Biography of Brenda Carol by Vinny Chachra
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"She makes the lyrics of a tune become like seeds flowering into a new life...", Joanne Brackeen (1998)
Endlessly swimming and playing by the banks of the Grand River, Brenda Carol was raised in the Brant County region of Ontario, Canada. From her earliest days she remembers adoring music, soaking it in during long sweet summers spent outdoors. As a teenager, she took an audacious step. Moving into live performance, she began singing rock and jazz. This was the beginning of Brenda?s apprenticeship period; collecting knowledge, ideas, and images from vocal jazz, blues, and popular song.
Moving to the city; a classic singer?s story, she began developing her craft; singing anytime and anywhere. Inspiration came from many sources: the bebop vocal-jazz styling of Annie Ross, the confidence of Betty Carter - whose work developed Brenda?s ear for original improvisations, the playfulness of early Ella Fitzgerald and singer Chris Connor. As always, the greats are part of any jazz performers necessary listening: Charlie Parker, Max Roach, Miles Davis... they have given Brenda Carol a grounding in this musical tradition.
Working with pianist Stephen Gardner, a well-studied proponent of both modern and traditional jazz, Brenda Carol has developed a vocal style that tells stories not just words. From the spaciousness of a country childhood to the sophistication of an artist parlaying an urban musical form, she draws from the multiplicity of experiences in her life. Confidence and emotional control embodies her independent debut CD "Brenda Carol".
"Brenda Carol" encompasses ten timeless jazz classics. Like the great Bill Henderson, Brenda Carol uses her voice to evoke time and place. In Nefertiti, the vocal overlay on the great Wayne Shorter composition, she raises the image of an Egyptian high priestess invoking the Sun God Ra to bring a new era to the land of Ancient Egypt. With her rendition of the Blossom Dearie classic, I?m Hip, she contrasts the deadpan wit of the Dearie version. Using humour, (with a wink to the audience), she portrays the giddiness of the very modern desire to be au courant. Finally, in the hidden gem of the CD, Lush Life, she brings the words of Billy Strayhorn to life, conveying the world-weariness of a young romantic lost in sultry melancholy.
Taking notes from the spirit of Ella Fitzgerald, Brenda Carol plays easily with the musicians; making space in the melodies for the talented players that accompany her on the CD. The ensemble of Stephen Gardner on piano, Stephen Crowe on trumpet, Ted Quinlan and Lorne Lofsky on guitar, Igor Romanyk on violin, Steve Wallace on bass and Daniel Barnes on drums bring a delicately-tuned sensibility which acts as a frame for Brenda Carol?s remarkable performance.
With her emphasis on emotion, originality and malleability of the boundaries of vocal jazz, Brenda Carol is a new talent on the jazz horizon. She is part expert storyteller, part vocalist who has made a unique instrument out of her voice and part cultural historian who mines a knowledge of the blues and the avant-garde. Inspired by the unique women who came before her, Brenda Carol brings a fresh perspective to the vocal jazz song-book. Watch out for her - she might just surprise you. Yet again!
Vinny Chachra, August 1998
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This is a wonderfully integrated group of musicians, blending magically together and covering an expansive musical scope - from a blues, country and dixie sound - all the way up to the subtleties, harmonies and excitement jazz at the end of the millenium has to offer. Brenda Carol, with her bewitching, spellbinding interpretations of the ten jazz classics and standards, is the major focus of this CD. She refreshingly makes the lyrics of a tune become like seeds flowering into a new life, vision, vitality and dimension. Whether wistful or joyous, she relays the many moods of each song directly, powerfully, yet beautifully. The impact of her lovely voice will echo through you long after hearing her.
There are many other delights in the band as well. Stephen Gardner, the pianist, elegantly blends his talents with Brenda, sometimes playing very lyrical and relaxed, while other tunes delve into more mysterious abstract harmonies. The violinist, Igor Romanyk, is a complimentary surprise as a guest soloist with his soulful violinistics. Ted Quinlan on guitar is, at times, reminiscent of Wes Montgomery, while Lorne Lofsky has a modernistic approach. Daniel Barnes' interesting brushwork and delicately balanced cymbals make this well-knit unit flow along with the solid support of Steve Wallace on bass.
This CD is an exotic musical treat not to be missed.
Joanne Brackeen, Jazz Pianist/Educator
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