Release : Kelley Johnson - Home
Artist : Kelley Johnson
Album : Home
Genre : Jazz
Source : CDDA
Label : Sapphire Records
URL :
Date : 08-19-2008
Encoder : LAME 3.97 / -V2 --vbr-new
Quality : 176kbps 44100 kHz Joint Stereo
Tracks : 12
Time : 59:56 min
Size : 75.35 MB
1 Should've Been 4:55
2 Be Careful 4:24
3 Home 5:04
4 Sweetests Sounds 4:59
5 Wouldn't Be Loverly Living Room 7:52
6 A Lovely Night 4:22
7 Moon River 6:32
8 Rose Colored Glasses 2:57
9 From Here Where Do You Start 5:06
10 For An Hour 4:52
11 Love Walked In 3:25
12 Even You And I 5:28
Kelley Johnson emerges from the Seattle rain and casts the sun in the sky with
her affectionate vocal tinges and her subtleties.
A jazz vocalist of the highest order, JohnsonÆs Home is a sincere record that
runs the breadth of natural phrasing and stylish intimacy with effortless
boldness, providing glimpses of a truly proficient vocalist that will surely
find home in several places. Her style belongs both at the kitchen table and at
the smoky jazz club, making pitstops the world over in between.
Johnson is as skilled an arranger and lyricist as she is a singer. She infuses
her songs with class and her lyrics have a sense of kindness and social justice
that is all too rare in the world of jazz.
Kelley grew up in the Midwest and was surrounded by music at an early age. Her
mother was severely injured in a car accident and the family had to take in
boarders to raise extra money to make ends meet. The guests in the Johnson home
were an eclectic bunch, often comprised of a series of comedians, singers,
songwriters, and actors. The record collection at the Johnson house grew as the
result of so many new friends and it wasnÆt long before young Kelley discovered
a serious love for jazz.
Fast-forward to present day and Kelley Johnson is known as the singer with the
ôband concept.ö She writes and performs with her backing instrumentalists in
mind, always careful to leave open spaces for flourishes of piano or sax that so
soothingly and effortlessly accompany her smooth vocals.
With Home, Johnson is well in control and balances things delightfully.
Her take on some of the classics is invigorating, as the attentive Geoffrey
Keezer arrangement of Irving BerlinÆs ôBe Careful, ItÆs My Heartö is a bubbly
but not tacky rendition of the tune and Ingrid JensenÆs take on the beautiful
ôMoon Riverö gives KelleyÆs voice prime showing. She handles both classics with
care and impeccable sophistication.
It is the astonishing ôHomeö that really demonstrates JohnsonÆs ultimate power
as the complete artist, though. The magnificently visual lyrics, penned by
Kelley herself, and the dazzling arrangement, also by Johnson, come together as
a bluesy jazz tune worth many a repeat listen.
There are several great moments on Home waiting to be discovered by lovers of
prime vocal talents.
KelleyÆs work on ôWouldnÆt It Be Loverly/Living Roomö and her arrangement of the
track should enjoy celebrated status and her take on the Gershwin classic ôLove
Walked Inö shows the luminous corners of her voice without sounding kitschy.
Overall, Kelley JohnsonÆs Home is a tremendous jazz vocal record. Her ability to
arrange and perform great songs is incontestable and her optimistically dramatic
outlook towards song-craft shines through. ItÆs a beautiful album.