STACEY KENT & ART HIRAHARA — Songs from Other Places (2021) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Singing with just piano accompaniment suits Stacey Kent's voice. It's an intimate, gorgeous sound. Of the new songs, I especially like Craigie Burn, by Tomlinson and Ishguro, probably the only song written that rhymes autumn with moorland. I am tired of Paul Simon's American Tune, which I think is not one of his better tunes but is covered so often, I suspect, because of the lyrics. Stacey does a nice version of that song, too, minimizing the melodrama that others bring to it. I like everything that Stacey sings in French and am happy that Les Voyages is on this CD. All in all, there is much to enjoy and nothing to skip on Songs From Other Places. Ken Schmidt
Tracklist & Credits :
1    I Wish I Could Go Travelling Again 4:29
Songwriter – Jim Tomlinson, Kazuo Ishiguro
2    Bonita 4:11
Songwriter – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gene Lees, Ray Gilbert
3    Craigie Burn 5:11
Songwriter – Jim Tomlinson, Kazuo Ishiguro
4    Les Voyages 3:08
Songwriter – Raymond Lévesque
5    American Tune 4:08
Songwriter – Paul Simon
6    Tango In Macao 5:11
Songwriter – Jim Tomlinson, Kazuo Ishiguro
7    Blackbird 4:18
Arranged By – Art Hirahara
Songwriter – Lennon-McCartney
8    My Ship 4:08
Songwriter – Ira Gershwin, Kurt Weill
9    Imagina 2:02
Songwriter – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Chico Buarque
10    Landslide 3:56
Songwriter – Stevie Nicks
Credits :
Piano, Keyboards, Melodica – Art Hirahara
Vocals – Stacey Kent

STACEY KENT - Close Your Eyes (1997) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Stacey Kent has a very appealing voice, and her delivery is full of joy, enthusiasm, and subtle creativity. Sticking mostly to veteran standards on this CD (only "Sleep Warm" was written after the 1950s), Kent sounds delightful while joined by a fine mainstream quintet. Jim Tomlinson contributes some tenor solos reminiscent in tone of Stan Getz, and pianist David Newton and guitarist Colin Oxley also get some solo space. Such songs as "More Than You Know," "There's a Lull in My Life," "There's No You," and "Little White Lies" are all uplifted, making this a very easy CD to enjoy and Stacey Kent a voice to look for in the future. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     More Than You Know 5:30
Edward Eliscu / Billy Rose / Vincent Youmans
2     Dream Dancing 4:21
Cole Porter
3     Close Your Eyes 5:19
Bernice Petkere
4     There's a Lull in My Life 4:22
Mack Gordon / Harry Revel
5     It's De-Lovely 3:21
Cole Porter
6     There's No You 6:09
Tom Adair / Hal Hopper
7     I'm Old Fashioned 2:53
Jerome Kern / Johnny Mercer
8     You Go to My Head 7:01
J. Fred Coots / Haven Gillespie
9     Little White Lies 4:10
Walter Donaldson
10     Sleep Warm 4:30
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Lew Spence
11     Day In - Day Out 5:45
Rube Bloom / Johnny Mercer
Credits :
Bass – Andrew De Jong Cleyndert
Drums – Steve Brown
Guitar – Colin Oxley
Piano – David Newton
Tenor Saxophone – Jim Tomlinson
Vocals – Stacey Kent

