REVIEWS

DAILY REPUBLIC – 8/1/08

JAZZ VOCALIST DAVIS GIVES OFF PERFECT ‘VIBE’
(3 ½ out of 4 Stars)

There are some recordings which take
time to grow on you. 

While maybe not so impressive on first listen, over
time the melodies take hold and sear themselves into
the listener’s consciousness.  Then there are those like
jazz vocalist Jamie Davis’s new release “Vibe Over
Perfection.” When the first plucked notes from
an upright bass usher in a sultry version of the old
Irving Berlin classic “Blue Skies,” it’s love at first listen. 

From the lead off track it only gets better. “Pennies
from Heaven” is next and the effortless control of
Davis’s creamy rich baritone carries its jaunty melody
along nicely. Burt Bacharach’s “The Look of Love” with
a smoky bossa nova beat is next and the real
magic of Davis' genius is clear: He comes across as
believing every single word he sings. When he comes
to the line, “don’t ever go” before the instrumental
interlude in the middle of the tune, his voice trails off
forlornly.  He never comes across as over-the-top or
offering phony sentimentalism.  He is the real deal. 

What can I say about the phenomenal musicians who
play on the disc--many of whom are members of the
legendary Count Basie Orchestra?  These guys are the
absolute cream of the crop.  The rhythms are inventive,
fresh, lively and in the pocket.  The horns are soaring,
powerful, and full of mesmerizing emotion and energy.  

The album was produced by former Sly and the Family
Stone drummer Greg Errico and the results are crisp and
clean, but reflecting the album’s title, not over-produced
to the point of slickness. Instead it percolates out of the
speakers like an old vinyl record minus the annoying
hisses and pops.

A truly stunning arrangement of Lionel Richie’s “Hello” is
the album’s highest point. Davis caresses the lyrics and
the longing in his voice is accentuated by subtle variations
in his timbre and by the accompaniment whose sound on
this cut can best be described as haunting hopefulness.

The only real criticism I have is on the Lou Rawls
signature hit “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.”
Davis is great as is the bouncy music, but the female
background singers sound out-of-place. The way they
deliver the line “you’re gonna miss my lovin’” sounds kind
of like a 1940s’ USO review by the Andrews Sisters. That
may be what they were shooting for, but it’s a little jarring
when put in the context of the entire album. 

“Nature Boy” closes out the disc and the orchestra pulls
out all the stops. Their impeccable chops are front and
center as horns, piano, bass -- all carry the swingin’ tune to
a toe tappin’ climax.  Davis’s smooth-as-satin vocals
add the cherry on top.

“Vibe Over Perfection”
is a magical, jazzy journey that lovers of great passionate
music will instantly recognize as a modern classic.

CD Review: http://therunoffgroove.blogspot.com/

Those who love their vocal jazz low and smooth will
enjoy the richness of Vibe Over Perfection, the new album
from Jamie Davis. Davis has been a singer for years and will
appeal to fans of Joe Williams and Lou Rawls. While many
have been compared to those two, it's another thing to take
jazz standards and truly make them sound new. This is exactly
what he does with new versions of Lionel Richie's "Hello",
Rawls' "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine",
and the classic "The Look Of Love". Even "Nature Boy",
which has been covered countless times over the years,
gets a bit of a new awakening here.

The album was beautifully produced by Greg Errico, the name
of which should be familiar to Sly & The Family Stone fans.
He has done a number of productions in the past and his work
here shows the kind of ear he has to make these recordings
sound fantastic.