Singer Suzanne Pittson, who is based in the San Francisco Bay area, has a wide range, is able to interpret lyrics with proper sensitivity and is a masterful scatter. She improvises constantly, and her solos are full of surprises and chance-taking. In addition to a few fresh versions of standards (including "My Ship," "Out Of Nowhere" and an eccentric "Love For Sale"), Pittson explores such rarely heard material as Oliver Nelson's "Butch And Butch" and "Blues And The Abstract Truth" (both of which have been given lyrics by her husband, pianist Jeff Pittson), Jerome Kern's underrated (and rather emotional) "In Love In Vain," and Jimmy Heath's complex "Gingerbread Boy." The warm vocalist is assisted on this worthy effort (which was not put out until late 1996) by her spouse, along with trumpeter Jack Walrath (who takes several surprisingly extroverted solos), bassist Harvie Swartz and drummer Mike Clark. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Butch and Butch 4:50
Oliver Nelson / Jeff Pittson
2 My Ship 6:16
Harold Arlen / Ira Gershwin / Kurt Weill
3 You and the Night and the Music 5:40
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
4 In Love In Vain 5:35
Jerome Kern / Leo Robin
5 Blues and the Abstract Truth 4:35
Oliver Nelson / Jeff Pittson
6 Out of Nowhere 4:42
Johnny Green / Edward Heyman
7 The Meaning of the Blues 5:53
Bobby Troup / Leah Worth
8 Love for Sale 6:52
Cole Porter
9 Somewhere In Tokyo 4:13
Jeff Pittson
10 Ginger Bread Boy 6:14
Jimmy Heath
Personnel:
Suzanne Pittson (vocals)
Jack Walrath (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Jeff Pittson (piano)
Harvie Swartz (bass)
Mike Clark (drums)
