Editorial Reviews
If Women Ruled the World
If Women Ruled the World, Music, Ethel Ennis, Ballads, Jazz, Jazz Music, Pop, Standards
Amazon.com
On the back cover of this CD's booklet there's a photo of singer Ethel Ennis's contract from Savoy Records. Her first contract, that is, drawn up in 1951, so it's unmistakable, vocally and otherwise, that Ennis is a classy veteran. But this set comes decades after her debut, much to the surprise of the ears as they hear Ennis's youthful scat and the textured edges that rise and fall with her shapely phrasing. For this project Savoy enlisted pianist Marc Copland to arrange 12 tunes, all of them written by women, for jazz veteran Ennis to sing. The selection shows far more than Ennis's vocal brilliance, taking "Sometimes I Don't Wanna Go Home" and the title track from Joan Armatrading's book, "Nick of Time" from Bonnie Raitt's book, and a tune each from Carole King, Tracy Chapman, Joni Mitchell, and Ennis herself. Trumpeter Ingrid Jensen shows her sharp improvisational logic even while playing with a tone that's warm in the post-Miles Davis vein, and the rest of the band is eager to slow-burn these jazzed pop nuggets. Imagine Raitt's "Nick of Time" as a smartly samba-inflected shuffle, and you've got a glimpse of this collection, which stands to show anew that Ennis is a consummate vocal virtuoso. --Andrew Bartlett
Jazz Times
[Ethel Ennis] takes great advantage of the opportunity, laying down 12 sparkling tracks that are a choice mixture of standards, one original, and several selections from diverse and distinctive women.
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If Women Ruled the World
Ethel Ennis Manufacturer: Savoy Jazz ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
Traditional Vocal Pop
| Broadway & Vocalists
| Styles
| Music
General
| Vocal Pop
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
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ASIN: B00000DC2F Release Date: 1998-10-06 |
Tracks:
Amazon.com
On the back cover of this CD's booklet there's a photo of singer Ethel Ennis's contract from Savoy Records. Her first contract, that is, drawn up in 1951, so it's unmistakable, vocally and otherwise, that Ennis is a classy veteran. But this set comes decades after her debut, much to the surprise of the ears as they hear Ennis's youthful scat and the textured edges that rise and fall with her shapely phrasing. For this project Savoy enlisted pianist Marc Copland to arrange 12 tunes, all of them written by women, for jazz veteran Ennis to sing. The selection shows far more than Ennis's vocal brilliance, taking "Sometimes I Don't Wanna Go Home" and the title track from Joan Armatrading's book, "Nick of Time" from Bonnie Raitt's book, and a tune each from Carole King, Tracy Chapman, Joni Mitchell, and Ennis herself. Trumpeter Ingrid Jensen shows her sharp improvisational logic even while playing with a tone that's warm in the post-Miles Davis vein, and the rest of the band is eager to slow-burn these jazzed pop nuggets. Imagine Raitt's "Nick of Time" as a smartly samba-inflected shuffle, and you've got a glimpse of this collection, which stands to show anew that Ennis is a consummate vocal virtuoso. --Andrew BartlettCustomer Reviews:
Impressed.......2004-06-25
OUTSTANDING.......2000-03-18
Exceptioinal.......1999-03-19
Tour de force by leading female jazz singer.......1998-10-24
In this first release for Savoy, Ethel explores the work of traditional and contemporary female writers and composers. She uses top notch New York musicians, including two outstanding women horn players: Ingrid Jensen (trumpet) and Jane Ira Bloom (saxophone).
Marc Copland, keyboardist and producer, is revered in New York for his sensitive musicality. In this CD he creates a context for Ethel who improvises with the players to create spontaneous, deeply felt renditions of familiar songs which become original compositions. Just listen to what she does with "When I Need You."
The song selections also give Ethel opportunities to express her own convictions about the need for men and women to be free and honest about themselves. "Hey You", her own composition, once performed in Jimmy Carter's White House, asks people to "do what you want to do."
When Betty Carter died recently, listeners have asked "who's left" to continue the jazz tradition of singers who create living music when they perform songs. This CD answers the question. "Ethel"
Music: