The recording features Nicole Zuraitis on vocals and piano, Idan Morim on guitar, Dan Pugach on drums and Samuel Weber on bass. Special guests include Keyon Harrold on trumpet, Rachel Eckroth on organ, Tom Scott on saxophone, and Carmen Grillo on guitar for ‘Georgia on My Mind.’ It’s a strong line-up.
The album was produced by Nicole Zuraitis and Tom Scott, with Sue and Paul Lowden as executive producers. It was recorded live on 8-10 June this year at Vic’s in Las Vegas.
The copious repertoire on Live at Vic’s combines jazz standards, pop covers and original compositions. Jazz standards include ‘Round Midnight,’ ‘The Nearness of You’ and ‘Georgia on My Mind’. Pop and folk songs are reinterpreted in a jazz setting, such as ‘Jolene’ by Dolly Parton, ‘Rhiannon’ by Stevie Nicks, ‘Wichita Lineman’ by Jimmy Webb and the traditional ‘Sea Line Woman.’
Original compositions by American artist Nicole Zuraitis who hails from Waterbury in Connecticut of Lithuanian and Italian lineage featured on the album include ‘All Stars Lead to You’, ‘Middle C’, ‘The Coffee Song’ and ‘Right in Front of Me’. All arrangements are by Zuraitis with an emphasis on giving space for both her own performance and contributions from the featured musicians.
Several tracks extend well beyond typical song lengths with some lasting over ten minutes. That’s not unusual with live album song lengths. These performances include extended improvisations and genre blending, reflecting Zuraitis’ ‘modern songbook’ approach.
There’s plenty of atmospheric feedback in the to-ing and fro-ing between music and audience. And what a lot’s here – two discs’ worth – and more killer than filler certainly. What I did like most was the song Zuraitis learnt she tells the Vic’s audience from Oleta Adams and Quincy Jones the Bernard Ighner classic ‘Everything Must Change’ which is certainly a massive highlight of the first disc.
I also liked the Zuraitis words set to Debussy’s 1890 melody ‘Rêverie’ that Paul Whiteman covered in the 1930s and Zuraitis herself interpreted on her Grammy winning How Love Begins. On the second disc the 1980s-like soft ballad that Zuraitis co-wrote with Jeff Franzel ‘Right in Front of Me’ works perfectly.
An album where there’s plenty to choose from stylistically. Zuraitis’ voice is very powerful – she reminds me of Jane Monheit a little especially when she inhabits more show tune type numbers . There’s plenty of laughter (as on the toothsome ‘Coffee Song’). File under fun and long form – and certainly for the jazz vocals lovers among us it’s a must to keep tabs on what Zuraitis is up to regularly. I’ll add this to the marlbank pick of the jazz vocals albums of the year on the next update and share the link when it’s ready soon. Stay tuned.
MORE FROM MARLBANK
