On Live at Scullers, saxophonist Grace Kelly offers a set mostly composed of new material which shows off her remarkable instrumental virtouosity and her winsome vocal versatility. She ups her style quotient with the likes of Jason Palmer on trumpet, Zach Brown on bass, Pete McCann on guitars/ukulele, Mark Walker on drum, Eric Law on cello. Jamie Woods & Chantale Sterling are her backing vocalists.
The opening track, “Please Don’t Box Me In,” is traditional yet contemporary. She melds the two styles seamlessly as Jason, Pete, Zach and Mark help her stretch her creativity. The stunningly diverse set of songs also features great performances inspired by Grace Kelly’s environment, travels, friends and lovers. Listeners will hear her inspired moments on the smoldering “Night Time Star,” her colorful homage about a visit to Montana on “Autumn Song” and her country-tinged ballad “Kiss Away Your Tears.”
“Searching for Peace” won Grace Kelly the 2011 ASCAP Jazz Composers Award. It is a scintillating burner that takes you on a musical journey that you’ll remember long after the song is over. The set closes with two familiar standards, both of which the saxophonist has recorded in the past. “The Way You Look Tonight” is reprised from Man With the Hat, and her groove-oriented take on “Summertime,” which she previously recorded on her 2006 album Every Road I Walked.
This live recording seems especially created for her faithful fans at Scullers. She captures the energy of the audience and more importantly connects with them.
Reprinted with permission of…
