REMEMBERING - New Jersey Jazz Society

JerseyReviewsJazzCaught inthe ActBy Joe LangNJJS Board MemberDave Frishberg & Rebecca KilgoreFeinstein’s, New York City | July 28 – August 1, 2009Vocalist/pianist Dave Frishberg and vocalist Rebecca Kilgore have beenworking together occasionally since the early 1990s. They are bothresidents of Portland, Oregon, and have had some regular gigs over the years atlocal venues. There have also been three albums resulting from the teaming ofthese two unique interpreters of the Great American Songbook, the mostrecent being Why Fight the Feeling: Songs by Frank Loesser, released in 2008on Arbors Records. Folks in New York City were given the opportunity to enjoytheir winning artistry for four nights at Feinstein’s at the Regency Hotel.Dave Frishberg is one of the few true hipsters left on the scene. His occasionalduos with another of this rare breed, Bob Dorough, always bring out anenthusiastic crowd. Several years back, they recorded an album titled Who’s onFirst. They wrote the title song to humorously explore the quandary faced whentwo performers of equal stature are paired together, and must decide which ofthem is to perform in the initial slot. Frishberg and Kilgore were faced with asimilar situation, and used this clever ditty to introduce their show.Kilgore then left the stage to Frishberg, and he spent a pleasant interludeexploring a half-dozen of his own musical creations. He opened with threesongs about cities, the wry “Another Song About Paris,” the lament “Do YouMiss New York,” and the cynical “Living Too Long in L.A.” Frishberg wrote thewords and music for the score of a musical presented in Portland about thecharacters that comprised the legendary Algonquin Round Table. Judging by thetwo selections that he offered from this theatre piece, “What’s Your Plan Mrs.Parker” and “Hey Pal (Who Do You Think You Are),” it should be hoped that theproducers of the show find the resources to bring this piece to the Big Applewhere it would have its most natural appeal. He closed his segment with one ofhis typically cynical meditations on contemporary life, “Long Daddy Green.”Frishberg is a superb jazz pianist, and a sensitive accompanist. His voice is thekind that one often finds from a singing jazz player, not attractive in a classicmanner, but his sense of phrasing and understanding of his material allows himto make his limited vocal resources take a back seat to his ability tocommunicate. I often think of him as a contemporary Hoagy Carmichael, bothas a performer, and as a composer/lyricist.It was then time for the return of Kilgore, and she gave the audience a taste ofwhy she is so highly thought of by those who love great songs. She is one ofthe select few singers who digs deep into the Great American Songbook, andalways opts to sing selections that might be a bit off of the beaten path, but arewell worth the detours. She opened with “Evenin’,” a tune most associated withthe great blues singer, Jimmy Rushing. Not being familiar with Portuguese, it ishard to judge how effective it is when an American sings in that language, butmy untrained ears were quite satisfied with her warbling of “Brazil” inPortuguese. Among her other superb selections were “Namely You,” “Martha,”“Not a Care in the World” and “Happy As the Day Is Long.” Kilgore is a pleasureto hear. She has an appealing voice, and an understated style that demandsyour attention. Her reading of lyrics is simply perfect, and her interpretationsalways reflect a jazz influence.The duo once again joined forces for a Johnny Mercer medley. Frishbergdeclared “You Must Have been a Beautiful Baby,” Kilgore gave a witty renditionof “Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry,” Frishberg urged us to“Accentuate the Positive,” and they teamed up on “Hooray for Hollywood” and“Glow Worm.”To close, Frishberg exposed his sensitive side, singing his lyrics to an AlanBroadbent tune that advises a young child to “Listen Here” to mature words ofadvice about how to face life. It added a nice touch to conclude this fineevening of song and good spirits.JJThePresentsSaturday, November 21st8:00 p.m.United Reformed Church100 West Main Street, Somerville, NJ$15 advance sale $20 at the doorDining on Main Coupons for select Downtown Somervillerestaurants sent with advance sale ticketsFor Tickets: 908/722-4824e-mail: sylanders58@comcast.net52_________________________________ October 2009