[DSD][OF] Alexis Cole - A Kiss In The Dark - 2014 (Jazz) (DSD128, Chesky Records Binaural+)

Alexis Cole - vocals
Dan Block - saxophone, clarinet
Saul Rubin - guitar
Pat O'Leary - bass
Phil Stewart - drums

Alexis Cole
Winner of the 2007 Jazzmobile competition and an award recipient of the Montreux Jazz Vocal Competition, Alexis was cited as "a rising star in the jazz world" by Hot House Magazine. She continues to perform regularly at jazz clubs in her home base of New York City, as well as throughout the world. A dedicated educator, Alexis has taught privately and at the 92nd St. Y in New York City, and served on the faculty of Berklee College of Music in Quito. Most recently, she's added the position of lead vocalist for the West Point Jazz Knights, the U.S. Military Academy big band, to her eclectic resume.

℗ © 2014 Chesky Records

The darkly alluring, deep ­toned voice that embraces these timeless melodies from the parlor song era and Tin Pan Alley days (roughly 1910 to the early 1920s) belongs to the wonderful Alexis Cole. Called “one of the great voices of today”, Alexis has been compared to classic jazz singers such as Sarah Vaughan and Anita O’Day. Cole is the recipient of a Swing Journal Gold Disc award, and has won the NY Jazzmobile and Montreux Jazz Festival vocal competitions.

This time out, she goes further back in time with her quartet of guitarist Saul Rubin, saxophonist­/clarinetist Dan Block, bassist Pat O’Leary and drummer Phil Stewart to a more genteel time when sheet music was the most common method of dissemination of popular tunes. With her relaxed style, clear articulation, unhurried, conversational approach and all­knowing sense of cool, Cole and her crew strike a swinging accord on nuggets like “Ain’t We Got Fun,” “Bimini Bay,” “Whip­poor­will,” the buoyantly swinging title track and ten other tunes from yesteryear in this engaging retro revue. Everything goes down nice ‘n’ easy on this luxurious outing, and Alexis delivers with timeless charm from track to track.

Part of the Chesky Binaural + Series, all recorded with a single microphone, the band and singer appear right before you with this spacious, lush and multi­dimensional recording. You will hear some of the most natural and pure vocals ever recorded of a jazz singer.

Recorded December 19, 2013 at the Hirsch Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Production:
Producer: David Chesky
Recording, editing and mastering engineer: Nicholas Prout
Assistant recording engineer: Mor Mezrich

This album was made with the purest audio path, using the very best microphones, mic preamps, analog-to-digital converters, recorders, and cables with careful attention to detail to produce the most transparent and natural sound available today.

Recorded using a B&K Binaural head, MSB A/D Converter, and Crystal microphone cable.

Reviews
"While her quartet...settles into an appropriately mellow, old-time groove, Cole resets her warm contralto a shade or two lower. Cole's seems coy and clever." - JazzTimes