neill not only sings on her premiere album, but she is the session's producer and photographer. Such is the life of a jazz singer trying to get her work out to the public. Well, at least there's no question of artistic control. Neill's musical agenda for her first album pays tribute to some of the more prominent contributors to the great American songbook. The album's play list runs the gamut from Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" through Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain" to Dave Frishberg's slightly sardonic "Peel Me a Grape." Neill's considerable song writing skills are displayed by her lyrics to Roland Rahsaan Kirk's "Some Kind of Love." Neill treats each of these songs with great respect by playing very close attention to the words. "Don't Explain" becomes a plea not to give her the reasons for or the details of her lover's dalliance. "As Time Goes By" recalls the poignancy of the scene in Rick's Café from Casablanca. Neill's vocal sensuality is conspicuous on the B...ergmans' sultry "The Island." Neill can also swing and she does so with good effect on Duke Ellington's "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me," kicked off with a Hodges-like introduction by Peter Cobb. But the swinging is controlled in that she doesn't try to overwhelm the music. "No Moon at All" is the vehicle for Neill's scatting skills, but again, it's scatting with a legitimate improvisational purpose, not just to show off technical virtuosity. Neill has a superb group of musicians supporting her. Peter Cobb's cool alto sax is heard on virtually every cut. He sounds like Stan Getz, if Getz played alto. Mark Shilansky's Ahmad Jamal-like piano is a perfect foil for Neill's deep, sulfurous voice. Hear him on "The Island" and on "Don't Explain." Since this is a drummer-less group, the burden of keeping time falls on Brian McCree's bass, which he carries off admirably. Hopefully, this is the first of many albums to come from this fine singer. - Dave Nathan, All Music Guide Read more Less