"Here’s a singer with a lot of great ideas, and the ability to deliver them.
It’s her debut disc, and the closest thing I can compare it to is Madeleine
Peyroux’s debut Dreamland, way back when. It’s got the same feel...Give
me more!"
Full review...
-
George
W. Harris,
JazzWeekly |
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Kelley
Suttenfield – Where Is Love?
"Smoky, sultry fumes emanate from Kelley Suttenfield’s vocals like liquid
fire. Here’s a gal who puts her entire being into the songs cradling the
lyrics in her vocals and stoking the embers in the verses with a velvety
touch. Her latest CD Where Is Love?, a question which many people are
on the search to find the answer to, is Suttenfield’s debut record as a solo
artist. Performing an array of cover tunes with a torchlight glisten
including Stanley Turpentine’s “Sugar,” Betty Carter’s “Open The Door,” and
Henry Mancini’s “Charade.” Suttenfield encourages the listener to delve into
an imaginary sanctuary filled with tender arias and angelic hues."
Full review...
- Susan Frances,
JazzTimes
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Kelley
Suttenfield..Where Is Love?..Rhombus Records 2009
"Kelley Suttenfield has a very
cool and sensual vocal style. The opening number 'Sugar' displays her
talents to the max. She treats the lyrics as though she owns them. A
swinging quality is apparent in this number as Suttenfield takes the
circuitous journey from tender to strong ideation. 'West Coast Blues' is as
hip as it gets, Suttenfield is on this tune like she means every word in the
lyrics and that is the secret of getting a tune off the ground and into
orbit. Add a bit of nice scatting and you have the makings of a very fine
jazz number sung by a very fine jazz singer. 'I Fall In Love Too Easily.'
This song will melt your heart and go straight to your soul. Suttenfield
lays it on the line and leaves nothing to the imagination as she balladizes
with the best of them.
A nice band and a superb
singer make this recording a worthwhile addition to any jazzophiles
collection. 5 stars."
- John Gilbert,
eJazzNews.com
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KELLEY
SUTTENFIELD (Where Is Love?) Rhombus Records
"Suttenfield and her band give a superb performance with this session of
familiar songs; the creative ideas shown here indicate a deep appreciation
for what’s most important in modern jazz."
Full review...
- Jim Santella, L.A. Jazz Scene |
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Kelley Suttenfield, Where
is Love? (Rhombus)
"This debut CD by Virginia native Kelley Suttenfield, now based in the Big
Apple, is a fine illumination for her charming voice – and of her eclectic
musical tastes and influences. Straight-ahead jazz, The Beatles, classic
country and country-pop tunes, a touch of Brazilia, with some Great American
Songbook and movie soundtrack items thrown in for good measure. All get a
strong jazz treatment from Suttenfield and quartet. Favorites: Her takes on
Stanley Turrentine’s “Sugar,” “Twilight Time,” an uptempo revision of Bobby
Gentry’s “Ode to Billy Joe,” a breezy take on Betty Carter’s classic “Open
the Door” and Wes Montgomery’s “West Coast Blues.” Another treat: the
dazzling electric guitar work of Jesse Lewis on five tracks, most notably
“Sugar” and the very hip “West Coast Blues.”
- Ken Frankling,
Ken Frankling's Jazz Notes
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Kelley Suttenfield: Finding
Courage Inside (An Interview)
"Sometimes the greatest
challenge for a singer is taking the leap into making a debut album. The
exposure opens them up to receive public scrutiny and global adulation. For
the artist, it is always impossible to predict how the public will react.
Luckily for singer-songwriter Kelley Suttenfield, she has the vocal chops to
attract hordes of people, the charisma to make a lasting impression on their
minds, and a passionate delivery that can penetrate their hearts."
Full interview...
- Susan Frances,
JazzReview.com
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"Where Is Love? (Rhombus – 7089)
is an adventurous first album from vocalist KELLEY SUTTENFIELD. She has an
eclectic lineup of songs, and has the imagination to render them with
unexpected approaches that are simultaneously surprising and engaging...Her
voice is mellow and on the dusky side, appealing and easy on the ears. There
is usually a tendency to call a first album promising, but this young lady
is a thoroughly mature performer who has set the bar rather high for her
next recording."
