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All Genres > Jazz > Jazz Vocals > REBECCA PARRIS & THE KENNY HADLEY BIG BAND: A Beautiful Friendship Following is an excerpt from the liner notes of "A Beautiful Friendship," written by James Gavin. Mr. Gavin is the author of the critically acclaimed biography of Chet Baker titled "Deep In A Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker": There's nothing tentative about jazz singer Rebecca Parris, nor should there be. When she plunges into a musical idea, she never fails to land on her feet. Whatever the size or power of the group behind her, she drives it. Her big, gutsy voice combines a Ben Websterish feel with a streak of rhythm and blues, and the sound is all hers. She idolizes Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan, but she doesn't recycle their licks; she's got plenty of her own, both bold and tender. "A Beautiful Friendship," her seventh album, places the Boston-based singer right where she belongs, in the heart of jazz. Give much of the credit to drummer Kenny Hadley and his roaring 17-piece band, a Boston mainstay since 1979. Hadley's group brings out the full range of Parris's abilities - and she, in turn, lifts the band to a new level. "Rebecca swings hard," Hadley says. "Not a lot of people can sing in front of this band without getting buried. She's got the pipes, and she's got the soul. Her phrasing, her time, her intonation are tremendous. She sings ballads like she's with a small group. I'm telling you, she sings her ass off on this record." They've been dreaming of this album since they met. Parris chose mostly upbeat, affirmative songs, and why not? Her year had included extensive touring with Gary Burton to promote their GRP album, "It's Another Day," a PBS special with Burton, a healthy national itinerary of her own, and the chance to share stages with Mark Murphy and Dori Caymmi, two of her idols. She also had this, her first big band album, to look forward to. Good jazz players know when a singer is also a musician, which explains the band's response to Parris. "Even the most hardened guys absolutely dig her," Hadley says. It's good to hear Rebecca Parris in her element, with the album that her fans have long wished she'd make. As Hadley told her after hearing the final mix, "Sweetheart, it's done, and all I'm gonna say is it sounds like you." Check out the artist's website: http://rebeccaparris.com Track List: 1. A Beautiful Friendship 2. Let's Get Away From It All 3. The Right To Love 4. With A Song In My Heart 5. Indian Summer 6. Falling In Love With Love 7. Simone 8. Somewhere Over The Rainbow 9. All My Tomorrows 10. Later For Love 11. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise 12. I'll Be Seeing You 13. On Green Dolphin Street 14. So Many Stars Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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