Janette Mason: D'Ranged

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Gwyneth Herbert (v, hn, uke)
Janette Mason (p, syn)
Sam Burgess (b)
Vula Malinga (v)
Yolanda Charles (b)
Westley Joesph (d)
Jack Pollitt (d)
Claire Martin (v)
David McAlmont (v)
Tatiana LadyMay Mayfield (v)

Label:

Fireball Records

August/2014

Catalogue Number:

FMJP10004

RecordDate:

date not stated

I was a huge fan of Janette Mason's first two releases, Din and Tonic (2005) and Alien Left Hand (2009). Assembling a truly mouth-watering cast of vocalists, D'Ranged sees the pianist, arranger and composer completely shift her focus from composing duties to reimagining nine songs by Bowie, Bacharach, The Bee Gees, Stevie Wonder and more. The album kicks off with a lapel-grabbing ‘I Wish’ by the great young Texan vocalist Tatiana LadyMay Mayfield, a semi-finalist in the 2010 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and a real talent. Basement Jaxx vocalist, Vula Malinga, gives magisterial performances of ‘Got To Be Real’ and ‘I Say A Little Prayer’, the latter also featuring a brilliant backing vocal arrangement. A thrilling account of Bowie's ‘Lady Grinning Soul’ sees David McAlmont disappearing off the upper reaches of the treble clef. The album's one instrumental, a complete reworking of ‘Ashes To Ashes’, is a typically Masonesque confection. Gwyneth Herbert makes her brace of songs entirely her own, ‘This House’ reminding you of just how great this Alison Moyet song is, as well as unearthing hidden lyricism in the rolling grooves of ‘You Do Something To Me’. Mason pulls out all the arranging stops for ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ and ‘Blue Moon’, both of which receive breathtaking, unfailingly beautiful performances from Claire Martin.

Follow us

Jazzwise Print

  • Latest print issues

From £5.83 / month

Subscribe

Jazzwise Digital Club

  • Latest digital issues
  • Digital archive since 1997
  • Download tracks from bonus compilation albums during the year
  • Reviews Database access

From £7.42 / month

Subscribe

Subscribe from only £5.83

Never miss an issue of the UK's biggest selling jazz magazine.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Jazzwise magazine.

Find out more