Amandah

Reviews for "Devil May Care"

The Scanner Newspaper
July 19, 2001
FIVE STARS (out of five)
By Dick Bogle

Jantzen’s Promise Evident on ‘Devil May Care’
“DEVIL MAY CARE”
Amandah Jantzen
Starfire
*****

This CD needs to be placed in the hands of major festival producers and owners of big time jazz clubs.

Amandah Jantzen has the requisite talent for a heady career with all the bright lights, awards and reputation as befits a top notch jazz singer. She just needs to be heard.

This release, her second, is a good follow to “Some Other Time.” Here, she creates a bond and an intimacy with the listener on each of the 11 tracks.
“Besame Mucho” has been recorded hundreds of times but it’s doubtful if any exceed Jantzen’s treatment. Her first chorus is done in English but the second is in eloquent Spanish. It is a perfect example of how her singing manages to assimilate a certain sexiness but not ever to the degree that detracts from either the lyric or melody.
As easily as she caresses such languid ballads as “Early Autumn,” “How Insensitive” and “What’ll I Do?” she belts out an up tempo “It’s Alright With Me.”
This former Portland resident now working in Spokane, uses some very good Canadian sidemen including pianist Chris Sigerson, who also was heard on her earlier release. This is a definite audience pleaser.
— Dick Bogle

All Music Guide
FOUR STARS (out of five)
By Dave Nathan

AMG EXPERT REVIEW: Amandah Jantzen's second album documents considerable progress toward becoming an outstanding, articulate interpreter of classics from the Great American Songbook. She is ably assisted by first rate personnel and simple, straightforward arrangements which give these oft recorded tunes a fresh perspective. Janzten never gets in a rut as she treats each tune as if it were the only one on the CD. Each one gets distinctive attention, avoiding the trap of predictability. On "Summertime," she is sultry, sassy, and swinging. On "Cheek to Cheek," with its footloose rhythm, Janzten adds some humor by modifying the lyrics. The requisite music from Brazil is here, with one of the gems of that genre, "How Insensitive." As much as any, this tune spotlights Jantzen's appreciation for the lyrics she is singing as she gives each word its due. There's also that slight catch in the voice leaving a hint of sensuality. "What'll I Do?" indicates a simple innocence in some of the directions Jantzen takes the music. Then there are the sidemen who are not just along to backstop the singer — though they do a commendable job of that — but have plenty of opportunities to express their ideas about virtually every track. Al Wold, with his Zoot Sims-like tenor and occasional foray on clarinet, Craig Scott's vibes, and Ihor Kukurudza's clean, strummed guitar all have their moments in the sun, while Chris Sigerson does yeoman work making sure matters stay the course. They all remain with the mood set for the album, staying relaxed, sensitive, and gently expressive. There's no instrumental bursting or bombing before, during, or after a vocal refrain. This is a fine twinkling album from a vocalist who grows with every note she sings.
— Dave Nathan

LA Jazz Scene
October 2001
By Scott Yanow (AMG, JazzTimes)

Amandah Jantzen
Devil May Care
(Starfire)

Although there has been a longtime shortage of male jazz vocalists, there are scores of very talented female jazz singers scattered all over this continent. Amandah Jantzen’s second recording for her Starfire label (P.O. Box 12022, Portland, OR 97212-0022) is even a little better than her notable debut Some Other Time. Her voice is quite appealing, she is expressive without altering the melody or lyrics much, and she has no difficulty swinging with her fine backup group.
Joined by pianist Chris Sigerson, bassist Ken Lister, Craig Scott on drums and vibes, guitarist Ihor Kukurudza and Al Wold on clarinet, tenor and baritone, Amandah Jantzen sounds quite happy swinging through the 11 standards. The only reservation that I have is that most of the songs have been performed many times through the years (particularly“Cheek To Cheek,” “It’s Alright With Me,” “Summertime” and “It’s A Wonderful World”) although the singer is able to make the material sound fairly fresh. Perhaps next time she should include some obscurities; the closest she comes this time around is “I Was Telling Him About You.” Since Amandah Jantzen is based in Portland, she is long overdue to perform in the Los Angeles area. Hopefully some clubowner will look into bringing her south so local jazz fans can enjoy her music in person in the future.
—Scott Yanow

AllAboutJazz.com
By Jack Bowers

Devil May Care
Amandah Jantzen
(Starfire)

Before commenting on the music, a word of congratulations — the eight photographs of Amandah Jantzen that adorn Devil May Care have equaled Maria Schneider’s record for “most pictures of a performing artist accompanying her own compact disc.” She needed both sides of the tray card to do it but managed to draw even with Schneider’s notable achievement on her latest album, Allégresse. In five of the eight photos Jantzen, a green–eyed blonde, is posed on a beach in swimsuit or robe, which may or may not help sell a few copies of the album. It certainly can’t hurt, but may deflect one’s attention from Jantzen’s most important asset, which is of course her singing voice. It’s clear and pleasant, seductive when appropriate, with a slight sharpness around the edges that enhances her intonation, delivery and “devil may care” presence. Jantzen’s choice of material is exemplary, and she knows how to sell a lyric without undue embellishment. Whether she’s a “Jazz singer” is debatable (it almost always is) but she has surrounded herself with talented Oregon–based pros who keep the music swinging. Al Wold is especially helpful, moving easily from clarinet to tenor or baritone sax, while drummer Craig Scott (wonderful with sticks or brushes) switches to vibes on Jobim’s “How Insensitive.” The closing number, Mack Gordon / Harry Warren’s “This Is Always,” is a sultry duet with pianist Chris Sigerson who teams with Scott, bassist Ken Lister and guitarist Ihor Kukurudza to comprise an impressive rhythm section. When all is said and sung, Jantzen is a pleasure to hear (and to see).
— Jack Bowers

Contact: Starfire, P.O. Box 12022, Portland, OR 97212–0022. www.amandahjantzen.com

Track Listing: Cheek to Cheek; Early Autumn; Besame Mucho; Devil May Care; How Insensitive; It’s All Right
with Me; What’ll I Do?; Summertime; I Was Telling Him About You; It’s a Wonderful World; This Is Always
(52:10).

Personnel: Amandah Jantzen, vocals; Al Wold, tenor, baritone sax, clarinet; Chris Sigerson, piano; Ihor
Kukurudza, guitar; Ken Lister, bass; Craig Scott, drums, vibes.

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