Let Yourself Go is an exceptional collection of 13 tunes written by the cream of popular song writers Berlin, Gershwin Brothers, and others honoring Fred Astaires contributions to the vocal art. With his low key, narrow ranged voice, Astaire probably introduced and/or made popular more songs that were destined to become standard entries in the Great American Songbook than any other artist. Kent delivers this selective play list with one of three musical combinations, just piano, with piano plus rhythm, and with a larger aggregation which includes sax and guitar. Irrespective of the instrumental context, all of the tunes are delivered with Staceys pleasant nasal twang to help her create the impression that the lyrics shes singing are part of an intimate one on one conversation with each listener.

Theres nothing over dramatic on this album. No gimmicks, just a voice as engaging as any on the scene conveying the meaning of a melody in the tradition of the person she is honoring, the inestimable Astaire.

Kents pianist, David Newton, is one of the premiere accompanists in the U.K., having worked with such top flight singers as Tina May. He and Kent display their musical attraction to each other on a relaxed, suave rendition of Isnt This a Lovely Day and They Cant Take That Away From Me, where Kent and Newton gently joust as they deliver an elegant rendition of this tune. Relaxed is as good a word as any to describe the atmosphere for this session.
Theres nothing frenetic here. SWonderful, usually performed at a fast pace, gets a languid, medium tempo treatment with Newtons piano, an effortlessly lilting Colin Oxley guitar and Jim Tomlinsons tenor sharing the mike with Kent. A Fine Romance is about as upbeat as it gets, with Oxleys cleaned line guitar setting the pace. Newton engages in a bit of Erroll Garner-like humming during his solo on this tune. Tomlinsons romantic tenor is featured on Let Yourself Go and They All Laughed. On One for My Baby, he brings out his clarinet, using the middle register to help create the proper melancholy mood for this definitive drowning my sorrows in booze tune.

• LPx2 180 gram gatefold sleeve
• Recorded engineered and mixed by Curtis Schwartz at Curtis Schwartz Studios, Ardingly, England July 26/27th 1999

CJS9764 -Artist-Stacey Kent

• Internal ID: JIT
• Format: Vinyl
• Format Detail: 2LP Black
• Handling Note: **Please allow an additional 5 business days for this item’s shipment.**
• Genre: Jazz
• Released: 7/25/18