Paula West - Live At Jazz Standard 'April 17, 2012

Tracks list

Tracks

1	Baltimore Oriole	
2	Like A Rolling Stone	
3	Wichita Lineman	
4	Romance In The Dark	
5	Man Wanted	
6	Nature Boy	
7	Dont Think Twice	
8	Where Flamingos Fly	
9	Pocketful Of Miracles	
10	Softly As In A Morning Sunrise	
11	My Romance

Paula West is a West coast-based jazz vocalist who has only recorded
sporadically under her own name, though the soulful alto deserves to be more
widely known. Her live meeting with pianist George Mesterhazys Quartet was
recorded at New York Citys Jazz Standard before an attentive audience, with the
band including veteran guitarist Ed Cherry, bassist Barak Mori, and drummer
Jerome Jennings. West isnt one to hog the spotlight, she gives the
instrumentalists plenty of space to show off their chops, while they provide her
perfect accompaniment. The singers sassy take of Baltimore Oriole has the vigor
of Carmen McRae, while Mesterhazys lyrical setting of Nature Boy helps West take
this oft-played chestnut down a different path, along with judicious use of
reverb by the engineer to accent her vocal in spots. There are a few less
commonly heard songs, including Wests playful take of Pocketful of Miracles and
Leonard Feathers obscure Man Wanted, the latter in which she captures the
essence of its whimsical nature. Mesterhazy doubles on organ for Wests soulful
take of Romance in the Dark. The vocalists inclusion of two Bob Dylan tunes
(Like a Rolling Stone and Dont Think Twice) adds some novelty, though her
sincere rendition of Jimmy Webbs Wichita Lineman (forever associated with
country singer Glen Campbells hit record) intersperses Moris arco bass, Cherrys
subtle guitar inflections, and Mesterhazys understated piano. Its nice to hear a
jazz singer like Paula West who is not only willing to explore new paths to
familiar standards, but is willing to risk tackling vintage pop songs not
usually played on jazz dates, and long overlooked works as well. Sadly, this CD
may have been George Mesterhazys swan song, as he died in the spring of 2012,
around the time of this CDs release.
Ken Dryden

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