Carmen Lundy – Elegance and Risk

DER KLEINE BUND – Bern, Switzerland: April 14, 2011

Carmen Lundy made a strong case for undiluted vocal jazz at the Jazzfestival Bern.

By Tom Gsteiger

A paradox, but true: vocal jazz is experiencing a boom, and in spite of this there are only a few real jazz singers.

Many of them prefer to sing ersatz pop, folk or country instead of jazz. Carmen Lundy stands alone in the tradition of Betty Carter with her extroverted, expressive and exultant form of vocal jazz.

Her opening set at Marian’s Jazzroom proved her command over an enormous spectrum of expressions. Especially impressive was her richness of ideas and the melodic reinterpretation of well-known standards. Spectacular were her furious scat vocals. Also not too bad – her own songs! Actually, Ms. Lundy has achieved a great reputation also as a songwriter. For example, the pianist Kenny Barron has recorded her song “QUIET TIMES” with his trio which included Dave Holland.

Great Trio

Since Carmen Lundy oscillates between elegance and risk all the time, she is dependent on high-grade and flexible accompaniment.

The pianist Anthony Wonsey and the bassist Darryl Hall are classified as all-around postbop. The young drummer Jamison Ross is at the beginning of his career. Together they are an awesome trio who kept building the momentum throughout the concert until they could hardly be stopped. Fortunately Carmen Lundy is not a diva who needs to be center stage all the time. In other words, she gives her musicians plenty of room. Wonsey displayed virtuosic daring with his fast fingers.

Continuing in the tradition of Betty Carter and making no concessions to the spirit of the times, Carmen Lundy stands for pure, undiluted jazz.