Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Susan Krebs: Daybreak

Susan Krebs: Daybreak

By Richard J Salvucci
October 20, 2021
View read count

Sometimes, simpler is better. Familiar chord progressions are like old friends. We think they have aged well, and however different the melody (or their appearance), they are relatable. We connect to and with them. After a spell of "dare to be different" time signatures that can be fun, or challenging, hearing someone who can play or sing well in plain vanilla four can be a relief. After all, most people walk around in two or four. Can 7.9 billion people be wrong?

Certain conventions arise for reasons of efficiency, aesthetics, or suitability. Not everything has to be weird. Or not the Great American Songbook.

Susan Krebs and Mixed Remotions are the furthest thing from weird or unconventional. Which is not to say they are dull or boring or, Heaven forbid, solid. It is precisely because of this element of familiarity, really from a nicely swinging "Can't Get Out of This Mood" that has ladies and love whispering in the ear, that Krebs entices a listener. Krebs' insistent voice, breathy, but not imitative, sells the song and gets the listener in the mood for what follows. The rhythm section does nothing fancy, other than lay down an engaging swing, and support

Rob Lockart

clarinet

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Lockart's Traneish stylings." Daybreak" paints a nice picture, with Lockart sinuously appearing again and then fading out. "How Little We Know" breaks the rhythmic pattern with an almost conversational waltz. Who is doubling the flute? It adds a nice color to the mix. "Who Knows Where The Time Goes?" does simple justice to Sandy Denny's now-classic melody. It seems oddly appropriate to the pandemic-blurred temporal boundaries that so many have noticed, if not necessarily enjoyed. Krebs gets it right, especially in its plaintive tone. A feathery soprano sax decorates. When was the last time we heard the verse to "Stardust?" Krebs does it her way, and, for once, nobody will remember

Artie Shaw

clarinet
1910 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Artie Shaw or

Billy Butterfield

b.1917

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Butterfield. Again, the soprano sax work is not only melodic, but, somehow, pushes a lot of other great solos of the past out of one's memory.

Some excellent recordings have come out of the pandemic because the need for human connection is always strong. Daybreak may have been largely remotely recorded, but the mood is intimate and pensive. In a society starved for tranquil beauty, Susan Krebs supplies a much-needed and highly eclectic remedy.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Can'T Get Out Of This Mood; Daybreak; How Little We Know; Inside A Silent Tear; Who Knows Where The Time Goes; Listen Here; Stardust

Personnel

Susan Krebs

vocals

Rich Eames

piano

Jerry Kalaf

vibraphone

Domenic Genova

drums

Scott Breadman

percussion

Riner Scivally

guitar

Rob Lockart

clarinet

Doug Walter

saxophone

Additional Instrumentation

Susan Krebs with Mixed Emotions: Rich Eames (pno), Domenic Genova (bs), Riner Scivally (gtr), Scott Breadman (perc), Jerry Kalaf (vb), Rob Lockart (ww), Doug Walter (ww)

Album information

Title: Daybreak | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: GreenGig Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

The Compelling Urgency of Now: Celeb...
< Previous

The Long Table
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.