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by Rick Holland
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 Open |
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Personnel: Dominique Eade: voice; Jed Wilson: piano.
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Tracks:Home; Open Letter; You Fascinate Me So; Go Gently To The Water; Series
Of One; In My Secret Life; What's The Use; W.G.; Never Let Me Go; Ct
Bridge; The Last Bus Home.
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Dominique Eade
Open
Dominique Eade’s first recording in 7 years was well worth the wait. Open, whom features herself and Jed Wilson on piano, is a captivating listen. This album is full of song choices that are harmonically rich and are supported by beautiful flowing melodies that will make even the hardest of hearts soft once again.
I must admit, when I first saw some of the performance postings of Dominique and Jed, my first reaction was this pianist going to be a strong enough musician to support such a master as Eade. In fact he is. Wilson not only is extremely supportive, but is a fully formed partner in this program of unique and addictive musical originals. Most of the song choices were penned by Eade. But, in the case of the four song selections In My Secret Life, You Fascinate Me So, Never Let Me Go and In My Secret Life, the duo picked music that ‘fits’ their unique perspective on music.
To those who are not as familiar with Eade, she teaches composition and voice at the New England Conservatory. Some of her students include an impressive list, such as Luciana Souza, Kate McGarry, Sara Lazarus, Lisa Thorson, Julie Hardy, Patrice Williamson, Kris Adams, David Devoe, Aoife O'Donovan, Roberta Gambarini, and many others. In 1998, the First Annual Jazz Awards in NYC nominated Eade for Best Debut Artist. She was voted in the top ten for Best Jazz Singer, and TDWR categories in the 1999 Downbeat Critics' Poll, and TDWR in the1998 Downbeat Critics' poll. She has been nominated five times for Best Jazz Vocalist in the Boston Music Awards and was voted Best Jazz Vocalist in 1996 and 1999. In 2001,Eade was nominated for Best Jazz in Boston in the 2001 Boston.citysearch.com.
A devoted wife, mother, scholar, and teacher, Eade has devoted herself to family and students the last 11 years. In spring of 2004, Eade needed a pianist for a gig in Boston area. She called a young Jed Wilson, a soon to be graduate of the New England conservatory. Eade described the gig as a blast, and the two have been evolving this duo ever since. Thank goodness for us, because the music is simply tremendous.
This is one of those seductive recordings. And once you listen, the more you’ll want of this music. Eade’s compositions are masterfully written. You’ll hear a great communicator of lyric, and a very sensitive improviser. The same can be said of Wilson’s partnership. He makes the two sound full. He is very sensitive to Eade’s sense of phrasing, dynamics and compositional goals. He brings a Fred Hersch-like touch to the piano. Maybe even more important in regards to Hersch’s influence, he listens like Fred, making every moment in the music mean something.
This is a can’t miss disc. It is one of my favorite listens of the new year. The music rings true to me, and has an Open honesty, which results in a very rich musical experience.
For more information about the music of Dominique Eade, please visit:
www.dominiqueeade.com
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Rick Holland |
| About the author: |
| A versatile musician and veteran performer in organizations such as the Louie Bellson Big Band (Chicago Based Band), Jimmy Dorsey, Mike Pendowski, Rob Parton , Buddy De Franco, Buselli-Wallrab and Terry Gibbs Bands, Rick Holland brings a wealth of experience and musicality to each performance. |
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