"Spirals and Lines is a consistently colorful and intriguing set by the very talented singer-arranger-composer Kayle Brecher. Exploring the sound of brass with voice in the unique ensembles, she also utilizes the remarkable sousaphonist Jimmy Parker, guitar, piano and drums but no string bassist or reeds. Performing sophisticated and often-political lyrics that are universal and topical, Ms. Brecher displays a highly expressive voice with a wide range, a deep understanding of the lyrics and a joyful scatting style. This is a CD that certainly rewards repeated listening. There can be no doubt, after one listen to Spirals and Lines, that this is a major statement from a powerful singer-arranger-composer, one who deserves to be heard many times." – Scott Yanow, jazz critic contributor to major jazz magazines including Jazz Times, Jazziz and Downbeat and author of ten books including The Jazz Singers, Jazz On Film and Jazz On Record 1917-76
All musical arrangements on this recording were written by Kaylé Brecher
'Spirals and Lines', 'Will of the Wind', 'So It Goes' are Kaylé Brecher originals (music, lyrics and arrangement)
'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' is Kaylé's completely new copyrighted fresh treatment for duo with adjusted lyrics of this PD piece.
Musicians Featured:
~Kaylé Brecher: vocals - all tracks
~Kaylé Brecher: percussion…. (High Flying Bird and So It Goes)
~Jimmy Parker: sousaphone
~Stan Slotter: flugelhorn & trumpet
~David Dzubinski: piano
~Frank Butrey: electric and acoustic guitars
~George Rabbai: trumpet
~Tony DeSantis: trumpet
~Fred Scott: trombone
~Jarred Antonacci: trombone
~Barry McCommon: bass trombone
~George Barnett: french horn
~Mike Jarosz: flugelhorn
~Grant MacAvoy: drums
~Erik Johnson: drums
~Edgardo Cintron: percussion
A Sampling of What People Are Saying:
"Among contemporary vocalists, Kayle Brecher ranks in the top echelon...she sees her vocals in a complete context - sees them better than almost all vocalists, past and present."
----Harvey Pekar, freelance writer and contributor to Downbeat and Jazziz
"Kayle Brecher's singing has a contemporary soul that satisfies the music connoisseur. Her arrangements and compositions are loaded with passion and clarity."
----Dave Burrell, jazz pianist and composer
"I just experienced a very, very good and interesting CD called 'Spirals and Lines' by vocalist Kaylé Brecher. She performs with a brass group for which she did all the arrangements. The CD consists of originals, a couple of rarely-performed "standards" and many surprises. Check it out!" -
---Jack Walrath, jazz musician and composer
"(Kaylé Brecher's) scat improvisations are evocative of Sheila Jordan and, to a degree, Janet Lawson. She manipulates syllables for rhythmic impetus, although she doesn’t include the exaggerated enunciation that was the trademark of Lawson or, more recently, Fay Victor. Still, her textual messaging, at least on Spirals and Lines, is every bit as evident as Victor’s socio-political writing. "
---Ratzo Harris, jazz artist, composer, jazz journallist
"..the vivacious Ms.Brecher injects bold new spirit into familiar material and conjures up exciting, original surprises. She is a master at finding hidden potential in songs.."
----Todd S.Jenkins, AllAboutJazz.com
"Kayle Brecher's songs possess universal appeal.
They are both a reflection of the times and the way she feels about them. Her talent as both a singer and a songwriter comes through in a unique voice."
----Freddie Hubbard, jazz artist and composer
"Kayle Brecher is a marvelous singer with a distinctive approach and unique gift for composition."
----Mark Gridley, author of Jazz Styles, Prentice-Hall, Inc.
"A beautiful singer."
----Sheila Jordan, jazz artist and composer
"..an artist who possesses not only a solid musical foundation, but a powerful & unique voice."
----Music Director Laurent (Radio 16, Besseges, France)
"Like great jazz vocalists Betty Carter and the late great Billie Holiday, Brecher is a thoroughly engaging presence. Even when she reins things in, she is able to build momentum with her humor, wit and grace. A gifted writer and arranger, Brecher keeps the songs moving without losing the interesting improvisational turns."
----Jeff Hall, Courier-Post
"...an imaginative, mainstream improviser with a supple voice that suggests the pairing of Sheila Jordan and Sarah Vaughan."
----Al Lubiejewski, Showcase Magazine
"Kayle is a stylist in every sense of the word, giving each selection a deeply personal rendering."
----Jazz News
"Sweet...Sassy...Intelligent"
----Bob Francesconi, Showcase Magazine
Imaginative, versatile and eclectic, Kaylé has performed in settings ranging from traditional jazz through bop, free jazz and experimental music. She is a native New Yorker and began her career as a very young teen, singing blues and standards in the clubs of Greenwich Village. Her varied career has included concerts, festivals, live radio performances, a TV documentary soundtrack, clubs and other fine venues, and five recordings, opening for the likes of Maynard Ferguson, Freddie Hubbard, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Doc Severinsen, and more, and has shared the stage with Mel Lewis, Lee Konitz, Red Rodney and others.
As well as having been a long time member of the BMI Jazz Composers' Workshop in New York City, Kaylé studied composition and arranging privately with both Jim McNeely and Michael Abene, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Temple University with a double major in performance and composition/arranging. Three of her original compositions and two of her versions of Freddie Hubbard tunes have been published by Freddie Hubbard's publishing company Hubtones and two of her versions of Herbie Hancock tunes have been published by Hancock Music. Her compositional skills have also garnered several awards in the jazz category of the Billboard Song Contest, including one major prize.
Kaylé says of her approach to writing and singing: “Each piece is like a movie or vignette in which one is totally immersed; story, emotion, mood and intention brought alive by settings carefully chosen to enhance the ambiance while encouraging improvisation in each performance." "In performance, I feel melodic content as an intricate dance of shapes and colors entwining and flowing with or rubbing against harmonic and rhythmic partners.”
Showcase Magazine described Kaylé’s sound as "a supple voice that suggests the pairing of Sheila Jordan and Sarah Vaughan." One could accurately add Morgana King and Ella Fitzgerald to that description. Hers is a versatile and flexible instrument, which can move from silky, smooth and subtle to bold and bluesy; refined to brash and raw. Kaylé's instrumental and compositional approach to singing leads to explorations of the mood, texture and style in each individual tune, which results in exciting variety.
Originally from New York City, Kaylé is now based in the Philadelphia area.
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