CD Review: Carter Calvert – It’s a Man’s World.

(Review by Minnie F)

 American vocalist Calvert sings songs made famous by male artists on this album “re-imagined and sung from a woman’s point of view”.  Although this may sound like a bit of a gimmick, it is successful due to the power of Calvert’s rich vocals and arrangements by Laurence Hobgood and Joshua Bowlus.  Tracks include songs originally sung by artists as diverse as Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, The Police and The Beatles.  Carter’s voice is strong and melodic, but some may think it would lend itself more to pop than jazz.  
However, the great strength of this album is the accompaniment; Calvert has surrounded herself with some really excellent musicians.  Joel Frahm’s brilliant sax playing and Marco Panascia’s bass on It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World originally by James Brown are well worth the listen.  Other up-beat songs include Elton John’s Take me to the Pilot and Ray Charles’ Hallelujah, I love him so which are made by the excellent David Rosenthal’s guitar, Ben Williams bass and Ulysses Owens’ drumming.  These are just examples of the quality of musicianship on the album where Calvert is accompanied by two different bands, both equally impressive.

A number of these songs are considerably different to their original versions, and the difference is much more than just the gender of the singer.  The second track, John Lee Hooker’s I’m in the Mood is probably the best for those wanting to hear some real jazz treatment with Williams’ catchy bass and Rosenthal’s prodigious guitar joined by an accomplished horn section consisting of Daniel Dickinson on alto sax, the aptly named Alphonso Horne on trumpet and Eric Miller on trombone. The final track is Let it Be which starts off almost unaccompanied, with only sparse playing from Hobgood’s piano, but the accompaniment builds up gradually towards the ultimate reward of a soaring sax solo from Frahm.

It is a diverse range of songs and styles such as blues, motown and pop, which are given the jazz treatment by virtue of the arrangement and accompaniment.  While some are more successful than others, over all this is a good, enjoyable album which is well produced with excellent musicianship.

Minnie.

Carter Calvert - voice; Joshua Bowlus – piano/Arrangements; Ben Williams – bass; Ulysses Owens Jr. – Drums; Daniel Dickinson - Alto Sax; Alphonso Horne – Trumpet; Eric Miller – Trombone; David Rosenthal – Guitar.

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Carter Calvert - voice; Joel Frahm - Tenor & Soprano Sax; Laurence Hobgood – Piano/Arrangements; Marco Panascia – Bass; Ulysses Owens Jr. – Drums + Damon Mack - B3 Hammond Organ (On Let It Be.)
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