Artist: Jess Abrams

Date of Release: 12/12/0007

Catalogue no: 1565

Label: JEX Records

Price: £12

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Track Listing

New York Vocalist Jess Abrams has been living and working in Scotland and Europe for over a decade. Her album 'Growing Up' launched in Amsterdam in December 2007. It features internationally acclaimed Dutch musicians Marc van Roon, Tony Overwater, Wim Kegel and Maarten Ornstein. These four musicians are at the forefront of the Dutch and European Jazz scenes. They have won awards and accolades as far a field as Japan and Lebanon.

Reviews

01/04/2008 Armand Serpenti, Daily Trouw, the Netherlands

She grew up on the road as a child of the sixties, with alternative parents involved in art, hippiedom and psychedelics. Singer Jess Abrams has colorful memories of that time. Now she plays jazz, and has made that past the subject of her debut CD, ‘Growing Up,’ accompanied by Marc van Roon (piano), Tony Overwater (bass), Wim Kegel (drums) and Maarten Ornstein (saxophone and clarinet). Abrams has a nice jazzy voice and perfect timing. The selection includes the meaningful ‘My Heart Belongs to Daddy’ by Cole Porter, in addition to the self-written ‘Almost Always Never’ and a very beautiful song from Cat Stevens, ‘The Wind.’ It’s an interesting debut, made all the more appealing by her choice of Dutch accompaniment.

01/04/0008 René de Cocq, HVT Magazine, April 2008:

She grew up on the road as a child of the sixties, with alternative parents involved in art, hippiedom and psychedelics. Singer Jess Abrams has colorful memories of that time. Now she plays jazz, and has made that past the subject of her debut CD, ‘Growing Up,’ accompanied by Marc van Roon (piano), Tony Overwater (bass), Wim Kegel (drums) and Maarten Ornstein (saxophone and clarinet). Abrams has a nice jazzy voice and perfect timing. The selection includes the meaningful ‘My Heart Belongs to Daddy’ by Cole Porter, in addition to the self-written ‘Almost Always Never’ and a very beautiful song from Cat Stevens, ‘The Wind.’ It’s an interesting debut, made all the more appealing by her choice of Dutch accompaniment.

01/02/0008 Frank Huser, Jazzflits Magazine, the Netherlands

With Marc van Roon on piano, Tony Overwater on double bass, Wim Kegel on drums and Maarten Ornstein on saxophone and clarinet, the New York descendant vocalist Jess Abrams created an extraordinary beautiful debut. The well chosen repertoire is based on Music that had meaning in her childhood years. ‘Growing Up’ is the obvious album title. With songs from, amongst others, Cat Stevens, Michel Legrand, Phoebe Snow, Cole Porter and Buddy Johnson. Abrams sings considerate and sensible. Her soft voice sounds authentic. Fragile and at the same time convincing. Her singing has a feeling of timing and intonation, that bring the words alive. She is a ‘storyteller’ who takes you along the road of precious memories. Jess Abrams may (still) be a little unknown, her band is not. Four musicians positioned in the front row of the Dutch and European jazz. The music of this quartet caresses our senses. Jazz at the level of chamber music. Intimate, adequate, lyrical, melodious and consistent in their interaction. So it’s double pleasure. With the enchanting voice of Abrams and the excellent play of this renowned quartet. ‘Growing Up’ deserves a large audience. Keep an eye at the concert lists!