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S?je: I Can't Help It

By Scott Lichtman
May 22, 2024
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It is rare to encounter, an all-female, professional jazz vocal ensemble. The quartet

Säje

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">S?je (pronounced like "beige") not only has established itself in this genre with a Grammy nomination, but they raise the bar for all vocal groups. The singers—

Sara Gazarek

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Sara Gazarek,

Amanda Taylor

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Amanda Taylor,

Erin Bentlage

vocals
b.1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Erin Bentlage and

" data-original-title="" title="">Johnaye Kendrick—are practically telepathic in synchronizing their phrasing. Any big band would be ecstatic to inject fluid horn hits the way these ladies do. In addition, they transform a potential limitation of female quartets—modest range when compared to soprano/alto/tenor/bass groups—into captivating arrangements that blend pretty much every closed interval one can write. This recommendation features

Michael Jackson

vocals
1958 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Jackson's groove: "I Can't Help It." Co-composition kudos go to

Stevie Wonder

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Stevie Wonder for sophisticated changes such as A13b5 to Abmaj7sus4 under the verse.

Contact Scott Lichtman on All About Jazz.
Jazz/fusion keyboardist & autograph collector in Stamford CT.

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