The re-release of these 2003, 2007 and 2011 recordings should spread word that singer-songwriter Tammy Burdett is exceptionally talented in both roles. Little known internationally, as a child she studied piano and bass, settling on the latter, and from the late 1950s played in bands in Seattle and Los Angeles.
While a member of pianist Howlett “Smitty” Smith’s trio, she was urged by the leader to concentrate on writing songs and back in Seattle in the late 1980s, she sang with several groups. It was more than a decade before she decided to place herself firmly in the spotlight, a decision resulting in two self-produced recording sessions.
Burdett says in her liner notes: “The Great American Songbook and 20th century musicals have been a major influence in my songwriting.” The truth in these words is apparent here: her songs have all the qualities of the classic years of popular song, some lively, others reflective, all with intelligent lyrics that tell a story, yet the freshness of material and performing style is such that there is not even the slightest suggestion that they are not wholly relevant today.
The warmth, confidence and sincerity of Burdett’s vocal sound, the clarity of diction that highlights her lyrics, and the relaxed swing of delivery on the livelier songs are all facets of an artist who should be much more widely known.
The only non-original song is Soft Shoe, a Ray Brown melody for which Burdett wrote a lyric. Throughout, Burdett’s arrangements allow many instrumental moments, among them Eric Verlinde on You Bring Out The Lover In Me and A Broken Heart, Doug Reid on C’est La Vie and Alone In Love, Andy Roben on Love Like Ours and Bob Strickland on Daring Angels, Summer, Summer and Bright Lights. Very warmly recommended, not only to listeners but also to singers who will find much to admire and emulate.
Thanks are due to Marc Myers, who early last year interviewed Tammy Burdett on JazzWax. Discovering that her albums were out-of-print, Myers brought Jordi Pujol into the picture, resulting in this reissue. Nice to know that jazz journalists can take a practical role in preserving good music.
Discography
CD1: (2) C’est La Vie; You Bring Out The Lover In Me; Follow The Swallow; Who Said; Fancy Free; Wait For Me; There’s Got To Be A Reason For Spring; Walk Away; A Broken Heart; Friends Are We; Alone In Love; Be-Bop; Daring Angels; Together Forever (52.59)
CD2: (3) I Love To Say I Love You; Love Like Ours; Don’t Say You’re Hot When You’re Not; Soft Shoe; The Wheel Of Life; My Latin Love; Rainbow Of Dreams; I Get So Angry; Summer, Summer; (2) Christmas Day Is Almost Here; Never Before; Head Over Heels; Bright Lights; (1) My America (51.19)
(1) Burdett (v, p). Seattle, 2003.
(2) Burdett (v except on Walk Away & Be-Bop, arr); Bob Strickland; (t, flh); Doug Reid (as); Eric Verlinde (p, kyb); Paul Gabrielson (b); Marty Tuttle (d); Leah Stillwell (v on Walk Away & Be-Bop & Friends Are We). Seattle, 2007.
(3) as (2) except Andy Roben (p, kyb); Kevin McCarthy (b) replace Verlinde and Gabrielson; add Jeff Busch (pc); Paul Green (hca on Christmas Day). Seattle, 2011.
Fresh Sound Records FSRCD 5509
