Christopher Loudon wrote extensively for JazzTimes from 2001 to 2018. His primary specialties were singers and singing.
Christopher Loudon on social media
Third-stream guru Ran Blake, who, as pianist and composer, built upon his devotion to Ellington and Monk to shape a uniquely dynamic aesthetic, has frequently … Read More “Ran Blake/Christine Correa: Streaming (Red Piano)”
The pairing of an eminent jazz artist with an equally distinguished author isn’t unprecedented. Nine years ago, Nobel Prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro shaped several artful … Read More “Renee Rosnes & David Hajdu: Ice on the Hudson (SMK Jazz)”
It’s been just over a decade since Sachal Vasandani emerged as one of the most compelling singer/songwriters in postmillennial jazz. To date, his own compositions … Read More “Sachal Vasandani Celebrates the American Songbook”
The genesis of My Way, Willie Nelson’s terrific new 11-track salute to Frank Sinatra, can be traced to Las Vegas circa 1978 when, so the … Read More “Willie Nelson Pays Tribute to Frank Sinatra”
Ask anyone to name the greatest entertainer of the 20th century and responses will likely range from Sinatra and Garland to Elvis and Aretha. Chances … Read More “Bing Crosby: Swinging on a Star—The War Years 1940-1946 by Gary Giddins (Little, Brown)”
Released just after her 70th birthday, Math Camp continues the reign of vocalist and lyricist Lorraine Feather as one of the sharpest wordsmiths in jazz. … Read More “Lorraine Feather: Math Camp (Relarion)”
Five years ago, Mark Winkler teamed with Manhattan Transfer’s Cheryl Bentyne to shape West Coast Cool, a terrific salute to the chill jazz vibe that … Read More “Mark Winkler & Cheryl Bentyne: Eastern Standard Time (Café Pacific)”
There is a tremendous less-is-more majesty to vocalist and pianist Kandace Springs’ sophomore release, its 13 tracks rarely featuring more than four players, yet each … Read More “Kandace Springs: Indigo (Blue Note)”
Cabaret singers are typically great storytellers. Jazz singers tend to be more interpretively daring, more inclined to color outside the lines. When those two worlds … Read More “Steven Taetz: Drink You In (Flatcar/Fontana North)”
Listening to Ann Hampton Callaway, who, at 60, sounds richer and more lustrous than ever, it’s hard not to be reminded of Jo Stafford. The … Read More “Ann Hampton Callaway: Jazz Goes to the Movies (Shanachie)”
Albums crafted around moon-related tunes aren’t anything new. Mel Tormé delivered his terrific Swingin’ on the Moon in 1960. Six years later, Frank Sinatra shaped the … Read More “Allegra Levy: Looking at the Moon (SteepleChase)”
When vocalist Arianna Neikrug won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2015, her prize included a contract with Concord Records. Three years on, … Read More “Arianna Neikrug: Changes (Concord)”
Although she was one of Europe’s preeminent jazz vocalists throughout the latter half of the 20th century, with a discography that includes more than 30 … Read More “Rita Reys: Collected: Europe’s First Lady of Jazz (Universal)”
Vocalist Erik Leuthäuser, born outside Dresden, was just 19 when he recorded his 2015 debut album, In the Land of Oo-Bla-Dee, an impressive collection of … Read More “Erik Leuthäuser: Wünschen (MPS)”
Busy recording and touring with her Duchess trio-mates Hilary Gardner and Melissa Stylianou, Amy Cervini has let four years pass since her last solo session. … Read More “Amy Cervini: No One Ever Tells You (Anzic)”
For her 14th album, singer Roseanna Vitro, now 67, travels back to her southern roots: the blues, country, soul, gospel, jazz, and rock that shaped … Read More “Roseanna Vitro: Tell Me the Truth (Skyline)”
The release of Tony Bennett and Diana Krall’s first full-length album together, Love Is Here to Stay, got us thinking about the art of the … Read More “10 Classic Vocal Jazz Duets”
Even those casually familiar with vocalist and pianist Karrin Allyson’s 26-year recording career surely appreciate her tremendous versatility, exploring everything from French chansons to Brazilian … Read More “Karrin Allyson: Some of That Sunshine (Kasrecords)”
Though vocalist Madeleine Peyroux’s name stands alone above the title, Anthem is a supreme example of ensemble work. Its core contributors—Peyroux, bassist (and producer) Larry Klein, … Read More “Madeleine Peyroux: Anthem (Verve)”
A bit of Cole family math: From the advent of the LP era in the early 1950s until his death in 1965, Nat delivered 34 … Read More “Freddy Cole: My Mood Is You (HighNote)”
Bright, breezy, intelligent, assured: hallmark adjectives of Judy Carmichael’s celebrated dual careers as one of the foremost stride pianists of the past half-century and host … Read More “Swinger! A Jazz Girl’s Adventures from Hollywood to Harlem by Judy Carmichael”
Like San Francisco’s Paula West, Toronto-based Holly Cole ranks among the finest vocal-jazz stylists from whom we hear far too seldom. What once was steady … Read More “Holly Cole: Holly (Shanachie)”
Eleven years ago, the New York Voices hinted at the dynamism of a pairing with Bob Mintzer when they invited the bandleader/clarinetist to add a … Read More “Bob Mintzer Big Band/New York Voices: Meeting of Minds (MCG)”
Across nearly five decades, the Manhattan Transfer has always been the most musically versatile of vocal groups, traveling from the retro artfulness of their early … Read More “The Manhattan Transfer: The Junction (BMG)”
Interplay: both the title track from this debut union of French-born bassist François Moutin and American vocalist Kavita Shah—a stunningly chameleonic take on the Bill … Read More “François Moutin & Kavita Shah Duo: Interplay (Dot Time)”
This hour-long session captured at Greenwich Village’s Le Poisson Rouge in August 2017 isn’t a first for vocalist Cyrille Aimée—she’s previously released live albums from … Read More “Cyrille Aimée: Cyrille Aimée Live (Mack Avenue)”
The cover shows a woman, center stage, spotlit, back to the camera, nude save a guitar. The inference is obvious: This, her first live album, … Read More “Melody Gardot: Live in Europe (Decca)”
In an accompanying press release, Allan Harris compares his deep dive into Eddie Jefferson’s groundbreaking oeuvre to “taking a master class at MIT.” No question … Read More “Allan Harris: The Genius of Eddie Jefferson (Resilience)”
Among stage musicals of the 1960s, only Fiddler on the Roof and Hello, Dolly! achieved longer runs. In the decades since, it has had four … Read More “Eliane Elias: Music from Man of La Mancha (Concord)”
Rare is the musician who starts out in a label’s front office as Steve Tyrell did, working in A&R, PR and production with the likes … Read More “Steve Tyrell: A Song for You (EastWest)”