STACEY KENT - Love Is...The Tender Trap (1998) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Stacey Kent has an attractive voice and a lightly swinging style. For Love Is...The Tender Trap -- her debut as a leader -- she is joined by tenor saxophonist Jim Tomlinson (who recalls Scott Hamilton and Stan Getz in spots), guitarist Colin Oxley, pianist David Newton, bassist David Green, and drummer Jeff Hamilton. Kent uplifts each of the familiar tunes slightly but does not add much of herself to the material. Certainly these versions of "I Didn't Know About You," "Comes Love," "East of the Sun," and "They All Laughed" would not qualify as definitive, or dwarf one's memory of earlier renditions. But Stacey Kent has potential for the future once she grows a bit more. A pleasing if insubstantial effort. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    The Tender Trap 4:41
Composed By – Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn
2    I Didn't Know About You 4:35
Composed By – Bob Russell, Duke Ellington
3    Comes Love 3:55
Composed By – Charlie Tobias, Lew Brown, Sam Stept
4    In The Still Of The Night 4:30
Composed By – Cole Porter
5    Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread) 4:30
Composed By – Johnny Mercer, Rube Bloom
6    East Of The Sun 6:17
Composed By – Brooks Bowman
7    Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart 4:11
Composed By – James F. Hanley
8    They Say It's Wonderful 4:51
Composed By – Irving Berlin
9    Don't Be That Way 4:18
Composed By – Benny Goodman, Edgar Sampson, Mitchell Parish
10    They All Laughed 5:52
Arranged By – Jeff Hamilton, Jim Tomlinson
Composed By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
11    In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning 4:30
Composed By – Bob Hilliard, David Mann
12    It's A Wonderful World 4:20
Composed By – Harold Adamson, Jan Savitt, Leo Watson
Credits :
Bass – Dave Green
Drums – Jeff Hamilton
Guitar – Colin Oxley
Piano – David Newton
Producer, Saxophone [Tenor] – Jim Tomlinson
Vocals – Stacey Kent

STACEY KENT - Dreamsville (2000) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Vocalist Stacey Kent may or may not be "the greatest ballad singer in half a century," as her PR claims, but her straightforward renditions of these by-request ballads are not at all generic. What makes them consistently delightful is her unique sound and delivery. There's a certain brassiness, a trumpet-like pointedness, in her voice, as well as a host of endearing idiosyncrasies. Listen to her pronounce the word "idea" in George and Ira Gershwin's "Isn't It a Pity?" Or deliver these remarkable lyrics from the same song: "What joys untasted!/You, reading Heine/Me, somewhere in China." And later, "My nights were sour, spent with Schopenhauer." Kent knows how to make every tune fit her own musical persona. Dreamsville includes a number of seldom-heard gems, particularly "You Are There" by Johnny Mandel and Dave Frishberg, "You're Looking at Me" by Bobby Troup, and the ever-stunning title track by Henry Mancini. She also presents perennial favorites like "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and "Thanks for the Memory" (the latter not exactly a ballad). And although this is Kent's hour all the way, her band provides expert backing and more than a few surprises. The singer's husband, Jim Tomlinson, takes a break from tenor sax to play a sumptuous clarinet solo on "Polka Dots." And in the midst of Rodgers & Hart's "Little Girl Blue," pianist David Newton, bassist Simon Thorpe, and drummer Jasper Kviberg fall away, entering again only after Tomlinson and Colin Oxley perform a hushed tenor/guitar duet chorus. by David R. Adler  
Tracklist :
1    I've Got A Crush On You 4:50
Composed By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
2    When Your Lover Has Gone 4:40
Composed By – Aaron E. Swan
3    Isn't It A Pity? 5:39
Composed By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
4    You Are There 2:29
Composed By – Dave Frishberg, Johnny Mandel
5    Under A Blanket Of Blue 4:11
Composed By – Al J. Neiburg, Jerry Livingston, Marty Symes
6    Dreamsville 5:31
Composed By – Henry Mancini, Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
7    Polka Dots & Moonbeams 4:39
Composed By – James Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
8    Hushabye Mountain 2:45
Composed By – Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman
9    Little Girl Blue 5:41
Composed By – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
10    You're Looking At Me 4:38
Composed By – Bobby Troup
11    Violets For Your Furs 5:48
Composed By – Matt Dennis, Tom Adair
12    Thanks For The Memory 4:11
Composed By – Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger
Credits :
Bass – Simon Thorpe
Drums – Jasper Kviberg
Guitar – Colin Oxley
Piano – David Newton
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute – Jim Tomlinson
Vocals – Stacey Kent

