Album Review
Long a staple on the San Francisco jazz singer scene, Shanna Carlson has released her maiden album as a featured performer for her own production company. That it has taken so long, and that she finally had to resort to producing and issuing the album herself, once more demonstrates how difficult it is for many jazz artists, even those with enormous talents and skills, to get heard beyond their geographic localities. Carlson employs both jazz and cabaret stylings as she delivers a play list of 17 standards, Tin Pan Alley serenades, and her originals written with co-composer Ken McKenzie. Possessing a warm contralto that is both sincere and sultry, Carlson gives the impression that she is singing directly to her lover and this CD lets the listener eavesdrop. This sensation is especially evident on tunes like "Close Enough for Love." The wry attitude unique to cabaret is put on full display with "I'm Just a Lucky So and So." Carlson's sincerity comes through on "Where Can I Go Without You," making this one of the finest interpretations of the Peggy Lee/Victor Young tune. Although Carlson sits at the piano on "Where Can I Go Without You," "The Swing Song (Swing High, Swing Low)," and "Silences," the bulk of the pianistic duties falls to Dick Bell for the first 11 tracks, with Bill Hindman picking up the cudgels for the rest of the set. Both manage to make statements of their own without stepping on the vocal toes of Carlson. Hindman particularly shows his prowess on a tune like "What Have You Got to Lose," and Bell on "I've Got the World on a String." Buddy Montgomery adds his significant vibes presence on "How Deep Is the Ocean"; master drummer Vince Lateano lays down a solid tempo for the first 11 tracks, while Scott Morris takes over for the last six. Other contributors of note include Pee Wee Claybrook on tenor and Jim Nichols on guitar. This is a fine album and is recommended.
