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Rachel Caswell: We're All in the Dance

By Mark Sullivan
November 3, 2018
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If you want proof of singer

Rachel Caswell

vocals
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Rachel Caswell's jazz chops, you could skip right to the last two tracks. She scats the head of bebop saxophonist

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker's evergreen "Dexterity" along with guitarist (and producer)

Dave Stryker

guitar
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Stryker, then blends in with the rest of the band for a round of solos. Sticking with the bebop theme, pianist

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk's "Reflections" is a beautiful ballad, this time with lyrics from singer

Jon Hendricks

vocals
1921 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Hendricks. It is a feature for the voice and pianist

Fabian Almazan

piano
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Fabian Almazan.

The rest of the program is an eclectic collection of (mostly) love songs. Sting's bossa nova "Fragile" opens with sister

" data-original-title="" title="">Sara Caswell's violin, a welcome addition on three of the tracks. After a relaxed, swinging rendition of the melody there's a violin solo and a scat solo. There is no law that a jazz singer must scat, but Caswell has an easy way with it. Stryker and Almazan trade eights for their solo section. The title tune is a lovely Will Jennings waltz: probably the farthest thing from the jazz canon in the set, but a beautiful setting for voice and violin.

Bob Dorough

vocals
1923 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Dorough's "Devil May Care" is given a vertiginous reading, Caswell's dazzling fast lyrical wordplay followed by an equally spry scat solo. The rest of the band jumps in with equal aplomb for their solos. Other highlights include the

Ray Charles

piano and vocals
1930 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Charles classic "Drown In My Own Tears," a deep dive into the blues, featuring an especially strong guitar solo. Pianist

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me A Bedtime Story" (with lyrics by Tom Lellis) takes a funk direction, a showcase for Caswell's vocals and Almazan's Fender Rhodes playing.

This is a great band—and both bassist

Linda May Han Oh

bass, acoustic
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Linda May Han Oh and drummer Jonathan Blake should also be mentioned, for their energy as part of the rhythm section as well as fine solos—and there is a real band feeling throughout. Caswell is the star, but she's no diva. She is much better than that: a jazz musician in the company of other jazz musicians.

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Track Listing

Fragile; A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening; We're All in the Dance; Devil May Care; Two for the Road; Drown in My Own Tears; I Didn't Know What Time It Was; Tell Me a Bedtime Story; Dexterity; Reflections (Looking Back).

Personnel

Rachel Caswell

vocals

Rachel Caswell: vocals; Dave Stryker: guitar; Fabian Almazan: piano & Fender Rhodes; Linda May Han Oh: bass; Johnathan Blake: drums; Sara Caswell: violin.

Album information

Title: We're All in the Dance | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Turtle Ridge Records

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