Singer and pianist Judith Owen was born into a musical Welsh family. She grew up in London and began performing at various venues around the city including a regular slot at Ronnie Scott’s. Now based in New Orleans, she’s recorded a new album, Judith Owen Comes Alive. It’s her 13th and follows her highly successful 2022 release Come On & Get It.
This double CD comprises 16 tracks recorded live with her band during a week’s residency at the celebrated Marians Jazzroom in Bern, Switzerland. Like its predecessor, the album’s often risqué lyrics celebrate what Owen terms the “badass” female vocalists of the 1940s and 50s such as Nellie Lutcher, Julia Lee and Blossom Dearie, who pioneered the delivery of similarly suggestive songs. However, in contrast to its predecessor not all songs on this album are saucy.
Owen delivers her own sparkling interpretations of classics such as Lady Be Good, Skylark and Fever, with the latter taken at a particularly slow pace. She also polishes a few gems from Come On & Get It such as Satchel Mouth Baby, Fine Brown Frame and Blossom’s Blues. Owen’s expressive, crystal-clear voice imparts drama and vitality throughout the set. Try Lady Be Good for a taste.
Her band of “Gentlemen Callers” are top class. On cornet is Kevin Louis, who’s played with Carmen Lundy, Jimmy Heath and Gary Bartz amongst others; Ricardo Pascal (Marcus Roberts, Adonis Rose, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cyrille Aimée) plays tenor sax. The gifted David Torkanowsky (Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, Dianne Reeves, Cyrille Aimée et al) is at the piano; Australian Dave Blenkhorn (John Faddis, Scott Hamilton, Harry Allen, Evan Christopher) plays guitar; Lex Warshawsky (Cyrille Aimée and Adonis Rose) is on bass, and Jamison Ross (Carmen Lundy, Dr John, Snarky Puppy) is on drums.
Judith Owen is on top form here and all members of her talented, swinging band contribute fully to the zest and ebullience of the occasion. It’s a delight.
Discography
CD1: Lady Be Good; Down With Love; The Spinach Song; Trouble In Mind; Teach Me Tonight; Satchel Mouth Baby; Skylark; Blossom’s Blues; Everything I’ve Got Belongs To You (44.37)
CD2: Caldonia; Fever; I Put A Spell On You; Hard Hearted Hanna; How Insensitive; Fine Brown Frame; Real Gone Guy – extended version (47.30)
Owen (v, p); Kevin Louis (c); Ricardo Pascal (ts); David Torkanowsky (p); Dave Blenkhorn (g); Lex Warshawsky (b); Jamison Ross (d). Bern, January 2024.
Twanky Records
