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Jane Scheckter: Easy To Remember

By Edward Blanco
February 17, 2012
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Music from The Great American Songbook is getting quite a workout these days, with more musicians and singers spinning their renditions of old standards and classics than ever before. On the stellar Easy To Remember, jazz-cabaret singer Jane Scheckter taps into the well, lending her interpretations to songs from this repertoire with an all-star cast of players. This is the fourth album for the veteran vocalist using a standard trio format. Pianist/arranger

Ted Firth

" data-original-title="" title="">Ted Firth and bassist extraordinaire

Jay Leonhart

bass
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Jay Leonhart, who both appeared with Scheckter on In Times Like These (Doxie, 2003), return for this follow-up engagement, with drummer Peter Grant rounding out the core band.

There is plenty of good music to enjoy on this 17-song release, and while the trio provides the main instrumental support, the personnel is expanded to add jazz luminaries such as guitarist

Bucky Pizzarelli

guitar
1926 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Bucky Pizzarelli, cornet specialist

Warren Vache

cornet
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Warren Vache, tenor saxophonist

Harry Allen

saxophone
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Harry Allen and others. Scheckter's enticing vocal style has been compared to the great

Ella Fitzgerald

vocals
1917 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Ella Fitzgerald. This is not to suggest that her vocal range compares, but her approach and general sound does bring to mind the icon's swagger. Borrowing from legendary composers

Irving Berlin

composer / conductor
1888 - 1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Irving Berlin and

Ray Noble

composer / conductor
1903 - 1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Noble, Scheckter begins painting her canvas of the American Songbook with swinging reads of "The Best Thing For You" and "I Hadn't Anyone Till You," with lively contributions from the Pizzarelli, Vach�� and Allen.

Beautiful ballads come into play with "I Have the Feeling I've Been Here Before," which features Scheckter at her best, accompanied well by a delicate cornet solo from Vach��. The singer turns in another sensitive performance on the Richard Rodgers title piece before sharing vocals with

Tony DeSare

piano and vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony DeSare on

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington's "I Didn't Know About You." Scheckter seems comfortable with ballads, delivering more tender moments with lush performances on "A Face Like Yours," "Stuck In A Dream With Me," "I'm Glad There Is You" and the Cy Coleman standard, "I Walk A Little Faster." The Rodgers and Hart standard "Where Or When" features the singer in a duet of sorts with harmonicist Gil Chimes.

Scheckter swings well on such classics as "How Little We Know," "Accidents Will Happen" and "Along With Me." Adding a bit of creative innovation to the project, the album closes with a version of "Will You Be Mine" with new lyrics supplied by Bob Feinberg. His text includes clever and humorous references to Donald Trump, Hugh Hefner, Paris Hilton and even Fox News—all germane to the 2011-2012 political landscape. One thing is certainly "Easy To Remember," Jane Scheckter is an uncommon songbird whose voice and music will not soon be forgetten.

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Track Listing

The Best Thing For You; I Hadn't Anyone Till You; I Have The Feeling I've Been Here Before; I Was A Little Too Lonely; Easy To Remember; I Didn't Know About You; Don't Let It Get You Down; Will You Still Be Mine; A Face Like Yours; Where Or When; How Little We Know; Stuck In A Dream With Me; Accidents Will Happen; I'm Glad There Is You; Along With Me; I Walk A Little Faster; Bonus! Will You Be Mine.

Personnel

Jane Scheckter

Jane Scheckter: vocals; Tedd Firth: piano; Jat Leonhart: bass; Peter Grant: drums; Bucky Pizzarelli: guitar; Warren Vach��: cornet; Harry Allen: tenor saxophone; Aaron Weinstein: violin; Tony DeSare: vocals (6); Gil Chimes: harmonica (10).

Album information

Title: Easy To Remember | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced

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