Sheila Jordan - I've Grown Accustomed to the Bass (CD)

All Music Guide

This 1997 concert marked the first time that vocalist Sheila Jordan and bassist Cameron Brown had performed live as a duo. Nerves aside, they had their Belgian audience captivated from the opening of the set. Jordan improvises much like a horn with her interesting choices of notes as she sings the lyrics to standards like "The Very Thought of You," while Brown is also a superb musician, comping perfectly for her and launching on his inventive solo flights of his own. Jordan scats an introduction to the playful "Better Than Anything" (a good song that is often subjected to lackluster interpretations), adding a few interesting twists of her own as they take it into new musical territory. "Dat Dere" sounds even better in a vocal/bass setting; Jordan's humorous interpretation proves to be infectious. One unusual part of this performance is her series of medleys that are connected without interruption, blending her originals with standards and favorite jazz compositions into a stunning tour... de force. The duo wraps the session with "I've Grown Accustomed to the Bass," wryly altering the lyrics to "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" to craft a fitting tribute to her duo partner. - Ken Dryden, All Music Guide Read more Less