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Judy Whitmore: Come Fly with Me

By Jack Bowers
February 6, 2024
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When the multi-talented

Judy Whitmore

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Judy Whitmore sings "Come Fly with Me," it is an invitation that is almost impossible to resist, especially as the lovely and charming vocalist is also a pilot who is licensed to fly anything from jets to seaplanes to hot air balloons. On her latest album, backed by a big band and twenty-six member string section with arrangements by Hollywood top gun

Chris Walden

arranger

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Walden, Whitmore beckons listeners to fly with her to romantic places around the world as well as to Vermont, Georgia and New York, among other alluring stops.

After visits to Rome, London and Paris, Whitmore brightens "Moonlight in Vermont" and enrches "Autumn in New York" before escorting her companions "Beyond the Sea" and even "Around the World." And when she is not traveling, Whitmore delights in the assurance that "There's a Small Hotel" and reminds everyone that whether roaming or at rest, "I Thought About You."

Is Whitmore a jazz singer? Not even close. Is she a singer who respects the music, captures its heart, and makes listening to every song an undeniable pleasure? Absolutely. The album's "jazz" credentials rest with the ensemble, in whose ranks are pianist

Josh Nelson

piano
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Josh Nelson, trumpeter Kye Palmer, saxophonists

Bob Sheppard

saxophone, tenor
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Sheppard and

Jacob Scesney

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jacob Scesney, trombonist

Andy Martin

trombone
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Andy Martin, guitarist

Andrew Synowiec

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Synowiec, drummer

Jamey Tate

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jamey Tate and guest harmonica player

Hendrik Meurkens

harmonica
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Hendrik Meurkens ("April in Paris"). Even though solos are sparse, Nelson, Palmer, Scesney, Martin and Sheppard sculpt brief yet effective statements.

Whitmore plays it straight, and has her own special take on songs identified with others, such as

Frank Sinatra

vocals
1915 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Sinatra ("Come Fly with Me"), Jo Stafford ("Moonlight in Vermont") or

Bobby Darin

vocals
1936 - 1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Darin ("Beyond the Sea"). While it is hard to scale those mountains, Whitmore acquits herself well and makes the climb worthwhile. The other themes are no less charming, starting with "It's Nice to Go Trav'ling" and including the exquisite "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," "Georgia on My Mind" (a splendid duet with Adam Aejay Jackson) and especially Umberto Bertini's less often heard but no less enchanting "On an Evening in Roma," sung in English and Italian.

Come Fly with Me is another winner from Whitmore who proves, as she did on Isn't It Romantic (Arden House Music 2023), that the Great American Songbook is alive, well and never out of style.

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Track Listing

It��s Nice to Go Trav��ling; Come Fly with Me; On an Evening in Roma; A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square; There��s a Small Hotel; I Thought About You; Moonlight in Vermont; April in Paris; Georgia on My Mind; Autumn in New York; Beyond the Sea; Around the World.

Personnel

Judy Whitmore

vocals

Chris Walden

arranger

Josh Nelson

piano

David Delhomme

organ, Hammond B3

Andrew Synowiec

guitar

George Doering

guitar, electric

Edwin Livingston

bass

Jamey Tate

drums

Pete Korpela

percussion

Bob Sheppard

saxophone, tenor

Jacob Scesney

saxophone, baritone

Greg Huckins

saxophone, baritone

Rob Schaer

trumpet

Kye Palmer

trumpet

Andy Martin

trombone

Ramsey Hampton

trombone

Nick Ariondo

accordion

Hendrik Meurkens

harmonica

Additional Instrumentation

String section��Bruce Dukov, Tamara Hatwan, Heather Powell, Radu Pieptea, Stephanie Yu, Mark Cargill, Carol Pool, Neel Hammond, Michael Seiss, Camille Miller, Fernando Arroyo, Natalie Leggett, Nina Evtuhov, Aiko Richter, Songa Lee, Daphne Chen, Jacqueline Brand, Mark Robertson, Grace Oh, Maia Jasper White: violin; Vanessa Freebairn-Smith, Hillary Ahn Smith, Trevor Handy, Caleb Vaughn-Jones, Julie Jung Yoo: cello.

Album information

Title: Come Fly with Me | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Self Produced

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