What a treat to hear Janis again at SOhO and she’s sounding better than ever! She put together an interesting program performing the usual jazz standards like What’s New and A Beautiful Friendship flawlessly, but many of the tunes were remote songs or pop tunes with a jazz twist. She and her fabulous band had great fun with You Send Me and I’ve Put a Spell On You. The pianist, Jeff Corella, played some lovely solos particularly on Tad Dameron’s Next Time Around and If I Were Blue.
Janis really swings and has a wonderful range and is not afraid to go for the high and low notes even on some difficult tunes. Her arrangements were varied many times singing the first time through rubato and then coming in with a swinging beat as on My Romance. Bassist, Ken Wild and Janis did a mesmerizing duo on Old Devil Moon with an fine solo by drummer, Dick Weller. There were a bunch of singers in the audience and all were truly amazed at her powerful voice that is always right on pitch and her fabulous vocal control and dynamics. She always chooses great material and connects with her audience. Yes, Janis is definitely a singer’s singer with a dream team band to boot!
Janis says she loves to come to sing for us at the SB Jazz Society because we really listen. And she’s certainly worth listening to!
