Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Katie Thiroux: Off Beat

Katie Thiroux: Off Beat

By Mark E. Gallo
August 9, 2017
View read count

Katie Thiroux has studied with jazz vocalist

Tierney Sutton

vocals
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Tierney Sutton and bassist

" data-original-title="" title="">John Clayton, and the bassist/vocalist was awarded a scholarship to the Berklee, later teaching at the esteemed College of Music. Her resume is as impressive as it gets, but this is not a woman who rests on her laurels. Her instruments are her calling cards. Off Beat is her sophomore album and is quite impressive. The core lineup of pianist

Justin Kauflin

piano
b.1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Justin Kauflin and drummer

Matt Witek

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Witek is augmented by the brilliant clarinetist/tenor saxophonist

Ken Peplowski

woodwinds
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Peplowski, as well as saxophonist

Roger Neumann

saxophone, tenor
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Roger Neumann. The ten-song program is filled with familiar and not-so-familiar songs, and mixes vocal tunes with instrumentals. The results are glorious. The title cut opens the program and sets the stage; the old

June Christy

vocals
1925 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">June Christy tune is given a finger-snapping reading that sees Peplowski, Kauflin and Witek backing Thiroux as she sings, "just 'cause I'm different doesn't mean I'm wrong."

On

Benny Carter

saxophone, alto
1907 - 2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Carter's "When Lights Are Low," Thiroux owns the song. Her phrasing has just the right amount of simultaneous tenderness and swing, while Kauflin's solo is a perfect foil. "Why Did I Choose You?," from the 1946 film The Yearling, is a tender ballad. The Thiroux-penned "Slow Dance With Me" is a medium-tempo instrumental, with the band invited to stretch out; everyone shines. An instrumental take on Frank Loesser's "Brotherhood Of Man" is followed by Thiroux scatting on "Ray's Idea," also featuring a delicious clarinet solo. On Leiber and Stoller's "Some Cats Know," Peplowski blows a smoky tenor behind Thiroux's snazzy, lazy vocal ("some cats know how to make the honey flow but if a cat don't know a cat don't know").

"When the Wind Was Green," a

Frank Sinatra

vocals
1915 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Sinatra vehicle with the lyrics "When the wind was red like a summer wine, when the wind was red like your lips on mine, it caressed my face and it tossed my hair, you were there," is given a hip reading that does the original proud. Again, Peplowski's clarinet is prominent. Roger Neumann trades tenor lines with Peplowski on

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington's classic and classy "Happy Reunion," under which Thiroux and Witek are joined by Kauflin's perfect accompaniment.

Closing with "Willow Weep For Me," Thiroux plays bass and sings, unaccompanied. Her bass work, in particular, is impressive. A highly recommended disc by a rising star in the jazz firmament.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Off Beat; When Lights Are Low; Why Did I Choose You?; Slow Dance With Me; Brotherhood Of Man; Ray's Idea; Some Cats Know; When The Wind Was Green; Happy Reunion; Willow Weep For Me.

Personnel

Katie Thiroux

bass

Katie Thiroux: bass, voice; Ken Peplowski: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Roger Neumann: tenor and soprano saxophones; Justin Kauflin; piano; Matt Witek: drums.

Album information

Title: Off Beat | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Capri Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Storyteller
< Previous

Stanley Jordan at Tabarka Jazz Festi...
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.