COME AND GET IT April 2009, by Kevin Jones
Australian Broadcasting Company's Limelight Magazine
Rating 4 /12 Stars
Acclaimed as a polished exponent of stride piano, with one of the most swinging left hands in jazz, Judy Carmichael shows she is a more than capable singer as with her all star septet she slinks througfh the Benny Goodfman chestnut “All The Cats” and teases playfully on the title ttrack . Her group, all class, includes two Australians, trombonist Dan Barnett and London-based guitarist Dave Blenkhorn but none is more impressive than trumpetrer Jon-Erik Kelso. Except Judy, whose joyful solos capture the spirit of Fats Waller, especially on the inspired version of Christopher Columbus.
A leader on the stride piano scene for many years, Judy Carmichael walks that fine line between stride and jazz with a foot securely in either camp, depending on the mood and the tune. On this CD, she steps out to front a “big” band (her term) and, to top it off, debuts as a jazz singer.
Carmichael ’s solid stride piano anchors this septet and the men on the sax, clarinet, cornet, trombone, guitar and drums are equally talented. Her singing is quite relaxed, as if she’s been doing it forever. While there are generous dollops of solo piano throughout the disc, the emphases are on the ensemble arrangements and the vocals.
The sound is crisp and intimate, the package is attractive and the liner notes contain many personal reminiscences. Many moods are represented here: her version of Eubie Blake’s Memories of You is as loving as any I’ve heard, but then, like the fabled chameleon, she and the band cut loose moments later with a four-alarm version of Fats Waller’s Minor Drag.
I have enjoyed Judy Carmichael’s piano stylings for a long time and two of her LPs from the early 1980s have remained mainstays in my collection. With this disc, however, she heads in a direction that is out of my expertise, for the rest of the playlist is populated with jazzy takes on tunes from the repertoires of pop and swing. Certainly her keyboard virtuosity remains a high point and as long as purchasers understand that this is not a solo piano recording (a fact that is not revealed until after the shrink-wrap is removed and the jewel case is opened), they will be pleasantly rewarded for their investment.
With the release of Come and Get It, pianist JUDY CARMICHAEL can now be billed as a singer/pianist, for she has included six nifty vocals among the twelve selections. To support her on this new outing, she has recruited Mike Hashim on baritone, soprano and alto saxes, Jon-Erik Kellso on cornet, Nik Payton on clarinet and tenor sax, Dan Barnett on trombone, Dave Blenkhorn on guitar and Ed Ornowski on drums, with Tony Monte adding his piano on two of the vocal tracks.
Carmichael is best known as one of the premier stride pianists, but she extends often herself stylistically into a swing mode. On this album she gives a fair sampling of her eclectic side. Her somewhat husky vocalizing is wonderfully phrased, and reflects the kind of swing that is always present in her piano playing.
Carmichael’s vocal tracks are ”All the Cats,” ”Gee Baby (Ain’t I Good to You),” Come and Get It,” ”Everything But You,” ”Deed I Do” and ”You’re Drivin’ Me Crazy.” The band is comprised of cats with great chops who use their musical imaginations to produce some delightful sounds. Trombonist Barnett shows off another side of his talent handling the vocal chores on ”Love Is Just Around the Corner.” You would be wise to go and get Come and Get It.
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GASTON AND JUDY
*Lest you think Judy has taken up alligator wrestling (look out Janet Reno!), animal lover Judy is just comparing "chops" with Gaston, the young crocodilian. Watch this space for further adventures of Gaston and Judy.
"If anyone can keep this music going after I'm gone, it's Judy Carmichael."
– Count Basie
"I must admit that I like stride by anyone who dares to straddle it, let-alone harness it. Well, stride has never been better paired than with Judy Carmichael. At first it’s joyously shocking to hear such chops at work but that observation is soon overwhelmed by the rich heart and soul and high spirit of her music. It’s quite a ride."
– Allen Toussaint
"Judy Carmichael's witty, ebullient pianism recalls us to the joy of spirit fo classical jazz. More power to her!"
– E.L. Doctorow
"Judy Carmichael's music accomplishes what all great art should – feelings of joy, delight, hope and the knowledge that what you are experiencing is very real and honest. Anyone who wants some real theatre should to to one of her concerts – lost of fun."
Acclaimed as a polished exponent of stride piano, with one of the most swinging left hands in jazz, Judy Carmichael shows she is a more than capable singer as with her all star septet she slinks througfh the Benny Goodfman chestnut “All The Cats” and teases playfully on the title ttrack . Her group, all class, includes two Australians, trombonist Dan Barnett and London-based guitarist Dave Blenkhorn but none is more impressive than trumpetrer Jon-Erik Kelso. Except Judy, whose joyful solos capture the spirit of Fats Waller, especially on the inspired version of Christopher Columbus.
