Literally speaking, Kurt Elling is a gift from God.  A former graduate divinity student from Chicago, his voice is a true miracle. A hearty baritone, he probably could sing anything from classical to pop, but he is jazz’s chosen one. His superb instrument expresses a wide array of colors – from strong and steady dark hues to the crystalline heights of a gleaming songbird. When you add to this his extraordinary facility at vocalese and scat, it is apparent that Elling has truly inherited the mantle from the legendary vocal innovator and hipster Mark Murphy, whom he often acknowledges as an inspiration.

His program honors John Coltrane with the participation or Ernie Watt’s splendid tenor sax, while giving a nod to Johnny Hartman, the singer of renowned warmth and style who collaborated with Coltrane on their timeless recording, John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman. Surprisingly though, much of the set's material was not off the tribute CD leaving me to wonder if he wanted a more "integrated" program.

He opened with a driving pop tune – Joe Jackson’s “Stepping Out,” claiming it as an instant jazz inspiration. The sound was not yet fully adjusted, but that was taken care of tout suite, allowing Elling's voice to shine up against his very strong and complex band, led by pianist Laurence Hobgood. At times I wished Hobgood had pulled back from his opulent accompaniments, letting the melody stand alone — he has almost too much inspiration.

In a stripped-down (for Elling) version of “Lush Life,” we were reminded that however technical Elling’s interactions with his musicians can be, he can be simple and moving, as he also proved with the gorgeous ballad “Stairway to the Stars.”

The rest of the program was more exotic, to the delight of the younger and perhaps more adventurous folks in the audience. I must admit that his foray into an almost orchestral tone poem based on “Body and Soul” won me over, despite my initial resistance to his inserted derivations and intricacies. In this number, the band solos where thrilling and well incorporated, creating a piece that was a triumph in its audacity and richness.

Elling offered something for everyone, leaving me with a thirst for more of this phenomenal performer. I could see becoming an Elling-head, like many of his devotees who seem to be traveling from town to town following this charismatic storyteller.

Melody Breyer-Grell
Cabaret Scenes
June 16, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org