by dynamite | Aug 23, 2017 | Uncategorized
With music, sometimes it’s the songwriting that makes a difference. Other times, the voices and instruments and how they execute are key. But then there’s that time when a reworking of what’s written is the focal point. That’s where vocalist Sylvia Brooks comes in, hiring several Los Angeles-based arrangers for her third album, The Arrangement (2017).
The lineup varies from song to song. Collectively, the players are: Otmaro Ruiz, piano; Sezin Ahmet Turkmenoglu, bass; Aaron Serfaty, drums and percussion; Kim Richmond, alto sax; Bob Sheppard, tenor sax; Francisco Torres, trombone; Juliane Gralle, bass trombone; Brian Swartz, trumpet; Ron Stout, flugelhorn; Will Brahm, guitar; Quinn Johnson, piano; Trey Henry, bass; Tom Brechtlein, drums; Michael Stever, trumpet; Jeff Driskill, sax; Jeff Colella, piano; Kendall Kay, drums; Chris Colangelo, bass; Bruce Babad, flutes; Larry Koonse, guitar; Christian Jacob, piano and Fender Rhodes; Will Brahm, guitar; David Hughes, bass; Jamey Tate, drums.
Brooks brings warmth and a bit of joy to Hank Williams’ “Cold Cold Heart.” Rather than wallow in the misery of being mistreated by a loved one, Brooks sings it with vigor, as a wronged person turning the situation into a positive, by taking charge. Her scat enhances Driskell’s tenor solo. The horn section gives a swing feel to the song.
Major kudos to Jacob for the arrangement of “Eleanor Rigby.” His approach adds an elegance seldom heard in a cover of this Beatles classic. The flutes and Rhodes provide a haunting quality. Babad’s tenor solo injects a romantic touch. And Brooks’ voice is charming throughout.
I’m not sure what it is about “Besame Mucho” that so many jazz artists interpret it. This is easily one of my favorite renditions. Brooks takes it slow with this Otmaro Ruiz arrangement. The congas give it a Latin feel, appropriate considering the songs origins. The soft horns add a symphonic element.
Other notable tracks include “Body and Soul,” “Maybe I’m a Fool” and “The Tender Trap.”
This project came together with Brooks picking Ruiz, Colella, Jacob and Johnson. She gave them two instructions. First, they must use a combination of brass and reed instruments. Second, they could choose the musicians they felt would best serve the direction of the music. The combination is a perfect match as the arrangements are fresh and engaging, the musicians are rock solid, and Brooks’ soothing, charming voice completes the package.
Brooks is a native of Miami. Her father, pianist/arranger Don Ippolito, was a first-call talent who performed with several jazz heavyweights, among them Stan Getz, Buddy Rich, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan and Dizzy Gillespie. Brooks’ mother, Johanna Dordick, was a conservatory-trained opera singer. Though influenced by her parents in music, Brooks first took the stage as an actor. After moving to Los Angeles, Brooks returned to her jazz roots.
by dynamite | Aug 7, 2017 | Uncategorized
Sylvia Brooks showcased songs from her third record, The Arrangement, at Catalina Bar and Grill, with a solid group of players. Some featured tunes were: “Night and Day”, a cool and deadly ballad, and “Guess Who I Saw Today”. Jacob took the helm for “Midnight Sun” with Brooks singing passionately, with saxophone embellishing. Joining the headliner, was Cathy Segal Garcia for Jacob’s stylish arrangement of the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby”, with an injected saxophone solo. With only piano, she seductively sang “Maybe I’m A Fool”- an original, and united with full band was “The Tender Trap” bolstered by piano solo, along with longing “Never Let Me Go”. Concluding the show was sultrily sung “Angel Eyes” with detailed band playing, to draw a standing ovation.
by dynamite | Aug 7, 2017 | Uncategorized
Vocalist Sylvia Brooks has been well versed in music for most of her life. Her father was Don Ippolito, who worked with some of the best in the business. A pianist/arranger he was working with such luminaries as Stan Getz, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughn, Dizzy Gillespie and Buddy Rich. Brooks’ mom was a trained opera singer who was also adept with pop and standard tunes in clubs. Brooks began to study acting though she was always attracted to singing jazz specifically. She worked with Tom Garvin and eventually recorded CD’s with Kim Richmond, Otmaro Ruiz, Chris Colangelo, Kendall Kay, Larry Koonse, Bob Sheppard, Jeff Colella, Christian Jacob, Quinn Johnson and other tops musicians. We have to state that she has great judgement in the musicians she works with. The Arrangement is her third CD. Some gems in the recording include “Body and Soul”, “Eleanor Rigby”, “Guess Who I Saw Today”, “Night and Day”, “Angel Eyes” and three of her own tunes, “Sweet Surrender”, “Maybe I’m A Fool” and “What Was I Thinking (The Mirage)”. We think she’s well on her way to a great career as a jazz stylist. Catch her when she is in your area.
by dynamite | Aug 1, 2017 | Uncategorized
Sylvia Brooks has the look of a classic Hollywood femme fatale, suggesting an auburn-haired variation on Veronica Lake with a hint of Rita Hayworth. And Brooks sings precisely the way she looks – a dark, smoky sound with impressive firepower that seems tailor-made for the sort of plush, palm-treed nightclubs that dotted L.A. in the 1940s and ’50s. Those intimate boîtes – spots like Ciro’s, The Tally-Ho, The Encore and the richly historied Cocoanut Grove – are gone now, but Brooks is rapidly emerging as an SRO favorite at the chic venues that have replaced them, including Catalina’s, the Jazz Bakery and Vitello’s Jazz and Supper Club.
Now, with the release of Brooks’ debut CD, the aptly titled Dangerous Liaisons, the wider world can share Los Angelinos’ discovery of her alluring sultriness. Brooks can swing hot and hard, as illustrated by a blistering “Never Dance” and an equally scorching “Sway.” She can also swing brightly, taking “Come Rain or Come Shine” at mid-tempo to ably capture the depth of the Arlen/Mercer gem’s ardor, and holding her torch high on a sweltering “When the Sun Comes Out.”
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by dynamite | Jun 5, 2017 | Uncategorized
Sylvia Brooks, who has been singing and acting in Southern California during the past decade. Her voice is attractive and alluring, her phrasing is swinging, and she always sings in-tune. Ms. Brooks has had some success with her first two CDs, Dangerous Liaisons and Restless, which often found her singing in dramatic fashion while looking back towards the film noir era of the 1940s and ‘50s.
The Arrangement is her most jazz-oriented set to date. Performing 11 familiar standards and three originals, Sylvia Brooks performs with top artists (mostly from Southern California) on arrangements contributed by Otmaro Ruiz, Quinn Johnson, Jeff Colella, Christian Jacob and Kim Richmond. Her singing is always appealing while her improvising is subtle. It is obvious that Ms. Brooks is a top-notch singer.
While some of the arrangements modernize and reharmonize the standards, the best performances are the ones that have charts that let the music breathe and include some space. The most rewarding renditions include “Eleanor Rigby,” a swinging “The Tender Trap,” “Angel Eyes” and the three originals. It is particularly rewarding hearing the singer perform her “Sweet Surrender” as a duet with pianist Christian Jacob. There are also occasional statements from sidemen with the solos of Ron Stout on flugelhorn and tenors Bruce Babad and Bob Sheppard being standouts.
The Arrangement (available from www.sylviabrooks.net) is Sylvia Brooks’ finest recording to date. It makes one look forward to her Catalina performance of Wednesday June 7.
Scott Yanow