STACEY KENT - In Love Again (2002) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Stacey Kent is back, with her regular combo, for an engaging tribute to Richard Rodgers. In addition to routinely covered songs like "It Never Entered My Mind" and "Bewitched," the Britain-based vocalist looks to the South Pacific book and comes up with two items seldom performed in a jazz context -- "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" and "Bali Ha'i." Happily, these are two of the best cuts; the former, with its burlesque-ish 6/8 middle section, works amazingly well. The sound of the disc is strong, highlighting the nicely varied arrangements and the innate charm of Kent's puckish voice. There are a few downsides: a sluggish "Thou Swell," an aimless bossa nova reading of "It Might as Well Be Spring," and a general overabundance of ballads. But swinging tracks like "This Can't Be Love" and "My Heart Stood Still" (the latter spiced with tasty chord substitutions) make up for the lukewarm spots. by David R. Adler
Tracklist :
1     Shall We Dance? 3:42
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
2     Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered 5:05
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
3     My Heart Stood Still 2:57
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
4     It Never Entered My Mind 4:39
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
5     I Wish I Were in Love Again 4:06
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
6     Thou Swell 4:52
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
7     It Might as Well Be Spring 4:39
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
8     Nobody's Heart 3:48
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
9     I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair 4:35
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
10     This Can't Be Love 3:07
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
11     It's Easy to Remember 4:57
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
12     Manhattan 4:32
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
13     Bali Ha'i 3:00
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
Credits :
Bass – Simon Thorpe
Drums – Jasper Kviberg
Guitar – Colin Oxley
Piano – David Newton
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Jim Tomlinson
Vocals – Stacey Kent 

STACEY KENT | JIM TOMILINSON - A Fine Romance (2010) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1     Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread) 4:45
Rube Bloom / Johnny Mercer
2     I'm Just A Lucky So And So 5:23
Mack David / Duke Ellington
3     I Won't Dance 4:42
Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern / Jimmy McHugh
4     So Nice 4:38
Marcos Valle
5     There's A Lull In My Life 4:28
Mack Gordon / Harry Ravel
6     Don't Be That Way 4:24
Benny Goodman / Mitchell Parish / Edgar Sampson
7     A Fine Romance 3:04
Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern
8     If You Never Come To Me 4:34
Ray Gilbert / Antônio Carlos Jobim / Aloysio de Oliveira
9     Dreamer 5:05
Antônio Carlos Jobim
10     More Than You Know 5:36
Edward Eliscu / Billy Rose / Vincent Youmans
Credits :
Bass – Dave Green
Drums – Jeff Hamilton
Guitar – Colin Oxley
Piano – David Newton
Saxophone – Jim Tomlinson
Vocals – Stacey Kent

JIM TOMILINSON / STACEY KENT - The Lyric (2006) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Jim Tomlinson originally intended to make this outing an instrumental CD, but when he had the opportunity to work with his wife, vocalist Stacey Kent, he quickly adapted most of the session to include her. The English tenor saxophonist chose time-tested material from standards and a few bossa novas, playing all of them with a lyrical sound reminiscent of the late giant Stan Getz, particularly in "'Manha de Carnaval" and"Corcovado." Kent's sweet voice complements her husband's band very well, catching the playfulness of "If I Were a Bell" and savoring the thoughtful tempo of "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top." Pianist David Newton, one of Europe's most underrated jazz pianists, anchors the rhythm section (with bassist Dave Chamberlain and drummer Matt Skelton), providing perfect backgrounds for the couple, with his lush playing in "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life" especially standing out. Highly recommended. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Manha de Carnaval 4:09
Luiz Bonfá
2     Corcovado 3:50
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Gene Lees
3     I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face 4:55
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
4     If I Were a Bell 3:59
Frank Loesser
5     I Got Lost in His Arms 5:16
Irving Berlin
6     What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life 6:32
Michel Legrand
7     Cockeyed Optimist 4:41
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
8     My Heart Belongs to Daddy 3:45
Cole Porter
9     The Surrey with the Fringe on Top 4:38
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
10     Outra Vez 4:55
Antônio Carlos Jobim
11     Jardin d'Hiver 3:21
Benjamin Biolay
12     Something Happens to Me 3:55
Marvin Fisher / Jack Segal
13     Stardust 5:09
Hoagy Carmichael
Credits :
Double Bass – Dave Chamberlain
Drums – Matt Skelton
Piano – David Newton
Tenor Saxophone, Percussion – Jim Tomlinson
Vocals – Stacey Kent (pistas: 2 to 9, 11 to 13)

