Rebekka Neville
Independent
www.rebekkaneville.com
4 stars
Reviewed by Barry O’Sullivan
An accomplished vocalist and songwriter, Rebekka Neville has created a recording evoking memories of much-loved past jazz performances by Vince Jones that have blended with memories of the enjoyment of being in the natural outdoor surroundings of the Blue Mountains and the Dandenong Ranges. Engaging a stellar rhythm section of Matt McMahon (piano), Craig Scott (bass), and Toby Hall (drums), and blending them with some equally brilliant guest musicians on guitar, trumpet, and saxophones, Neville delivers four time-smoothed chestnuts, East of the Sun, The More I See You, Fools Rush In and I’ve Got the World on a String with a selection of her original compositions. All are skilfully delivered with enough feeling to fully expose the heart and soul within those works in a wondrous way. Paul Mitchell Brown’s guitar and arrangement skills easily carry the music back to those far-off memories, adding depth and breadth. When they are combined with the saxophones of Chris O’Dea and Nathan Henshaw plus Simon Ferenci’s trumpet, they sweeten the deal. The four remaining original compositions by the vocalist are a bonus. The album is an extremely pleasant vocal collection and a lovely tribute to jazz tradition that will most surely appeal to the many fans of her frequent live performances.