Kellylee Evans, vocal with Marvin Sewell, guitares; François Moutin, contrebasse; André Ceccarelli, batterie
tracklisting:
1. Do What You Gotta Do | 2. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood | 3. Ain’t Got No / I Got Life | 4. Mood Indigo | 5. Feeling Good | 6. Tomorrow Is My Turn | 7. I Loves You, Porgy | 8. July Tree | 9. Love Me Or Leave Me | 10. Ne Me Quitte Pas | 11. Sinnerman | 12. Wild Is The Wind
2011 Juno Award Winner - VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR Wholenote Discoveries - October 2010
Recognized for writing and delivering songs of exquisite beauty and depth, Kellylee Evans is a perfect example of musical honesty in its purest form. Several years back, the sweet-voiced Ottawa-based singer-songwriter was summoned to France to record an album for the Plus Loin label. “They said I could do whatever I wanted as long as it was standards”, Evans recalls. She decided to dedicate the recording to Nina Simone, selecting a dozen songs famously cut by The High Priestess of Soul. Talk about a challenging undertaking! Simone – who began playing Bach as a toddler – was a legendary pianist, vocalist, composer and civil rights advocate, one of the 20th century’s most important (and arguably, underrated) musical geniuses; in her 70 years on earth she forged an unmistakable style fused with classical, jazz, pop, rock, folk and her own originals. The impressive results demonstrate Evans’ impeccable taste. It was a wise decision not to include keys on the recording, as Simone was incomparable as a pianist. Instead, Evans is joined by shining Chicagoan Marvin Sewell on guitars and two of France’s finest sidemen, François Moutin on bass and André Ceccarelli on drums. What makes this recording shine is how freshly these songs are re-imagined. Whereas Simone’s gritty voice was dramatically fuelled by anguish, Evans’ interpretation of the same material scintillates with a pure, soulful optimism. Here’s hoping this outstanding effort earns new fans for both Kellylee Evans and Nina Simone. Ori Dagan
A successful candidate in 2004 at the prestigious « Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals » competition with a jury composed of Quincy Jones, Al Jarreau and Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kellylee Evans, a young Canadian woman (Ottawa) with Jamaican roots, starts off her career singing « soul pop ». Her 2 first albums* earn her a « Gemini Award » and the award for Best Female Artist of the Year at the « Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards » in 2007.
Back to her basics at the end of 2009 for this velvet-voiced artist with the recording of the album « Nina », a beautiful tribute to an artist she has carried within herself for a great number of years and whom she particularly admires, the great Nina Simone.
Surrounded by François Moutin (a. bass), Marvin Sewell (guitares) and André Ceccarelli (drums), Kellylee Evans and « Nina » are just « starting » a very great career in Jazz.
)