John Vance "Dreamsville"
It could be said that there are two types of jazz singers. Some function as instrumentalists, using the melody and lyrics as mere points of departure before they create abstract improvisations. The other type are those who are storytellers, digging deep into the meaning of the words they sing, paying respect to the composers' melodies while still making each song their own. John Vance falls into the latter category.
Dreamsville features John's interpretations of a dozen mostly vintage standards and "If You Go," a haunting song that he co-wrote with pianist Jeff Colella. "It's always a challenge when performing songs that have been around a long time, making them contemporary, fresh, and interesting, rather than rehashing someone else's arrangement." For this set, Vance is joined by Colella (who contributed the arrangement), bassist Trey Henry and drummer Kendall Kay, with two appearances by guest trumpeter-flugelhornist Stacy Rowles and three by guitarist Larry Koonse, who accompanies Vance perfectly on "My Foolish Heart." (Clickhere to read John's full bio.)
Click here for a headshot and here for CD cover art
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