Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Press Clips, Reviews:
New York…Los Angeles…Dallas…what a trip!
“Dallas jazz singer Judy Chamberlain is hot! I went to hear her sing recently, and now have some idea what to expect when Judy takes the stage…anything!” From her legendary repertoire of 4,000 American songs Judy covers all kinds of jazz and a good number of the best-written pop and rock songs. And because of her masterful phrasing you’ll hear new things in every song she sings. This is an interpretive artist who can hold her own with the great singers of the past. Her ability to improvise and deliver a strong reading of every song she sings accounts for the fact that great guitarists like Al Viola, gave Sinatra more than 25 years of his life – and gave a large part of the last 10 to Judy. And explains the appearance of her long-time bass player Ben May on a new CD she recorded before moving here from Los Angeles. She’s kept her own band together for many years, liberally laced with some of the best players in the jazz world. After hearing her, whenever and wherever, you’ll find that the lyrics of the songs she sings will be looping through your head long after.” Sam Chase – Blitz Weekly, Dallas, Texas
“Imagine starting a song without counting off the tempo or even telling one’s sidemen the name of the tune. Jazz singer/bandleader Judy Chamberlain, who has mastered the art of mesmerizing both the audience and her own band, does that regularly with her group without a moment’s hesitation. The results are both spontaneous and memorable.” All Music Guide
“Judy Chamberlain is an incredible singer, and I say that as someone who hates jazz utterly and completely.” Rebecca Schoenkopf – O.C. Weekly
“Ask Judy Chamberlain to sing your favorite song from the Great American Songbook, and you can make a safe bet that — no matter how obscure it may be — she’ll do it on the spot, usually including the rarely done verse, while adding her own gently swinging emphasis. If she doesn’t know the tune, hum a few bars and there’s a fair chance she’ll have it ready to go for the next set. Chamberlain’s easygoing interaction with her listeners transforms celebrations into marvelously spontaneous events.” Don Heckman – Los Angeles Times
“Judy Chamberlain must be channeling Miles Davis. She plays to the talents of her musicians, offering them an exciting environment in which to shine. There are no set lists. No rehearsals, no discussions. No calling out of keys, or counting off tempos. Head arrangements emanate from the bandstand as if by magic. Sometimes Chamberlain simply takes the pickup, singing a line or a riff, her musicians instantly following her subtle cues. It’s a challenge, and one they clearly enjoy. At a Chamberlain performance, it’s hard to tell who’s having more fun, the musicians or the audience. Other emotions surface as well, sometimes unexpectedly. Chamberlain is a skilled and sensitive tour guide, a real jazz singer who uses texture and color to weave a highly entertaining spell. Chamberlain maintains a busy performance schedule putting on critically acclaimed and highly entertaining shows including her own unique “Swinging Jazz Salute to Frank Sinatra.” Scott Yanow – LA Jazz Scene
“Singer Judy Chamberlain — backed by a band showcasing the guitar of Jim Fox and the saxophone and clarinet of Terry Harrington — sang a remarkably eclectic set. Ranging with ease from the warm-toned ballads of the Great American Songbook to a high-spirited romp through “Jailhouse Rock,” she affirmed her status as one of the Southland’s most versatile jazz vocalists.” Don Heckman – Los Angeles Times
“One of the first things you notice about singer Judy Chamberlain is the breadth of material she has at her disposal. A Nat Cole trifle — “Frim Fram Sauce” — and the wistful “Spring Is Here” rub shoulders with the forgotten Henry Mancini theme “Two for the Road.” She can also answer a request for Nat’s “L.O.V.E.” or Goffin and King’s girlish query “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” Not many singers can pull the verse of “As Time Goes By” out of their back pockets or pull the pickup of “Never Let Me Go” out of the air and know that the band will be underneath them with no prior signals. Not many have the taste to sing the bridge of Cole Porter’s signature “Night and Day” with only an arco bass accompaniment. These are nice touches, and they only occur when all of the musical elements are in the right place.” Kirk Silsbee – Los Angeles City Beat
