Carmen Lundy-Jazz and The New Songbook: Live at The Madrid

swing2bop.com, Bruce Crowther
February 1, 2006

http://www.swing2bop.com/index.html

A major figure on the world stage of jazz singing for many years, this latest release by Carmen Lundy vividly demonstrates why she is held in such high regard by fans and fellow artists alike. Recorded live at the Madrid Theatre in Los Angeles in February 2005, this double album sets out Carmen’s talent not only as a singer but also as a songwriter. Every track here is composed or co-composed by Carmen and the songs range through sparkling displays of her vocal skills, to soulful ballads, fervent swingers and evocative mood pieces. She is accompanied here by many stellar instrumentalists who are grouped in various formations and include pianists Robert Glasper, Billy Childs and David Roitstein, bassists Curtis Lundy, Nathan East and Kenny Davis, guitarist Phil Upchurch, drummers Victor Lewis and Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith, percussionist Mayra Casales, trombonist Steve Turre, saxophonists Bobby Watson and Mark Shim, as well as the LA String Quartet and backing vocalist Krystal Davis Williams. Not too many of us have the chance to hear this exceptional singer live; this album is the next best thing.