December 2001
Rubin is a vocalist of considerable talent, which is showcased on this album with a range of classics, ballads and Broadway show tunes. Her singing is always powerful, smooth and nearly flawless. Cuts such as "Loving You" and her original composition, "If You Ever Go Away," are expressive and show a command of vocal inflections and nuances that is impressive. Other songs, such as "Sex Is a Misdemeanor" and "Comes Love," show a more playful, swinging side to her vocal style. In contrast to Rubin’s silky smooth delivery, Etta James provides a raspy and more colorful tone on "But Not for Me" and "Gee, Baby, Ain’t I Good For You" -- James' signature piece. Thanks to Telarc’s standard 20-bit recording and mastering technology, the recording quality of this album is quite good. The vocals are remarkably clear and immediate without any veiled qualities. Voices are closely-miked, but are not too up-front. Instruments, such as the piano, are also nicely recorded with plenty of body and solidity. Lewis Nash’s drums sound excellent, as shown by the catchy snare cadence on "Sex Is a Misdemeanor." Trombone and sax exhibit plenty of blat and bite. Girl Talk by Vanessa Rubin is a solid effort that benefits from Telarc’s usual superb recording quality, one that will appeal to jazz purists. However, even with Rubin’s strong vocal performance, spirited guest vocals by Etta James, and some excellent performances by all of the musicians, the album is a relatively conventional collection of standards and classics. Some may think me a philistine, but I happen to prefer my jazz with a bit more of an edge. GO BACK TO: |
Vanessa Rubin - Girl Talk
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Vanessa
Rubin’s Girl Talk is yet another in a long list of quality jazz albums from
Telarc. While not in the same class as those from Ray Brown or Oscar Peterson, Girl
Talk features Telarc’s trademark high quality sonics, as well as some wonderful
performances, not only by Vanessa Rubin, but also from guest artists such as Etta James
and Lewis Nash.