ANDREA BAKER - CANDLES IN THE WIND (2005)

Late night jazz vocal - soft sytle with guitar trio - reminiscent of the old Julie London/Barney Kessel recordings.

Andrea Baker, vocals

Pat Kelley, guitar

Darek Oles, bass

James Gadson, drums on tacks 3,5 and 7

All arrangements by Andrea Baker

many thanks to Phillip Lambro

more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels

Review by Paul J. Youngman - KJA Advocate for WWW.VINILEMANIA.NET

download PDF

Candles In The Wind the most recent CD from singer Andrea Baker is a mixed bag of  pop tunes, jazz standards, Latin tunes and the blues, all performed in a cool, yet inviting manner. Ms. Baker has a voice that has a slightly nasal character, reminding me of a cross between some other grand Dames of the classic nightclub era, Anita O’Day, Sheila Jordan, Carmen McCrae and Peggy Lee all come to mind. Andrea Baker carries on the tradition of singers that have a delivery that is jazz harmony; exemplary phrasing that drives the melody and provides a great foundation for the accompanists, who on this recording do a fantastic job, particularly on guitar and bass.    

The CD has thirteen tracks, the opener is the title track “Candles In The Wind” composed by Paul Francis Webster and Phillip Lambro. A catchy love song, with great lyrics, Ms. Baker performs the song with a cool detached manner as if reflecting on long past memories. The very next song “Night & Day” by Cole Porter is provided a standard treatment of upbeat tempo and smooth cheerful vocals, the addition of some great scatting is a nice feature. The rhythm guitar playing of Pat Kelley is a treat; he swings through the song with some exceptional playing, pulling off excellent runs and placing them in the sweetest of spots.

Andrea Baker can sing the blues with passion and sincerity, “Born to Be Blue” great phrasing and a nice feel, picture a hazy nightclub in Manhattan in the early A.M. Other blues tunes with great grooves, “Blues In The Night” an Arlen/Mercer composition that smokes with Ms. Baker’s interpretation. The Fisher/Segal composition, “When Sunny Gets Blue” and the song “Let Some Love In” by the guitarist Pat Kelly and Monte Boyd, Ms. Baker seems at One with the Blues.

Three of the songs on the album feature a trio accompaniment, drums by James Gadson, bass by Darek Oles and the guitar by Pat Kelley. “Garnet” a composition by George Russell and Peggy Lee is nicely performed by the trio, a ballad with touching lyrics delivered with style and sophistication by Andrea Baker.

Of the Latin tunes, “Dindi” by Jobim/Gilbert is performed exquisitely, vocals and guitar complimenting each other to perfection, a hi-light track that is smooth and delectable.

Candles In The Wind is a nice discovery, vocal jazz interpreted by a skillful vocalist that phrases with the ultimate aim of presenting lyrics in the most pleasing of instrumental manners. The accompanists, for the most part are Darek Oles and Pat Kelly who get to play on all of the songs, they are joined by drummer James Gadson on three of the tracks. Looking for classic jazz vocals, look no further than Andrea Baker, a class act.

WWW.VINILEMANIA.NET

more reviews