Full review...
- Joe Lang,
Jersey Jazz
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""Smoky,
Intensely Musical New Jazz Artist"
"Kelley Suttenfield is a jazz vocalist unafraid to breakdown a few
barriers. Coming to this first CD - WHERE IS LOVE? - with a strong
background in theater arts as well as classical piano and more, Kelley
easily takes to the jazz field with an intense musicality that serves her
well in every song in this collection. She feels right at home with the
relaxed, effortless production of a dusky soprano that explores the lyrics
of her songs, bringing more to the words than most stylists. ..But in addition to all of the
aspects that make her an artist to notice on her first album, simply melt
away with her duet with Michael Cabe's piano in her soulful 'I Fall in Love
Too Easily.' Or join her and her fellow musicians in a one of the best
versions of 'Ode to Billy Joe' ever recorded."
Full review...
- Grady
Harp,
Amazon Top 10 Reviewer
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Kelley Suttenfield -
WHERE IS LOVE?
"This November 2009 release from Kelley is among the better releases from
female jazz vocalists for '09... her voice has a rich, full-throat
projection that reaches right out & grabs you where your heart is.
Excellent players with her keep the music behind her strong singing well
jazzified... Michael Cabe does piano & Fender Rhodes, electric guitar by
Jesse Lewis, acoustic guitar from Tony Romano, bass from Matt Aronoff and
drums/Tablas by Brian Adler all work together to make for a most interesting
listen, no doubt. The arrangements on 'Ode To Billie Joe' breathe new life
into that tune & clearly put it in the jazz realm... definitely
Suttenfield's own interpretation and style... I loved it! If you're in the
mood for something a bit more pensive, try Kelley's rendition of
'Charade'... some excellent guitar and bass behind her. My favorite piece,
though, was the swingin' 'West Coast Blues'... Full of fun and high spirit,
'Where Is Love' gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from these ol' ears."
Full review...
-
Rotcod
Zzaj,
IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION |
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Kelley Suttenfield: Where
Is Love? (2007 [2009], Rhombus):
"Standards singer, based in New York, probably young, debut album, backed by
piano-guitar-bass-drums... Has an exceptionally nice voice, measured
delivery with nothing terribly idiosyncratic about it...Most effective was
"My One and Only Love"... B+."
Full review...
- Tom Hull,
Jazz Prospecting
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"...Into this situation arrives
another newcomer, Kelley Suttenfield, and her debut “Where Is Love”
(Rhombus). She is not at all typical of the overproduction we endure. First
of all, she is dead-on musical, with a pure but slightly smokey lower
register and a bell-like upper. She varies her delivery in ways that sound
natural and unforced. There are no self-consciously mannerist attempts to
over-interpret the song materials. That is most refreshing...Kelley
Suttenfield has a most pleasant, unforced artistry that makes this record a
very rewarding listen. May she be well-received!"
Full review...
- Grego Applegate Edwards,
GapplegateMusic.com
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Music Review: Kelley
Suttenfield - Where Is Love?
"It takes some real chutzpah to
tackle a song that’s nailed into the consciousness of a whole generation
like a rusty thermometer on a barn door, but Suttenfield does a good job
with it. Her smokey voice with a bit of added twang fits perfectly into the
mood...Overall, a nice debut for Kelley Suttenfield, one that’s
well worth consideration by any jazz fan."
Full review...
- "Big Geez,"
Blogcritics Music
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REVIEW: Kelley Suttenfield’s
“Where Is Love?”
"...Where Is Love? (Rhombus) is an album by someone who loves to sing, loves
the song she sings, and has the willingness to share her talents with the
world...Her take of “Twilight Time”, made famous by The
Platters, may be the song that takes her out of jazz circles and into a
broader audience, as it has a touch that could uplift her to bigger levels
of success. That’s not to say the other material is less worthy, but
“Twilight Time” is an R&B and rock’n'roll standard that she brings into her
own scope, and it’s a perfect marriage of someone with a soothing voice and
sentiment. The bond is… I wanted to say incredible but a word like that
tends to bring expectations. I say just listen and tell me you don’t hear
the perfect marriage of something effectively working."
