With her rich, powerful voice and emotional phrasing, Alysha Umphress may just be the most exciting thing to happen to jazz since Jane Monheit and Maude Maggart took to the mic. Long a fixture at the Laurie Beechman Theatre and other late-night venues around the city, Umphress has finally released her first CD, recorded live at the Beechman and showcasing her voice to its finest effect.

Live at the Laurie Beechman Theatre deftly demonstrates Umphress’ skill at sitting right at the crux of contemporary and classic. While she is at her coquettish best when singing sassy and sensual jazz numbers like “Nobody But Me” and “Big Long Slidin’ Thing,” her “Over the Rainbow” is a fierce anthem of determination and “Cry Me a River” is full of quiet, barely controled pain.

The live recording works well to create a casual cabaret ambiance, featuring just enough banter to make it truly seem live. The quartet (Barry Levitt on piano, Cameron Brown on bass, Jerome Jennings on drums and Nathan Botts on horn—-and just listen to his riff on “Cornet Man”) works wonderfully to create a big-band sound—even when playing country numbers. (Told you she could sing anything!)

Jena Tesse Fox
Cabaret Scenes
April 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org