A HIGHLIGHT OF 2015: THE DAWN LAMBETH TRIO at the SAN DIEGO JAZZ FEST (DAWN LAMBETH, MARC CAPARONE, RAY SKJELBRED, JEFF HAMILTON)

I think that any year where you’re breathing for twelve months is a banner year, and 2015 felt good to me, even with potholes and road repairs.  A wonderful musical highlight was the double appearance of the Dawn Lambeth Trio at the San Diego Jazz Fest.  Initially, the trio was Dawn, vocals; Marc Caparone, cornet; Ray Skjelbred, piano; then they were joined for the final numbers by Jeff Hamilton, drums.  I will — as a present to myself as well as you — repost the first selections of the set:

Eddie Condon’s LIZA (Ray and Marc):

GETTING SOME FUN OUT OF LIFE (the Trio):

I MUST HAVE THAT MAN:

WHEN I TAKE MY SUGAR TO TEA:

THE RIVER’S TAKING CARE OF ME (Marc, Ray):

EV’RYONE SAYS ‘I LOVE YOU’ (Marc, Ray):

and four new highlights —

THE ONE I LOVE (BELONGS TO SOMEBODY ELSE):

IF I HAD YOU:

I’VE GOT MY FINGERS CROSSED (Marc, Ray, Jeff):

THREE LITTLE WORDS (the Quartet):

The Trio (and Quartet) is setting up its touring schedule for 2016.  Club-owners, party-givers, and festival promoters take heed!

Thanks again to Paul Daspit and Hal Smith for making this wonderful dream come true.

May your happiness increase!

GETTING SOME FUN OUT OF LIFE: The DAWN LAMBETH TRIO at the 2015 San Diego Jazz Fest (Part One)

Recently, I had an experience of warm intelligent swinging musical creativity that still brings a smile to my face: two sets by the Dawn Lambeth Trio at the San Diego Jazz Fest (November 27-29, 2015).  The trio is Dawn, vocal; Marc Caparone, cornet; Ray Skjelbred, piano — and the music they create is both earthy and ethereal, down-home and in the clouds.  Intelligent expert frolic.

Hear and see for yourself.  Perhaps, like me, you will think of Eddie Condon’s dichotomy, dividing music that comes in the ear like broken glass or the rarer kind that comes in like honey:

GETTING SOME FUN OUT OF LIFE:

I MUST HAVE THAT MAN (truncated because someone stood in front of my camera for the first chorus — probably transfixed by the sounds):

Please notice that although those two songs are forever associated with Billie Holiday, Dawn is not in the imitation-business: she sings them because they are durable engaging songs, and she sounds like herself.

WHEN I TAKE MY SUGAR TO TEA:

THE RIVER’S TAKIN’ CARE OF ME (in honor of Red Allen):

More to come.  And I know that this Trio is planning a touring schedule, so I must check and see how many frequent flyer miles I have amassed.  Thanks to Paul Daspit and Hal Smith for making this possible.

May your happiness increase!