Round Moonlight

Deborah J. Carter was born in Texas, raised in Hawaii, and -after an extended period in Spain - is currently based in Amsterdam, Holland. This vocalist/ composer/ arranger definitely brings her multi - cultural experiences into her music. 'We are so privileged in this day and age to have an open door to other cultures and perspectives that enrich our own.' And she brings it to light through her style. Described by the Music Maker magazine as 'absolutely top-class', she is one of the most exciting jazz vocalists on the European market today. Deborah is performing, along with her Amsterdam - based quartet of very well- respected and professional musicians, at jazz festivals, radio shows, TV shows and jazz venues around Holland, Belgium, Germany and Spain. Review from ALL ABOUT JAZZ - Deborah J. Carter is a nomad whose international singing career lies beyond her native North America. Bluesy inflections, jazzy phrasing, and a mid-range earthy tone keep her busy in vocal jazz circuits from Spain into Central Europe. Carter's interpretive framework in her second release is the trio format, although various guest musicians fortify the recording. The welcoming sense of intimacy afforded by Carter's singing is never lost, nonetheless. Her tribute to Carmen Lundy in The Lamp Is Low illustrates the latter point rather well. After a straight up piano-vocal duo head, the trio cascades into action for Carter's bouncy scatting and ensuing rhythmic happy-go-lucky choruses. Indeed, Carter's style and delivery could very well be compared with Lundy's. Both, however, remain distinctive and enjoyable entities in spite of their commonalities. The Late Late Show is a swinging boppish vehicle for the trio's musical versatility. Although remaining within mainstream jazz territories, the musicians also outsorce Brazilian motifs. 'Round Moonlight is a rather generous recording in length, tempos, hints and steady jazz vocals from a woman in her vocal and intellectual prime. Her arranging and writing is as fine as the players that accompany her, who know how to support a vocalist in enriched and unobtrusive ways. Javier Antonio Quiones Ortiz.