Album Notes

Following their collaboration of music for a PBS documentary, jazz vocalist Felicia Carter and bassist Amy Shook joined forces in forming ShookShak Productions, to showcase their original music. Their recent recording, "Nothing to Do", features the same ensemble from Carter's critically acclaimed double CD, "Feather/Step Lightly"; the FAB Trio (Amy Shook - bass, Bob Butta - piano, Frank Russo - drums), and Donato Soviero (guitar). According to The Washington Post, "Carter can cast a spell with her lyrics alone", while the FAB Trio "has uncommon cohesiveness and passionate positive energy”, says JazzTimes.

Felicia Carter has earned accolades for her “immaculate pipes” and dramatic song delivery, as well as being a noted composer and lyricist. Her critically acclaimed release, “Feather/Step Lightly”, is a double-disc recording of original music and jazz standards. She has been featured as guest vocalist on numerous jazz recordings, including releases by Brooks Tegler, the Unified Jazz Ensemble, Russell Kirk, and Victor Dvoskin. All about Jazz raves, “Carter successfully mixes the rock-ribbed roots of jazz vocals with a guileless vision of the future that is irresistible”, and The Philadelphia Inquirer states, “Felicia Carter shows a deft traditional-jazz touch without any staid wax-museum purism”.

Amy Shook is one of the most in-demand upright bassists in the Mid-Atlantic, coveted for her huge sound and infectious, driving groove. Amy co-leads both the Shook-Russo Quartet, and the FAB Trio. Recordings featuring Shook’s original compositions have received widespread critical acclaim, and her music has been featured by Bassics magazine. She has performed at the White House multiple times, by special invitation with the Eli Yamin Quintet. Jazztimes remarks, “If you have a high-resolution audio system, the power and depth of Amy Shook's bass will remind you why you spent all that money”.