STACEY KENT - Breakfast on the Morning Tram (2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Kent is what men used to call a classy broad. Her elegant fashion sense and understated vocal style make her sound like a woman from another time, an unflappable sophisticate with a warm, slightly world-weary persona. She was born in the United Sates but after a trip to France, she decided to become a jazz singer. In the early '90s she landed in Oxford where she met her husband, musical director/sax player Jim Tomlinson. Tomlinson also produces Kent's albums, and this time out, he composed several charming tunes that sound like potential standards, plus collaborations with lyricist Kazuo Ishiguro, author of Remains of the Day. Original tunes like "The Ice Hotel" and "I Wish I Could Go Traveling Again" are full of wry humor, and Kent delivers them with her usual effortless grace. "The Ice Hotel" is a samba that talks of forsaking the tropics for a room that keeps the temperature at a "steady five degrees." The ambivalent lyric is perfectly suited for Kent's unassuming style. Is she chiding a lover for his detached demeanor or promising a passionate night that will raise the temperature and put a sizzle in the air? It's hard to tell, and with the music is as warm as the lyric is cool, the tune has a delicious tension. "I Wish I Could Go Traveling Again" sounds like the kind of tune Noël Coward used to write, full of urbane humor and references to "overpriced hotels devoid of charm." Its melancholy meditation on lost love is enhanced by John Parricelli's rippling guitar and Graham Harvey's subtle bluesy piano. Kent slows down "What a Wonderful World" making it sound more blue than celebratory. Her wistful phrasing imbues the song with a painful melancholy. On "Hard Hearted Hanna," Tomlinson supplies a brief, breezy solo while Kent sounds sly and impudent, playing up the lyric's over the top humor. "Ces Petits Reins," a Serge Gainsbourg tune, benefits from a percussive arrangement featuring bongos, muted guitar notes, and drummer Matt Skelton's brush work; Kent drops in brief faux trumpet accents. Kent's band provides subtle support throughout. Each player steps out for brief impressive solos, but mainly they lay back and support their boss' unobtrusive style. by AllMusic  
Tracklist :
1    The Ice Hotel 5:28
Written-By – J. Tomlinson, K. Ishiguro
2    Landslide 3:48
Written-By – S. Nicks
3    Ces Petits Riens 3:21
Written-By – S. Gainsbourg
4    I Wish I Could Go Travelling Again 4:07
Written-By – J. Tomlinson, K. Ishiguro
5    So Many Stars 4:00
Written-By – A. Bergman, M. Bergman, S. Mendes
6    Samba Saravah 3:50
Written-By – B. Powell, P. Barouh, V. De Moraes
7    Breakfast On The Morning Tram 5:54
Written-By – J. Tomlinson, K. Ishiguro
8    Never Let Me Go 4:39
Written-By – R. Evans, J. Livingston
9    So Romantic 5:00
Written-By – J. Tomlinson, K. Ishiguro
10    Hard Hearted Hannah 4:49
Written-By – C. Bates, J. Yellen, M. Ager, B. Bigelow
11    La Saison Des Pluies 2:48
Written-By – E. Bacsik, S. Gainsbourg
12    What A Wonderful World 4:26
Written-By – B. Thiele, GD. Weiss, G. Douglas
Credits :
Double Bass – Dave Chamberlain
Drums, Percussion – Matt Skelton
Guitar – John Parricelli
Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Graham Harvey
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Arranged By [All Arrangements] – Jim Tomlinson
Voice – Stacey Kent 

