Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Staci Griesbach: My George Jones Songbook
Staci Griesbach: My George Jones Songbook
Duke Ellington
piano1899 - 1974
Staci Griesbach
vocalsGrowing up on a working farm in Wisconsin, Griesbach heard plenty of country music—George Jones, Patsy Cline, Shania Twain, etc. Now living in Santa Monica, she's made jazz vocal recordings featuring the three singers just listed. In 2016 she studied with Celia Vaz in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The range of feelings and genres in her latest recording, My George Jones Songbook, is a testament to her taste and talent in choosing music and musicians for her art.
At first blush the notion of George Jones music as the centerpiece for a jazz recording might provoke discomfort. He is considered the best male country vocalist of his time by many. A self-avowed alcoholic who told mostly melodramatic musical stories, George was damn good at bending the notes and his elbow.
Most importantly, though,, is that this recording is by a vocalist who has taken risks and succeeded. Griesbach's vocal range is exceptional. The first six cuts begin with three of George Jones' melancholy melodramas. She then switches to an upbeat mainstream scat, followed by a Bossa Nova with English and Portuguese lyrics segueing to a Cole Porter preface for Norro Wilson's and George Richey's tune. By the end of the six openers the listener knows the girl can sing.
The lucky #7 cut is reminiscent of
Marcus Miller
bassb.1959
Kevin Axt
bass
Joe Bagg
piano
Ryan Dragon
tromboneWillie Murillo
trumpetBrian Clancy
saxophone, tenorJake Reed
drumsNumber 8 in her songbook is
James Taylor
guitar and vocalsb.1948
Rich Hinman
guitar, steelBy now you get the idea. My George Jones Songbook is more than a compendium of George Jones' hits. The last six cuts are as varied as the others. "White Lightning" was written by J.P. Richardson, known to most rock'n'rollers as The Big Bopper back in the day. Fiddle player
Stuart Duncan
violinGriesbach's "Take Me" is as close to third stream music as a George Jones song will ever get. She ends the piece with what might be considered a tip of the hat to
Judi Silvano
vocals
Joe Lovano
drumsb.1952
Bob Sheppard
saxophone, tenorb.1952
Griesbach becomes a Francophile by using Johnny Halladay's French lyric for a light and breezy "Tender Years." She finishes that tune via a scat sing-along with pianist
Jeremy Siskind
pianoMention should be made of the nature of the arrangements.
Jeremy Siskind
piano
Tamir Hendelman
piano
Otmaro Ruiz
keyboardsb.1964
Willie Murillo
trumpet
Rahsaan Barber
saxophoneb.1980
Addison Frei
pianob.1992
Artyom Manukyan
cello"He Stopped Loving Her Today" songwriter Bobby Braddock complimented Griesbach on this recording by saying she may have created a new musical genre he called "countryjazz...jazzneck...whatever." No insult intended to Mister Braddock, but as usual, the Duke said it best, speaking about the different kinds of music. "My George Jones Songbook" is good music. ">
Track Listing
The Grand Tour (Norro Wilson, Carmol Taylor, and George Richey); He Stopped Loving Her Today (Bobby Braddock and Curly Putnam); A Good Year For The Roses (Jerry Chesnut); He Thinks I Still Care (Dicky Lee and Steve Duffy); Walk Through This World With Me (Sandy Seamons and Kaye Savage);. A Picture of Me Without You (Cole Porter, Norro Wilson and George Richey); Golden Ring (Bobby Braddock, Rafe Vanhoy); Bartender’s Blues (James Taylor); Why Baby Why (Darrel Edwards, George Jones); Take Me (George Jones, Leon Payne); White Lightning (Jiles Perry Richardson); You’re Still On My Mind (Luke McDaniel); Tender Years (Tes Tendres Années) (George Jones, Darrell Edwards); The Race Is On (Don Rollins).
Personnel
Staci Griesbach
vocals
Tamir Hendelman
piano
Jeremy Siskind
piano
Otmaro Ruiz
keyboards
Rahsaan Barber
saxophone
Addison Frei
pianoJake Reed
drums
Kevin Axt
bassAaron Serfaty
percussionNando Raio
bass, acoustic
Bob Sheppard
saxophone, tenorWillie Murillo
trumpetBrian Clancy
saxophone, tenor
Bruce Forman
guitar
Ryan Dragon
trombone
Joe Bagg
pianoRich Hinman
guitar, steel
Stuart Duncan
violinArtyom Manukian
celloJohn Hatton
bass, acousticAlbum information
Title: My George Jones Songbook | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Staci Griesbach
Tags
staci griesbach
Album Review
William H. Snyder
My George Jones Songbook
George Jones
duke ellington
Celia Vaz
James Taylor
Rich Hinman
J.P. Richardson
Stuart Duncan
Judi Silvano
Joe Lovano
Bob Shepherd
Johnny Halladay
Jeremy Siskind
jeremy siskind
Tamir Hemelman
Otmaro Ruiz
Willie Murillo
Rahsan Barber
Addison Frei
Artyom Manukyan
Comments
PREVIOUS / 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.Showcase
Buy Now
Featured
Carnaval - The Songs Were So Beautiful
By Antonio Adolfo buy
Darwin AI: Surivior Choice
By Alex Otey buyGiveaway
