Rachelle Ferrell Amazes Once More, Review

WITH SHRILLS & LOWS R ACHELLE F ERRELL A MAZES O NCE M ORE By Craig Cole st

1 Year Student Writer

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achelle Ferrell is a contemporary jazz singer of the 20 century musical era who is able to produce with beatific music by just opening her mouth. She is one of the very few singers in her genre that is able to leap between octaves, in her vocal range which spans from the ear-splitting whistle and falsetto registers to the deep, sultry vocal fry, while maintaining remarkable control of the tone and dynamics in her voice. An amazing performer, Ferrell, has a musical elocution on stage that is enough to captivate, stun, and at times bemuse her audience.

Ms. Ferrell appeared Live at the T H É Â T R E A N T I Q U E in Vienne, France on July 12, 2001 with her band of Phil Davis (Keyboards), Byron Miller (Bass), Jef Lee Johnson (Guitar) and Lil’ John Roberts (Drums). With a slew of songs she saturated the audience, whose eyes and hearts sequaciously followed her every expression from jazz ballads and covered standards to funky R&B-style originals, always astounding with her improvisation through the use of octave-leaping and ostinato-like motifs, strident belts, and unpredictable mouth sounds. Two notable tracks that show the definitive contrast i ii in her musical style are “I Can Explain” and “Waiting” , both of which can be seen on major video-sharing websites online. “I Can Explain” is a beautiful ballad in which Rachelle mourns losing her lover to the pain she had caused. It comprises only three short verses and a chorus, yet the song goes on for 8:42mins. This seems to explain even more her writing and performance style as the recurring theme, “no one has ever loved me like you do” is sung over in so many different ways. While her lyrics seem sophomoric and direct it is her application of these that set her apart from similar artists. Her intonation is near immaculate and the camaraderie between her and the band is to be envied. Arguably, however, the highlight of the evening came with her rendition of the single “Waiting” from her 1992 self-titled album, Rachelle Ferrell. This little number was pristine. It started off with mellow overlapping chords of strings-like sounds on the keyboards which then synthesized to dark Rhodes/electric-piano and reedy accordionlike sounds presenting somewhat of a the backdrop to the plot of the song. The slow pocketed funk rhythms from the drummer and sporadic plucks on the bass strings by Mr. Miller suggested the feel on oncoming footsteps or the ticking of a clock. More distinctively though, Ferrell’s voice acts as an overtone intimating the anxiety and stress that this ‘waiting’ has induced on her. At times she literally breathes and croaks over the microphone in a manner that still keeps her audience ensconced in ‘waiting’ and wanting for more. This only further proves her eminence. Close to the end of this the

first section Rachelle sings the final word in a breath lasting, all of, thirty seconds long, much to the excitement and applaud of the awed audience. The second section of “Waiting” is where she finally introduces her superb backing band. However, unlike most vocalists, who just allow band members to solo for a few bars the announce their names, she dueled, melodically and rhythmically, with her keyboardist and also with the drummer, singing in altered tones and making syncopated iii sounds with her mouth mimicking most of the things played by the instrumentalists . Indeed the experience of seeing her enjoying herself with total abandon, despite the capacity-filled theatre, gave color to the music that would be have been missed if it wasn’t seen live. It is no question that Rachelle Ferrell possesses a prodigious voice that can produce shrills and lows capable of sending an icy horripilation through even the bravest of souls. Ms. Ferrell’s approach toward performing adduces that her aim is not only to make music that is euphonious but to offer an experience that is can be seconded by none. i

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2uD_MUu55U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqETCwMPKqw iii http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFXzhe0T4NM ii