STACEY KENT - Raconte-Moi... (2010) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Over a dozen albums and several compilations, American-born British resident Stacey Kent has sung standards with polish and class, but perhaps her fans might not have expected the result on this CD. A program of tunes interpreted entirely in French, Kent here fancies herself as a modern-day Edith Piaf, with a very low-key, late-night, romantic approach. Her thin, wispy voice rides very much under the radar of these selections, with a small instrumental complement including pianist Graham Harvey, guitarist John Parricelli, and in select spots her husband, saxophonist Jim Tomlinson. Most of the tracks are French pop songs, but occasionally Kent sneaks in a ringer like Antonio Carlos Jobim's always delightful "Les Eaux de Mars" (Waters of March), and adds a Brazilian flavor to the title selection or calypso on the most upbeat number, "Mi Amor." Harvey's pristine piano is the telling factor on how this music inspires Kent to dig deep into her soul without pulling in demons or being extroverted. Though there are moments when the band swings, goes into a circular motion, or actually does a jazz standard ("It Might As Well Be Spring"), Kent and her mates stick to ballads and torch songs in the main. This is her second CD for the Blue Note label, more likely to appeal on a international European than stateside U.S. level, but it is heartfelt and purely soulful no matter the lyrics or language. by Michael G. Nastos  
Tracklist :
1    Les Eaux De Mars 3:38
Adapted By – Joseph Mustacchi
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
2    Jardin D'Hiver 3:34
Written-By – Benjamin Biolay, Keren Ann Zeidel
3    Raconte-Moi... 3:42
Written-By – Bernie Beaupère, Emilie Satt, Jean-Karl Lucas
4    L'Étang 4:24
Written-By – Paul Misraki
5    La Vénus Du Mélo 3:47
Written-By – Bernie Beaupère, Emilie Satt, Jean-Karl Lucas
6    Au Coin Du Monde 4:14
Written-By – Benjamin Biolay, Keren Ann Zeidel
7    C'est Le Printemps 4:28
Adapted By – Jean Geiringer, Jean Sablon
Written-By – Oscar II Hammerstein / Richard Rodgers
8    Sait-On Jamais ? 4:12
Written-By – Camille D'Avril, Jim Tomlinson
9    Les Vacances Au Bord De La Mer 3:29
Written-By – Michel Jonasz, Pierre Grosz
10    Mi Amor 3:58
Written-By – Claire Denamur
11    Le Mal De Vivre 4:44
Written-By – Monique Andrée Serf
12    Désuets 3:10
Written-By – André Manoukian, Pierre Dominique Burgaud
Credits :
Double Bass – Jeremy Brown
Drums, Percussion – Matt Skelton
Guitar – John Parricelli
Liner Notes – Jake Lamar
Photography By – Nicole Nodland
Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Graham Harvey
Recorded By, Mixed By, Mastered By – Curtis Schwartz
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Kalimba [Sansula] – Jim Tomlinson
Voice, Whistling, Producer, Arranged By – Stacey Kent

STACEY KENT - Dreamer in Concert (2011) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Featuring performances of Great American Songbook standards "The Best Is Yet to Come," "They Can't Take That Away from Me," and "It Might as Well Be Spring" alongside classic French chansons "Ces Petits Riens," "Samba Saravah," and "Jardin d'Hiver," Dreamer in Concert is the first live album from Grammy-nominated New Jersey jazz singer Stacey Kent. Recorded at La Cigale in Paris in May 2011, the 13-track collection also includes four previously unrecorded songs, including covers of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Water of March" and "Dreamer," and two new compositions co-penned by saxophonist husband Jim Tomlinson with author Kazuo Ishiguro ("Postcard Lovers") and Portuguese poet Antonio Ladeira ("O Comboio"). by Jon O'Brien
Tracklist :
1    It Might As Well Be Spring 7:29
Composed By – Richard Rodgers
Lyrics By – Oscar Hammerstein II
2    Ces Petits Riens 4:01
Composed By – Serge Gainsbourg
3    Postcard Lovers 6:20
Composed By – Jim Tomlinson, Kazuo Ishiguro
4    If I Were A Bell 4:07
Composed By – Frank Loesser
5    Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars 5:31
Composed By – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gene Lees
6    Waters Of March 3:57
Composed By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
7    The Best Is Yet To Come 3:36
Composed By – Cy Coleman
Lyrics By – Carolyn Leigh
8    O Comboio 4:29
Composed By – Antonio Ladeira, Jim Tomlinson
9    Dreamer 5:16
Composed By – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gene Lees
10    Breakfast On The Morning Tram 5:29
Composed By – Jim Tomlinson, Kazuo Ishiguro
11    They Can’t Take That Away From Me 5:17
Composed By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
12    Samba Saravah 5:07
Composed By – Baden Powell, Pierre Barouh
Lyrics By – Vinicius De Moraes
13    Jardin D’Hiver 4:32
Composed By – Benjamin Biolay, Keren Ann Zeidel
14    They Say It’s Wonderful 5:47
Composed By – Irving Berlin
Credits :
Jeremy Brown - Double Bass
Graham Harvey - Fender Rhodes, Inside Photo, Piano
Stacey Kent - Guitar, Vocals
Matt Skelton - Drums, Percussion
Jim Tomlinson - Arranger, Composer, Percussion, Producer, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)