Full
review...
- John Book,
This is Book's Music
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Kelley Suttenfield – Where Is
Love? (Rhombus), Released – November 3, 2009
"Mellow, warm and inviting, Kelley Suttenfield’s “Where Is Love” is an
outstanding debut from this New York-based singer.
It’s an eclectic mix of selections on this offering – from a funky “Ode to
Billy Joe,” through an Indian (Eastern) rendition of the jazz classic
“Nature Boy,” to a very standard rendition of Mancini/Mercer’s “Charade”...And
while I might have preferred a suite of songs that hangs together a little
more cohesively, there’s really not a clunker in the bunch. Ms. Suttenfield demonstrates not only great range in her vocal stylings, but
also in the emotional buttons to hit in order to make all these varied
pieces work.
Ms. Suttenfield is worth watching, and decidedly worth listening to. This
first recording from her is highly recommended."
Full
review...
- Doug Boynton,
girlsingers.org
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Kelley Suttenfield - Where Is
Love?
"Kelley has a soft voice that reminds us of good ole southern charm on tunes
like "Twilight Time". We enjoyed "Open the Door" and "And I Love Her", with
a strong piano solo from Michael Cabe. We sang along on "Ode to Billy
Joe"... Suttenfield put her soft airy voice through the paces on Where Is
Love? answering the question a dozen times in many ways."
Full
review...
-
D. Oscar Groomes,
O's Place Jazz
Magazine
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Kelley Suttenfield – Where Is
Love?
"Aki szereti
a Nora Jones, Diana Krall és társaik által művelt területekről érkező zenét,
annak minden bizonnyal tetszeni fog Kelley Suttenfield bemutatkozó
produkciója is. Személy szerint bízom abban, hogy az énekesnő nem fog
eltűnni az első lemez után a süllyesztőben…"
Full review and
translation...
- Mihály Czékus,
Hi-Fi Piac Portál
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Where Is Love? Kelley Suttenfield, vocals.
"...Kelley Suttenfield brings a sweetness and sincerity to a
dozen most familiar melodies including “Charade,” “West Coast Blues” and “My
One and Only Love"...On the other hand, the inclusion of Betty
Carter’s obscure “Open the Door” was a welcome surprise. Reminiscent just a
bit of Susannah McCorkle, Suttenfield eases her way into some vocals which
will get your attention."
Full
review...
- George Fendel,
Jazz Society of Oregon
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KELLEY SUTTENFIELD / Where is
Love?:
"More of a sassy jazz vocalist than a cabaret act...Suttenfield is a
youngster trying to latch on to an old tradition and put her stamp on things
along the way...Fun, bouncy stuff that can easily be appreciated by neo-sophisticates even
more than hipsters trying to keep up."
Full
review...
- Chris Spector, Editor,
Midwest
Record |
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"Kelley Suttenfield and her gang
nail their flight of fancy with powerful attention to earthy modernism."
- John Shelton Ivany, Editor,
Top 21, USA |
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"Kelley
Suttenfield has a voice with a soulful touch. A truly gifted jazz artist with the
ability to
maneuver like a trumpet -- not only interpreting the melody, but also
coloring the tone with light
and dark nuances that move the listener. A voice
that is eager to tell us a story."
- Carsten Andersen, Producer, Danish National Broadcasting Corp.,
DENMARK |
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"Kelley Suttenfield has a wonderful voice with a warm and luminous tone.
She chooses interesting
material and expresses her lyrics with maturity and
heart. Kelley is a plus for any club to present."
-
Roseanna
Vitro, Jazz Vocalist,
USA |
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"One of my favorite contemporary artists...A wonderful vocalist!"
- Joăo da Penha, Host, Jazz & Bossa Nova Radio, BRAZIL |
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