Here's to Ben: A Vocal Tribute to Ben Webster [Groove Note SACD Bonus Track]

• Artist: Jacintha
• Rating:
• Release Date: November 20, 2001
• Total Time: 50:20
• Genre: Vocal Music

Review

When you link your musical objective to a jazz icon like Ben Webster, certain expectations are created and, like here, rarely are these expectations met. Certainly, Jacintha sings songs Webster played and she sings them very nicely. But there's none of the raspy timbre in her voice that made Webster's saxophone immediately recognizable. Jacintha confuses raspy with singing softly. She and the producers would have been better served by presenting these songs as hers, not Webster's. The focus then would be where it belongs, i.e., what she does with these classics. With excellent pitch, good diction, and sensitive interpretations of the lyrics, she makes these songs her own. One highlight is her a cappella treatment of "Danny Boy." Throughout the session, Jacintha receives solid support from veteran Teddy Edwards' blues-drenched saxophone (he's a lot closer to Webster than Jacintha is). He and Jacintha work well together, as on "How Long Has This Been Going On?" The venerable drummer Larance Marable and bass player Darek Oles combine to lay a solid, sensitive foundation for the proceedings. Oles' bass is especially prominent on "Over the Rainbow." Former Miles Davis pianist Ker Akagi is a capable accompanist. This album is a solid enough effort solely on the strength of Jacintha's natural talent. The obeisance to Webster was not only unnecessary, but distracting. ~ Dave Nathan, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Georgia on My Mind	Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell	Jacintha	(5:18)
Love Is Here to Stay	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Jacintha	(3:18)
Tenderly	Walter Gross, Jack Lawrence	Jacintha	(5:23)
Over the Rainbow	Harold Arlen, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg	Jacintha	(9:41)
How Long Has This Been Going On?	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Jacintha	(5:26)
Stardust	Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish	Jacintha	(6:38)
In the Wee Small Hours of Morning		Jacintha	(4:12)
Pennies from Heaven	Johnny Burke, Arthur Johnston	Jacintha	(3:13)
Danny Boy	Frederic E. Weatherly	Jacintha	(7:25)
The Look of Love [Audiophile Bonus Café]	Burt Bacharach, Hal David	Jacintha	(4:08)

Credits

Kei Akagi (Piano), Teddy Edwards (Sax (Tenor)), Bernie Grundman (Mastering), Joe Harley (Producer), Larance Marable (Drums), Darek Oles (Bass), Bill Kohlhaase (Liner Notes), Michael C. Ross (Engineer), Joseph d'Alessio (Photography), John Sorenson (Assistant Engineer), Jacintha (Vocals), Jacintha (Main Performer), Ying Tan (Producer), Ying Tan (Executive Producer), Sebastian Koh (Executive Producer), Barbara Leister (Hair Stylist)