STACEY KENT - Hushabye Mountain (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Too Darn Hot 3:27
Composed By – Cole Porter
2    All I Do Is Dream Of You 3:25
Composed By – Nacio Herb Brown
3    Say It Isn't So 4:40
Composed By – Irving Berlin
4    Hushabye Mountain 2:34
Composed By – The Sherman Brothers
5    Thou Swell 4:49
Composed By – Rodgers & Hart
6    It Might As Well Be Spring 4:35
Composed By – Rodgers & Hammerstein
7    My Heart Stood Still 2:52
Composed By – Rodgers & Hart
8    Polka Dots And Moonbeams 4:29
Composed By – Jimmy Van Heusen And Johnny Burke
9    Under A Blanket Of Blue 3:58
Composed By – Jerry Livingston
10    Close Your Eyes 5:25
Composed By – Bernice Petkere

STACEY KENT - The Changing Lights (2013) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Stacey Kent has possibly one of the most distinctive voices in the music business today. Never engaging in show-stopping singing (a la Judy Garland) or sounding too melancholic (in Billie Holiday's footsteps), Stacey has always used her limited vocal range to the best of her ability by using it with a Chet Baker-like style of phrasing that is never emotionless (like Chet's singing was) but is filled with hope & yearning which fits the bossa nova; which she covers in this album, like a glove. Her treatment of standards like This Happy Madness & The Face I Love are done softly with feeling, always reverent to the mood & lyrics of the song. On How Insensitive she croons her way to heaven, caressing the listener's ear with bittersweet saudade that makes for a definitive reading of this well-worn classic. On Smile, Stacey fills the air with another definitive reading of a well-worn classic that is simply too divine for words. The original tracks of the album are interesting ones too with lyrics that can compare to the classics presented here. Stacey showcases her linguistic talents too by doing a few numbers in French & Portuguese as well, with her rendition of O Barquinho taking the listener on a cozy boat ride down the Amazon. Stacey's backing band is always accommodating & sympathetic, accentuating the intimate mood that Stacey is conveying through the album. All in all, a lovely latter-day effort from one of the princesses of jazz recommended for all her fans & for anyone interested in opening a cabinet of jazz albums. by Le Real Luc Ow
Tracklist :
1     This Happy Madness 5:40
Tom Jobim / Gene Lees / Vinícius de Moraes
2     The Summer We Crossed Europe In the Rain 5:33
Kazuo Ishiguro / Jim Tomlinson
3     One Note Samba (Samba De Uma Nota Só) 3:03
Tom Jobim / Newton Mendonça
4     Mais Uma Vez 5:56
Antonio Ladeira / Jim Tomlinson
5     Waiter, Oh Waiter 5:10
Kazuo Ishiguro / Jim Tomlinson
6     O Barquinho 3:09
Ronaldo Bôscoli / Roberto Menescal
7     The Changing Lights 6:19
Kazuo Ishiguro / Jim Tomlinson
8     How Insensitive 4:04
Norman Gimbel / Tom Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
9     O Bêbado E a Equilibrista / Smile
Aldir Blanc / João Bosco / Charlie Chaplin / Geoffrey Parsons
10     Like a Lover 3:38
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Dori Caymmi / Nelson Motta
11     The Face I Love 4:09
Norman Gimbel / Carlos Pingarilho / Marcos Valle / Paulo Sérgio Valle
12     A Tarde 2:55
Antonio Ladeira / Jim Tomlinson
13     Chanson Légère 4:07
Bernie Beaupere / Jim Tomlinson
14     Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado) 3:22
Antônio Carlos Jobim
15     Meditation 3:57
Norman Gimbel / Tom Jobim / Newton Mendonça
Credits :
Double Bass – Jeremy Brown
Drums – Joshua Morrison (pistas: 2 to 5, 10, 13), Matt Home (pistas: 1, 7, 8, 11)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Graham Harvey
Ganzá – Raymundo Bittencourt (pistas: 6)
Guitar – John Parricelli (pistas: 2 to 5, 10, 13), Roberto Mensecal (pistas: 6, 12), Stacey Kent (pistas: 8)
Piano – Graham Harvey
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Jim Tomlinson
Vocals – Stacey Kent

