Phil Kelly: My Museum

Track

My Museum

Group

Phil Kelly & The SW Santa Ana Winds

CD

My Museum (Origin 82468)

Buy Track

Musicians:

Greta Matassa (vocals), Darin Clendenin (piano), Clipper Anderson (bass), with woodwinds and strings conducted by Phil Kelly

.

Composed by Phil Kelly & Marissa Dodge

.

Recorded: Tacoma, WA, Alhambra, CA and Dallas, TX, May 2006

Albumcoverphilkellyandtheswsantaanawinds-mymuseum

Rating: 98/100 (learn more)

Seattle-based arranger Phil Kelly changes pace from his customary straight-ahead big band jazz to support the Pacific Northwest's premier vocalist, Greta Matassa, in a staggeringly beautiful ballad. Excepting a Freudian slip ("empty halls" become "empty holes"), Greta shows why her name's an anagram for Great. And Kelly's consummate orchestration elevates what easily could've been schmaltz to sublimity. But the real star is lyricist (and, for the sake of full disclosure, Jazz.com contributor) Marissa Dodge. Gently guiding us past the romantic illusions that our hearts tirelessly project, she brings us with unswerving accuracy to that focal point of concentrated emotion where only the bravest love songs dare converge. A masterpiece.

Reviewer: Alan Kurtz

Tags:

  • 1 Phil Kell // Dec 13, 2007 at 05:46 AM
    Thanks for the kid words Alan .. How did you like the rest of the CD? Phil Kelly www.philkellymusic.com NW Prevailing Winds SW Santa Ana Winds Origin Records
  • 2 Alan Kurtz // Jan 07, 2008 at 06:51 AM
    Big band fans should definitely check out Phil's recent CDs: Phil Kelly and The SW Santa Ana Winds, "My Museum" (Origin 82468) from 2006, and Phil Kelly and The NW Prevailing Winds, "Convergence Zone" (Origin 82417), which was nominated for a 2004 Grammy Award. This is contemporary big band jazz at its best, with great arrangements splendidly performed and beautifully recorded. More info on Phil's website, www.philkellymusic.com. He's not much of a typist ("Thanks for the kid words Alan"?), but Phil Kelly is one helluva composer/arranger.