Jane Drake: Press

“I enjoyed this CD very much, especially Midnight/Black Coffee, and I like the King Cole trio references on Frim Fram Sauce--I'm a sucker for that sort of thing. Jane’s a wonderful singer and deliverer of material. On this CD, she sounds like she’s having a great time as well. Thoughtful clever charts too, full of surprises.”

"Jane is an assertive singer, capable of alternating between silky legato slides and a punctuated, bluesy delivery, as she does on her improbable-but-boy-does-she-pull-it-off medley of Thelonious Monk's "Round Midnight" and Sarah Vaughan's hit "Black Coffee." She can scat like nobody's business, too, as she does on a version of "Summertime" that's cushioned by Van Morrison's "Moondance" riff. And that's just the first two tracks on the CD. The rhythm section is smooth and elegantly swinging throughout. Lovers of the classic jazz divas (Ella, Sarah, Carmen, Helen Merrill, Carol Sloane, et al) and mainstream jazz in general will find much to enjoy at this show, Drake's first here since 1990."--Bart Grooms (Wednesday, September 14 at Moonlight Music Cafe; 7:30 p.m., $10)

WHEN JANE SINGS, IT'S PERSONAL, PURE AND REMINISCENT OF TIMES GONE BY. NICE TO HEAR THAT VINTAGE SOUND IN TODAY'S MUSIC; A WELCOMING AND SOOTHING REASSURANCE THAT ALL IS NOT LOST!

"Jane Drake has a great voice and the backing trio is excellent.
Choice of songs has universal appeal."

"A very enjoyable CD of jazz standards and a couple of great originals. Drake is an engaging singer with a warm voice and a touch of that quirkiness and fun you find in singers like Blossom Dearie, Dave Frishberg & Bob Dorough. She has the ability to change the mood of a song with subtle changes in her timbre & phrasing. This is especially true in her original title song, "Brand New Woman." But she also shows her versatility on this album with two "torchy" ballads, a dreamy bossa nova treatment of "My Funny Valentine and a romping jazz samba version of "Secret Love." Enjoyable music from an accomplished singer who sounds like she's having a lot of fun."

I was immeasurably lucky to hear Jane Drake sing nearly every week at a time when my instincts for music were still forming. Tone, control, phrasing, patience, soul, swing, creativity, emotion, honesty, spontaneity, style, wit I could go on and on these inhabited her every breath. No pretension. Grace. Presence. I soaked it up. This was how music should be.

The intervening years have brought me many wonderful musical experiences, but rarely have I felt the magic I frequently did on those gigs and sessions years ago. Was it my youth and enthusiasm? Was it beer? How would I feel if I could hear Jane now?

Fantastic. Thrilled. Mesmerized. That's how I feel. Reality far outstrips my memory or even my imagination. Jane's new CD is absolutely satisfying. There's all that grace, all that swing and soul, all those fantastic things wrapped up in one great musician. And there's Sonny and Hatch and the guys, playing so beautifully everything is right on. I play this CD for every jazz lover I know, and now they are all Jane Drake fans. This IS how music should be.

“Jazz makes a classy comeback to our schedule, once again on a Wednesday night--- those familiar with the Auburn Knights Orchestra, the 75-year-old institution that featured Toni Tennille as vocalist, may well remember Jane’s accomplishments in the same position. She’s known across the Southeast for her interpretations of blues, jazz, and standards from the American Songbook and her tribute show to Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee,
and Betty Carter.
Jane has forged a hot little CD featuring her choicest list of numbers, backed by several of the musicians who will be here to set ‘em out for you--- Birmingham's own Sonny Harris on drums and Chris Wendle on bass, and the fabulous “J” Hatch who’s come all the way from Germany to rejoin Jane on piano. We’ll be treated to the ten cuts that make up the disc “Brand New Woman,” and a fine selection of others in the bargain.”

"Brand New Woman emerged from one person’s realization that it’s never too late to go for your dreams. Of course it’s an idea that applies equally to men and women, but in this case the ‘brand new woman’ is Jane Drake, a singer with a solid background in the "American Songbook," standards, blues and jazz. Drawing from her Southern roots in an area of the country steeped in blues music, Jane has put together a collection of tunes that are original, sensual, vibrant and imaginative. For example, listen to how she uses her voice like a musical instrument in Summertime. Her scat singing ‘makes the changes’ just as a good jazz improviser would. In Black Coffee/Round Midnight she merges two unlikely tunes in a way that work together beautifully. Her versatility on the swinging Nat King Cole favorite Frim Fram Sauce displays another side of her talent. And her sensitive interpretation of the Rogers & Hart classic My Funny Valentine brings out a certain vulnerability inherent in her singing that helps make this song truly her own.
Brand New Woman is Jane’s original composition that calls on her deep blues influence. Notice how she changes her vocal timbre and phrasing to enhance the mood of the song.
Two of my favorites are I’ve Got It Bad and You Go To My Head. These simple and poignant presentations, with just voice and piano, remind me of the movie Casablanca and give me a rush on every listening. Note Jane’s comments below on the recording technique that forced her to take certain unplanned risks, with spectacular results.
In summary, Jane’s talent and interpretative abilities are extraordinary. Her wide vocal range, coupled with her amazing vocal control, is used liberally to deliver and enhance the essence of the lyrics. She works fluidly with the trio accompanying her, providing the perfect setting for displaying her vocal talents.
This CD is not just about singing, it’s about one person’s love for music, love for jazz, and quest for the creative experience."

"An evening of extraordinary jazz was performed by vocalist Jane Drake and her trio on May 20, 2004 in the Recital Hall of Auburn University’s Goodwin Music Hall. Ms Drake presented a lecture/Demonstration entitled “The Music and Lives of Six Legendary Jazz Vocalists.” The program was sponsored by The Women’s Leadership Institute of Auburn University under the direction of Dr. Samia Spencer of the Foreign Languages Department.
Ms. Drake’s description of the lives of the six women was both enlightening and entertaining as she related interesting anecdotes from the women’s experiences as children, and later their introductions into professional singing, their huge successes, and the many personal problems each had to overcome. The highlight of the program was Ms. Drake’s singing, as she performed wonderful renditions of several songs that became huge hits by each singer. She was accompanied by a dazzling trio of fine musicians: up-and-coming acoustic bass player Jason DeBlanc of Auburn; well known regional drummer extraordinaire Sonny Harris of Birmingham; and multi-talented Musical Director/pianist/arranger “J” Hatch, an American who now resides in Germany.
The first Legendary Lady profiled was Billie Holiday. Ms. Drake pointed out that the battles Billie had with drugs contributed to her life ending early — at age 44 — and sang two of her big hit songs, “Ain’t Nobody’s Business But My Own” and “God Bless the Child.” The second performer discussed was the magnificent Ella Fitzgerald. Ms. Drake sang Ella’s mega hits “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” and “Summertime.” The program continued with Ms. Drake relating interesting details of the lives of the other four singers and performing songs made famous by each: Sarah Vaughan’s “Body and Soul” and “Misty;” Peggy Lee’s “Fever” and “Why Don’t You Do Right;” Carmen McRae’s “I Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good,” and her tribute to Thelonious Monk, “Straight, No Chaser;” and Betty Carter’s progressive arrangements of “Sometimes I’m happy” and “Lover Man.”
The evening was one of excellent performances of fine jazz music — music that many people hope will last forever — and an evening of outstanding singing and playing by extraordinary musicians."