STACEY KENT - Tenderly (2015) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Stacey Kent has always delivered her music tenderly and has shone best on standards from the Great American Songbook. Thus, it's appropriate that she returns to the pages of the Great American Songbook and performs some of its most romantic ballads with only a guitar, a bass fiddle and an occasional woodwind. However, two of her three accompanists are tried and tested musicians. Alternating between the saxophone and the flute is Stacey's longtime accompanist and husband, Jim Tomlinson, while the guitarist is Brazilian master Roberto Menescal himself. The performances here stay true to the tender theme of the album. Even when a swing beat is injected into standards like Tangerine and No Moon At All, the mood remains warm and cozy while the rest of the ballads in the album also contribute to the after-hours feel of the album which is perfect for de-stressing after a hard day's work. Although the arrangements do the album justice by remaining original, Stacey's mostly straightforward readings of these standards with a thinner voice (due to aging) lack that certain zest which jazz albums usually possess. If one is looking for the entire oeuvre of Stacey Kent's musicianship, check out her earlier albums like Let Yourself Go, In Love Again, The Boy Next Door and especially her husband's 2006 album, The Lyric. by Le Real Luc Ow
Tracklist :
1     Only Trust Your Heart 3:41
Sammy Cahn / Benny Carter
2     Tangerine 2:13
Johnny Mercer / Victor Scherzinger
3     The Very Thought of You 4:34
Ray Nobel
4     Embraceable You 3:42
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
5     There Will Never Be Another You 4:03
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
6     Tenderly 3:47
Walter Gross / Jack Lawrence
7     No Moon at All 2:57
Redd Evans / David Mann
8     If I'm Lucky 3:28
Edgar Delange / Josef Myrow
9     Agarradinhos 4:24
Roberto Menescal / Rosalia de Souza
10     In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning 3:28
Bob Hilliard / David Mann
11     That's All 4:01
Alan Brandt / Bob Haymes
12     If I Had You 2:53
Jimmy Campbell / Reginald Connelly / Ted Shapiro
Credits :
Double Bass – Jeremy Brown
Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Producer – Jim Tomlinson
Guitar, Arranged By – Roberto Menescal
Vocals – Stacey Kent 

STACEY KENT - Let Yourself Go : Celebrating Fred Astaire (2000) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 

