Love Is...The Tender Trap

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Stacy Kent has a voice like the great Dinah Washington's, immediate in its grab of the ear and incisive in its tonal shape. Kent's middle range has a washing quality that pushes the edges forward, even as the edges lilt upward or warble excitedly. Kent and her British band--virtual unknowns prior to this debut--are sure to splash big, with their spare ballad approach (as on Duke Ellington and Bob Russell's "I Didn't Know About You") or their rumbling swing on George Gershwin's "They All Laughed." Pianist David Newton glides across melodies with a light touch but then launches sparkling solos full of funky harmonics--hear "The Tender Trap" for Kent and Newton's mix of charming voice and odd pianism. The band is creative enough to feel at ease reaching into great instrumental passages, giving Kent a first-class platform from which to cue up phrasing that nods to Ella Fitzgerald and a unique, fetching overall style all her own. --Andrew Bartlett

On Kent's fine 1997 debut, Close Your Eyes, her exaggerated vibrato distracted a bit from her otherwise delightful voice and her in-the-pocket sense of swing. But on Kent's second disc, the vibrato has been reduced, as if someone had turned a knob back from 10 to eight. In full force again are Kent's effortless groove, her smooth-as-ice diction, and her smart lyrical interpretations.

Listen to the subtle, dreamy web she weaves on "They Say It's Wonderful," then check out the sassy spunk on the... read more

Album Details
It's Only her Second Album, but What an Impact She Has Had on the Jazz World. Ms. Kent's Natural Vocal Abilities Are in Full Force Once More on this Wonderful Collection. While the Songs Are Quite Familiar to Most, She Breathes New Life Into Each One with a Distinctive Voice, Superb Diction and Sublime Performance. If You're a Fan of How They Used to Make 'em, Guess What? They're Still Making Em Like They Used To...and Just as Good!

Love Is...The Tender Trap

Tracks:

The Tender Trap
I Didn't Know About You
Comes Love
In The Still Of The Night
Fools Rush In
East Of The Sun
Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart
They Say It's Wonderful
Don't Be That Way
They All Laughed
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
It's A Wonderful World

Amazon.com

Stacy Kent has a voice like the great Dinah Washington's, immediate in its grab of the ear and incisive in its tonal shape. Kent's middle range has a washing quality that pushes the edges forward, even as the edges lilt upward or warble excitedly. Kent and her British band--virtual unknowns prior to this debut--are sure to splash big, with their spare ballad approach (as on Duke Ellington and Bob Russell's "I Didn't Know About You") or their rumbling swing on George Gershwin's "They All Laughed." Pianist David Newton glides across melodies with a light touch but then launches sparkling solos full of funky harmonics--hear "The Tender Trap" for Kent and Newton's mix of charming voice and odd pianism. The band is creative enough to feel at ease reaching into great instrumental passages, giving Kent a first-class platform from which to cue up phrasing that nods to Ella Fitzgerald and a unique, fetching overall style all her own. --Andrew Bartlett

Album Details

It's Only her Second Album, but What an Impact She Has Had on the Jazz World. Ms. Kent's Natural Vocal Abilities Are in Full Force Once More on this Wonderful Collection. While the Songs Are Quite Familiar to Most, She Breathes New Life Into Each One with a Distinctive Voice, Superb Diction and Sublime Performance. If You're a Fan of How They Used to Make 'em, Guess What? They're Still Making Em Like They Used To...and Just as Good!

Customer Reviews:

Great Voice.......2007-02-27

I think Stacy has a wonderful voice. Glad I purchased this CD.

An affectionate voice........2005-04-23

Stacey Kent's voice is unique and distinguishable amongst her contemporaries because it is thin but strong, sexy but sincere and she makes you notice and remember it. "Love is a Tender Trap" illustrates all these wonderful traits. The first six tracts are justly sung with the complimentary backing from tenor saxophonist Jim Tomlinson and company to put you in the mood. The band knows exactly when to add a little bit of piano, a mute scratching of the drums and a bellow of the bass. You can hear this in "I Didn't Know About You." There are also some swing numbers like "Comes Love" and the title track. Either way, Kent's phrasing and interpretation is special and memorable. She is Eartha Kitt and then some.

A not-so-tender trap.......2004-12-25

Despite Amazon's listing showing "Audio CD January 28, 2003", this product was recorded in early 1998 when, in my opinion, Stacey Kent had developed minimal skills as a professional recording artist. I purchased it based on my delight with later CDs like Dreamsville and In Love Again. But I listened to it once and threw it away. The problems were a combination of immature phrasing, off-pitch notes at times, the wrong song choices for her talents and, probably, some poor audio mixing. I love Stacey's later and current work but this one's a bummer.

