Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jackie Ryan: Listen Here

Jackie Ryan: Listen Here

By Dan Bilawsky
January 3, 2013
View read count

Jackie Ryan isn't simply a singer; she's a force of nature. Her voice possesses a weighty power, yet soars with grace and ease. Her ability to transmute into different characters and forms, as dictated by the song, lyrics and style, makes her one in a million and she's managed to parlay that unique gift into project after successful project with some of the best in the business backing her up. This date is no exception.

Ryan recruited bassist/arranger extraordinaire

John Clayton

bass
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">John Clayton to build a band around her voice and he reached out to some of his first-call friends and relatives from the

Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and the Clayton Brothers Quintet. Together, this group of West Coast jazz elites makes magic. Saxophonist Rickey Woodward preaches from the soul with horn in hand ("Accentuate The Positive"), trumpeter

Gilbert Castellanos

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Gilbert Castellanos brings the heat, guitarist

Graham Dechter

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Graham Dechter proves to be a wonderful accompanist when Ryan opens up her Spanish heart for all to see ("La Puerta"), and drummer

Obed Calvaire

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Obed Calvaire shifts effortlessly from style to style.

Each of those individuals adds volumes to the album, but John Clayton and his unbelievably musical offspring—pianist

Gerald Clayton

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerald Clayton—prove to be the two most valuable players. The elder Clayton's impeccable time and feel, along with his instincts and arranging skills, help to sell the songs. Gerald Clayton demonstrates an encyclopedic knowledge of styles, sounds and suggestive maneuvers. He can thrive in a dark, brooding and funky headspace ("Comin' Home Baby"), deliver churchy,

Richard Tee

keyboards
1943 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Richard Tee-like backing without a problem ("Accentuate The Positive") and inhabit a

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie-esque, less-is-more mindset (Anytime, Any Day, Anywhere").

As good as the instrumentalists may be—and they are damn good—this date still belongs to Ryan and she makes sure that nobody forgets it. She can proselytize with the best of them ("Accentuate The Positive"), inhabit a

Billie Holiday

vocals
1915 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Billie Holiday-like space ("Anytime, Any Day, Anywhere"), commune with the blues ("No One Ever Tells You"), deliver brilliantly emotional performances ("Throw It Away," "A Time For Love") and carry directness in her words ("Listen Here"). Her sense of passion for this music comes through at every turn and her skills as an interpreter are second to none.

Listen Here makes an impression in a big way and furthers the already sterling reputation of one of the current vocal treasures in the world of jazz.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Comin' Home Baby; The Gypsy In My Soul; Throw It Away; Accentuate The Positive; Anytime, Any Day, Anywhere; I Loves You Porgy; How Little We Know (How Little It Matters); La Puerta; Rip Van Winkle; A Time For Love; No One Ever Tells You; Before We Fall In Love; To The Ends Of The Earth; Listen Here.

Personnel

Jackie Ryan

vocals

Gerald Clayton

piano

John Clayton

bass

Gilbert Castellanos

trumpet

Graham Dechter

guitar

Obed Calvaire

drums

Rickey Woodard

saxophone, tenor

Album information

Title: Listen Here | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: OpenArt Productions

PREVIOUS / NEXT

January 2013
< Previous

Basra
Next >

Jackie Ryan Concerts

Nov 9 Sun

Jackie Ryan - 25th Anniversary Of “passion...

Piedmont Piano Company
Oakland, CA

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.