Carter Calvert and the Roger Cohen Trio 2012

PURCHASE THE ALBUM NOW!

About the Album: <p>Carter Calvert and the Roger Cohen Trio is an outstanding venture into the American Songbook, sprinkled with well-known secular cuts reworked into the jazz idiom with stellar results.</p>
<p>The adventure begins with the aptly titled “The Best is Yet to Come,” the first of 13 tracks. Initially a canonic figure between Calvert and bassist Brian Glassman, the piece segues into a full ensemble that swings hard under the singer’s dynamic phrasing. Her siren vocal style dips and swoons with confidence, command, and conviction. The connection between Ms. Calvert & the Roger Cohen Trio is felt immediately and continues until the final cut. When considering this palpable chemistry and ease of musical interaction, it’s not surprising to discover that Carter Calvert is married to the leader of the trio and producer of this CD.</p>

<p>“Fever,” Peggy Lee’s signature song, could be a risky choice for most vocalists, but Calvert proves she is more than up to the challenge. Her soulful delivery is guaranteed to send chills up your spine. Calvert spices the track with bluesy growls that evoke a sizzle of sexuality mixed with enough fragility to make it burn.</p>

<p>Ballads are always the true test of a vocalist’s stock and it is here that Calvert’s clarity, power, timbre, and control of her instrument prove that this singer is a force to be reckoned with. Her phrasing on “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” is sublime. “Crazy,” typically associated with Patsy Cline, exhibits Calvert’s ability to skillfully translate a country classic into the jazz arena. On “Send in the Clowns,” Calvert stays true to the timeless melody while making the song her own. With only piano accompaniment, it is truly a heart wrenching performance. Another standout is the understated read on “Time After Time,” featuring backing vocals by platinum selling artist Rob Evan of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.</p>

<p>“Memory,” from the Broadway hit Cats, opens with a 12/8 feel to introduce the melody. Pianist Jim West gives the tune a fresh harmonic overhaul while drummer Roger Cohen makes his entrance with a subtle, yet grooving brush feel. The tune gradually evolves into a more active 6/8 feel which gives the arrangement more drive and hints at what’s to come. The song really opens up on the piano solo when Cohen drops the brushes and digs in unapologetically with sticks. Ms. Calvert owns this cut; this rendition leaves a lasting impression and is destined to be called upon as a benchmark performance.</p>

<p>Moving ballads aside, make no mistake: the gal can swing! “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” demonstrates that Ms. Calvert can burn on up-tempos and the bluesy “Please Don’t Stop Him” proves she can get down and dirty. Calvert can shout it from the rooftops with the best of them. The Latin feel of “You Belong to Me” is a wonderfully fresh take on an old chestnut. This songstress has it all... and more. One listen and you are hooked.</p>

<p>The Sondheim classic “Not While I’m Around” is given a new treatment with a 5/4 time signature. Although the melody floats through various time signatures, it is connected seamlessly by the ensemble and Calvert’s ability to execute the complexities with a fluid ease. Roger Cohen’s drum solo demonstrates masterful command of his instrument. Cohen’s use of space in the 5/4 meter is reminiscent of Joe Morello’s landmark solo on Dave Brubeck’s Take Five. The musicality Cohen displays in his playing combined with the artistry in his arranging and producing of this CD prove that he is certainly the man behind the magic.</p>

<p>The last two cuts are separate, but thematically linked by lyric and emotion. The a capella “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” features Calvert’s exquisite voice in all its glory. Her diction is perfect, her pitch absolute and her delivery inspirational. This extraordinary CD closes with a stirring cover of the Peter Gabriel composition “Washing of the Water.” After the initial sparse piano accompaniment, bassist Brian Glassman enters with flawless bowing that walks along the lyric. With the entrance of the drums, the track evolves into a moving showcase for Calvert’s soulful singing. The song resolves in an emotional ending, leaving the listener inspired and uplifted by an exceptional musical experience. This exciting debut CD, Carter Calvert and the Roger Cohen Trio is the consummate marriage of song, singer, and instrumentation. One listen is all you need to recognize the resonant impact of this supremely talented vocalist and jazz trio.</p>

For more information, visit http://www.cartercalvert.com

<p>"Carter Calvert effervesces: her voice echoes chimes in the night...Her smoldering grip on Fever is positively dangerous."
-The New York Times</p>

<p>"...a voice of smoke and fire."
-San Diego Weekly</p>

<p>"Carter Calvert is simply incredible. Her voice is so well focused and full of power that she can raise goose bumps. Her performance of favorites such as “Fever” is one I’ll remember for some time to come."
-The Trenton Times</p>

<p>"A sizzling session that’s often an unabashed celebration of sensuality that keeps the fire burring all night long. Check it out."
-Chris Spector, Midwest Record Volume 35/Number 141</p>

<p>"Broadway/jazz vocalist Carter Calvert possesses an impressive set of pipes, fine-tuned by performances in Cats, Ain't Nothing But the Blues and Always Patsy Cline. Her capability goes well beyond the stage, where Calvert displays a certain facility for rubbing some old songs in just the right way, making them catch fire."
-C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz</p>

<p>"Calvert is the answer to a musical prayer as she effortlessly mixes standards, pop tunes, traditional and of all things a country tune and gives a solid performance on each and every tune. Carter Calvert's self-titled release is well thought out, perfectly paced and with an eclectic song list to keep things interesting."
-Brent Black, Critical Jazz</p>

<p>"Power to hit the balcony, intimate and lyrical, humid and sultry. They’re all on display here."
-Doug Boynton, Girlsingers</p>

<p>"The varied selections of Jazz gems and Broadway staples show off the entire range of Carter's carefully honed and crafted instrument allowing her to pour herself into the music with complete abandon floating over the changes with a superb silky tone."
-Onel Mulet, Hot Indie News</p>