Lily Records: Press/Reviews

All Music Guide Review

Liz Johnson is a refreshing exception among singers, one who can put new life in standards and classic jazz compositions, as well as pen lyrics to such songs that don't already have their own.

Her clear vocals are matched by her ability as an alto saxophonist, though she features the latter sparingly. "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" is well known to instrumentalists, but how many jazz fans have heard it with its obscure lyrics? Richard Rodgers' "Loads of Love" is hardly one of his signature tunes, yet the singer's personable performance of it makes one wonder why it isn't. Johnson's sassy approach to the song is complemented by Dennis Solee's wailing tenor sax. She goes it alone with bassist Jerry Navarro in a swinging take of George Gershwin's "Our Love Is Here to Stay." "Mox Nix" has hardly been performed (let alone recorded) by anyone other than its composer, Art Farmer.

Johnson's vocalese easily negotiates the tricky changes within this overlooked hard bop gem. "Bernie's Tune," which is forever associated with the late Gerry Mulligan, mixes her cool vocalese with a bit of lively scatting. She finally picks up her alto sax for a cooking treatment of Horace Silver's soulful "Filthy McNasty," which also showcases Lori Mechem's down-and-dirty piano. Mechem and Johnson collaborated on two originals, including the breezy ballad "The Calling," which sounds as it could have come from a circa-'40s Broadway score, as well as the bittersweet "That We Loved." Liz Johnson is a talent deserving of wider recognition.

LOCAL HEADS TO FAMOUS CONTEST

Nashville jazz singer and alto saxophonist Liz Johnson has been chosen to compete in the 2004 Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition later this month in Montreux, Switzerland. She is one of 8 semi-finalists selected representing America, Australia, Poland, Estonia, Switzerland, the Ukraine and Romania. . . .

REVIEW FROM THE IOWA GAZETTE, MARCH 2004

The best jazz vocalists have phrasing that mimics that of a wind instrument, filling a similar space in a way that conveys all the same melodic messages while adding lyric thrust to the tune. Liz Johnson brings that to a clutch of standards on her second disc, "Playground," and does so with both her vocals and an alto sax.

It's clear Johnson's vocals are informed by her saxophone playing. As she slides from one to the other in the course of a song, she provides a confident melody that can illuminate the corners of a tune in various ways.

Johnson, a native of Rockford, Ill., who now lives in Nashville, Tenn., shows a competent grasp of jazz and show tunes with her song selection, tackling tracks by Duke Ellington, Harold Arlen and Richard Rodgers. Vocal jazz can get repetitive at times, too many torch songs followed by too many vamps. Being a player and a singer allows Johnson to keep the mix light and lively on "Playground," taking her saxophone for a ride through the hard bop of Horace Silver's "Filthy McNasty."

Johnson is capable of carrying the most spare song, keeping the focus on her vocals during the quiet ballad, "That We Loved," and offers a stirring duet with bass on the classic "Our Love is Here to Stay." For Saturday's show, her Iowa debut, Johnson will be joined by a local group that includes two University of Northern Iowa graduate students: Tom Giampietro on drums and Jason Danielson on piano.

"Liz Johnson's CD 'Playground' reminds me of the swingin' Blue Note recordings . . . full of great tunes, beautiful vocals, top rate arrangements and soulful soloists. If you enjoy vocal music, you'll enjoy this recording. And she has a beautiful and soulful alto saxophone sound as well!"

"Liz Johnson's new release 'Playground' is a real pleasure from beginning to end. Her straight-forward, swinging and honest vocal approach highlights the meaning of each song on the recording, and her delivery and intonation are immaculate. The arrangements, choice of material, soloists and rhythm section are also all first-rate. A great release from an artist who continues to grow!"