Just one of Stacey's list of 5-star releases.......2004-09-16

She knows the music, doesn't try to recreate it, but rather dignifies it with her pure clear tones and impeccable timing.

My personal favorite is "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning".

Second album from American-born British-based jazz star.......2004-05-09

Stacey is now getting long-overdue recognition in the land of her birth thanks to her 2004 album, The boy next door, but she has been a major name in British jazz circles for a few years now. This is one of the albums that show why. I am amazed to read reviews criticizing Stacey's voice but we are all entitled to our opinions. I think she has a wonderful voice. Any minor technical limitations are more than compensated for in other ways. She likes to put her own distinctive interpretations on each song, so she can adapt the song to suit her voice. Classic songs from the Great American Songbook are Stacey's speciality. This is a very competitive market but Stacey has proved well capable of taking on the competition.

On this album, you can hear Stacey's versions of such classics as the title track (Frank Sinatra), I didn't know about you (Duke Ellington), Comes love (Artie Shaw with Helen Forrest singing), In the still of the night (Tommy Dorsey), Fools rush in (Glenn Miller), East of the sun (Tom Coakley), Zing went the strings of my heart (Judy Garland), They say it's wonderful (Frank Sinatra), Don't be that way (Benny Goodman), They all laughed (Fred Astaire), In the wee small hours of the morning (Frank Sinatra) and It's a wonderful world (Charlie Barnet). If one or two of the original hit-makers seem unfamiliar, a look at the composer credits will reassure you. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn, George and Ira Gershwin - they're all there.

Stacey is, as ever, backed by some of the finest jazz musicians in Britain (and she's married to one of them). Her music may have less crossover appeal than Diana Krall and Norah Jones but it's possible to enjoy the music of all three in their different ways.

Love Is...The Tender Trap
Average customer rating:

Great Voice

An affectionate voice.

A not-so-tender trap

Just one of Stacey's list of 5-star releases

Second album from American-born British-based jazz star

Love Is...The Tender Trap
Stacey Kent
Manufacturer: Chiaroscuro Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Traditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Boy Next Door

Close Your Eyes

Let Yourself Go: Celebrating Fred Astaire

In Love Again - The Music of Richard Rodgers

Dreamsville

ASIN: B00000HX71
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Tracks:

The Tender Trap
I Didn't Know About You
Comes Love
In The Still Of The Night
Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread)
East Of The Sun
Zing ! Went The Strings Of My Heart
They Say It's Wonderful
Don't Be That Way
They All Laughed
In The Wee Small Hourss Of The Mourning
It's A Wonderful World

Amazon.com

Album Details

Customer Reviews:

Great Voice.......2007-02-27

I think Stacy has a wonderful voice. Glad I purchased this CD.

An affectionate voice........2005-04-23

A not-so-tender trap.......2004-12-25

Just one of Stacey's list of 5-star releases.......2004-09-16

She knows the music, doesn't try to recreate it, but rather dignifies it with her pure clear tones and impeccable timing.

My personal favorite is "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning".

Second album from American-born British-based jazz star.......2004-05-09

Customer Reviews:

The Latest Jazz Siren.......2001-07-12

Recent years have produced a bevy of young women bringing strong credentials to the formidable tradition of female lead vocalist in jazz combos--heir apparents to the mantles of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn. The good news is that several of them-like Jane Monheit-are very good. The truly exciting news is that Stacy Kent has gone to the front of this class. Her CDS--Love is the Tender Trap being the most recent-are only just becoming available here. I would have to say that none from this pack brings more to the challenge than Stacy Kent. She is truly a rising bright star in this firmament.

Her voice is distinctive and you will not soon forget it, supple and versatile, fresh and strong. The unique quality of her voice is her chief asset in her musical interpretation, as opposed to, say, her phrasing. She moves easily back and forth between more popular music as well as the sturdy genre of jazz standards. But thankfully, her combo in this CD is well-grounded in what makes a solid jazz recording. They are a delight, making choices that are foundation for the vocal structure she builds. Their sturdy and animated interpretations are the perfect accent to the resonant verve of her singing.

The strongest songs here include the winsomely coy "I Didn't Know About You", a quiet heartfelt purity "In the Still of the Night", and wonderful versions of standards like "They All Laughed" and "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning." Splendid variety reigns among these selections, each keeping you eager for the next.

Kent manages to pull off being unabashedly romantic without being cloying, adventurous without being presumptuous, and rooted in a tradition while taking it forward. And that is no mean feat for a newcomer. This CD has my highest recommendation. What will be interesting in the music to come is whether her arresting and captivating voice is one that we can live with across time or merely "cute" and passing. For now, you don't want to miss this offering.

Music:

Music

Music