CHICK SINGERS NIGHT delivers early XMAS gift!
By CP Christopher Peppas
First off, let’s start with the name: ‘CHICK SINGERS.’ In these days of political correctness and walking on eggshells in our daily discourse, calling female vocalists ‘CHICK SINGERS’ seems like it would be considered demeaning and just in bad taste.
But these ‘CHICK SINGERS’ have taken it up as a badge of honor and totally flipped the script. It’s cool to be a ‘CHICK SINGER’ now as these powerful women with powerful voices come together to perform as a unit m,uch to the delight of packed audiences each and every time.
These women carry on a long-standing tradition of having a “girl singer” front a band. In the early days, it was mostly Big Bands who had a chanteuse or torch singer (for the steamy ballads of the day).
The modern edition has taken up the mantle and shifted it to overdrive with positive results. It’s important to point out that, while this is an ensemble effort, all these ladies are headliners in their own right.
In this case, the great Alaria Taylor, founder of Chick Singer Nights (and Chick Singer-in-Chief), produced, launched and sings on “A Chick Singer Night Christmas” just in time for all of you to enjoy.
And enjoy it, you will!
It has tried and true standards, naturally, but also has more than a few songs that either slipped off or never were on the radar.
Songs like ‘Silent Night,’ ‘Let it Snow,’ ‘Winter Wonderland,’ ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ and ‘What Child Is This’ anchor this effort. They more than hold their own against the competition.
The latter provides a little testosterone to the estrogen fest that is implied when it comes to Chick Singer Night.
The wonderful Jim Bohn lends his guitar and his voice to the effort as an honorary Chick Singer. It is a fitting cap to this merry mélange and runs just shy of nine minutes.
It’s the other selections on this collection that draw one’s ear and attention. Chuck Berry’s ‘Run Run Rudolph’ is true to its early Rock & Roll DNA and it’s as bouncy as all get out. The voices of Jenny Thiel, Lynda Lee and Windy Hope make it simply jump off the CD.
‘Zuzu’s Petals,’ (penned by Alaria) ‘A Baby Changes Everything,’ ‘In This New Year’ (Tracy Jane Comer), ‘Christmas in a Small Town’ (by Carmen Nickerson and Willy Porter) and Amy Grant’s ‘Breath of Heaven’ are breaths of fresh air.
The powerful yet solemn ‘Silent Night’ as interpreted by Noelle Braun is a delight.
There are some fabulous Dude Players behind the Chick Singers and they provide a solid foundation of sound for the layers of vocals to ooze into every pore.
There’s Kostia and Lou Cucunato on keys, John Calarco and Alan Arber on drums, Eric Hervey and John Wheeler on bass to name a few.
The men behind the glass, of course, hold sway. Tops among them was Ric Probst and the folks at Tanner-Monagle Studios. And the whole shebang was put in the hands of Mix Master Gary Tanin of Daystorm Music.
Many more hands and larynxes came together to make this a reality.
There will be a launch party/performance of music from this opus at the Arc Theater in the St. Kate’s Hotel on Tuesday, December 3, starting at 7 p.m.
It’s that time of year when a slew of Christmas and other holiday music is released. But there is something about ‘A Chick Singers Night Christmas’ and you should most definitely give it a listen.
You will not regret this decision!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CP Christopher Peppas is a Journalist, Jazz Vocalist and Conga Player in the Greater Milwaukee Area and Correspondent at Large for the Jazz Unlimited Newsletter and Content Manager/Chief Contributor to CreativProse, Ltd. (sic), Social Media, Brand Management.