Let Yourself Go is an exceptional collection of 13 tunes written by the cream of popular song writers -- Berlin, Gershwin Brothers, and others -- honoring Fred Astaire's contributions to the vocal art. With his low key, narrow ranged voice, Astaire probably introduced and/or made popular more songs that were destined to become standard entries in the Great American Songbook than any other artist. Kent delivers this selective play list with one of three musical combinations, just piano, with piano plus rhythm, and with a larger aggregation which includes sax and guitar. Irrespective of the instrumental context, all of the tunes are delivered with Stacey's pleasant nasal twang to help her create the impression that the lyrics she's singing are part of an intimate one on one conversation with each listener. There's nothing over dramatic on this album. No gimmicks, just a voice as engaging as any on the scene conveying the meaning of a melody in the tradition of the person she is honoring, the inestimable Astaire. by Dave Nathan 
Kent's pianist, David Newton, is one of the premiere accompanists in the U.K., having worked with such top flight singers as Tina May. He and Kent display their musical attraction to each other on a relaxed, suave rendition of "Isn't This a Lovely Day" and "They Can't Take That Away From Me," where Kent and Newton gently joust as they deliver an elegant rendition of this tune. "Relaxed" is as good a word as any to describe the atmosphere for this session. There's nothing frenetic here. "S'Wonderful," usually performed at a fast pace, gets a languid, medium tempo treatment with Newton's piano, an effortlessly lilting Colin Oxley guitar and Jim Tomlinson's tenor sharing the mike with Kent. "A Fine Romance" is about as upbeat as it gets, with Oxley's cleaned line guitar setting the pace. Newton engages in a bit of Erroll Garner-like humming during his solo on this tune. Tomlinson's romantic tenor is featured on "Let Yourself Go" and "They All Laughed." On "One for My Baby," he brings out his clarinet, using the middle register to help create the proper melancholy mood for this definitive "drowning my sorrows in booze" tune.
In addition to providing more than 50 minutes of musical entertainment, the liner notes set out the lyrics for each tune. This is another excellent album by American born, U.K.-based singer Stacey Kent, and is happily recommended. by Dave Nathan 
Tracklist:
1    Let Yourself Go 3:48   
Irving Berlin
2    They Can't Take That Away From Me 5:09
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
3    I Won't Dance 4:37   
Dorothy Fields / Otto Harbach / Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern / Jimmy McHugh
4    Isn't This a Lovely Day 3:58   
Irving Berlin
5    They All Laughed 4:31
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
6    He Loves and She Loves 4:26   
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
7    Shall We Dance? 3:03   
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
8    One For My Baby (And One More For the Road) 5:57
Harold Arlen / George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
9    S'Wonderful 6:01   
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
10    A Fine Romance 3:02   
Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern
11    I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan 2:37   
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
12    I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket 3:44   
Irving Berlin
13    By Myself 3:48
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
Credits:
Arranged By – Jim Tomlinson (tracks: 1 to 8, 10 to 13), Simon Woolf (tracks: 9), Stacey Kent (tracks: 1 to 8, 10 to 13)
Bass – Simon Thorpe
Drums – Steve Brown
Guitar – Colin Oxley
Piano – David Newton
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Producer – Jim Tomlinson
Vocals – Stacey Kent 

STACEY KENT - The Boy Next Door (2003) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Wrapping her sweet voice around songs by male singers she admires, Stacey Kent delivers another pleasant and low-key album with The Boy Next Door. Kent's tribute choices range from traditional pop (Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett) to mainstream jazz instrumentalists (Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie) to the softer side of rock (James Taylor, Simon and -- unmentioned in the liner notes -- Garfunkel). With a gentle conviction akin to early Blossom Dearie without the cheeky flair, the album makes for breezy listening. The 16 tracks don't differ enough in tone, making the album a bit too long, but individual moments of warm openhearted excellence make it worthwhile. The sentimentality of "Bookends" or "'Tis Autumn" suit her precious delivery well, while the sly moments of "Makin' Whoopee" feel out of the singer's reach. The bandmembers stay out of the way for the most part, waiting for their solos rather than interacting much with Kent. Drummer Matt Home's light but lively style is especially accommodating and guitarist Colin Oxley's percussive take on "Too Darn Hot" ends up being the album's greatest moment. by David Jeffries

Tracklist:

1 The Best Is Yet To Come 3:24
Written-By – Carolyn Leigh, Cy Coleman
2 The Boy Next Door 3:38
Written-By – Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
3 The Trolley Song 4:00
Written-By – Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
4 Say It Isn't So 4:39
Written-By – Irving Berlin
5 Too Darn Hot 3:25
Written-By – Cole Porter
6 Makin' Whoopee 3:03
Written-By – Walter Donaldson
7 What The World Needs Now Is Love 4:07
Written-By – Burt Bacharach & Hal David
8 You've Got A Friend 4:18
Written-By – Carole King
9 I Got It Bad 4:52
Written-By – Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster
10 Ooh-Shoo-Be-Doo-Bee 3:01
Written-By – Bill Graham, Joe Carroll
11 People Will Say We`re In Love 3:42
Written-By – Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
12 'Tis Autumn 4:26
Written-By – Harry Nemo
13 All I Do Is Dream Of You 3:22
Written-By – Arthur Freed, Nacio Harb Brown
14 I Get Along Without You Very Well
Written-By – Hoagy Carmichael
15 You're The Top 2:26
Written-By – Cole Porter
16 Bookends 1:06
Written-By – Paul Simon
Credits:
Double Bass – Dave Chamberlain
Drums – Matt Home
Guitar – Colin Oxley
Piano, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – David Newton
Producer, Vocals, Saxophone – Jim Tomlinson
Vocals – Stacey Kent