Tag: Jacintha

Title: Jacintha – Jacintha Is Her Name: Dedicated To Julie London (2003)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Jacintha is a Singaporean jazz singer/torch singer and stage actress who has been well-known in parts of the Asia-Pacific region since the ’80s and has been increasing her exposure in North America since the late ’90s. Jacintha has never been the type of jazz artist who goes out of her way to be abstract, difficult, or complicated; her work has been quite accessible and easy to absorb, drawing on direct or indirect influences that have included Julie London and Shirley Horn as well as Brazilian star Astrud Gilberto.

Inspired mainly by Ms. London’s 1st Liberty album, Julie Is Her Name & its spare guitar & acoustic bass formats, Jacintha & arranger/pianist Bill Cunliffe (recently nominated for a Jazz Arranging Grammy) have come up with a spectacular new record. Using the guitar & bass combo as a basic springboard, the album has taken some of the songs most closely associated with Ms. London (e.g. Cry Me A River, & some not so familiar like Light My Fire), & transformed them into the kind of material that Jacintha handles best. Intimate, sexy, seductive.

hraudio | discogs

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Title: Jacintha – Here’s To Ben (2001)
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Meant as a tribute to Ben Webster, Jacintha’s album nonetheless expresses her Billie Holliday Influence as well. A well known singer and stage talent in the Singapore entertainment scene, Jacintha (in the tradition of one name jazz luminaries such as the Duke, Django and Ella) now pays her dues to the music she grew up listening to. This disc has been all the rage among jazz aficionados and audiophiles everywhere since its release, garnering endless positive reviews.

hraudio | discogs

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Title: Jacintha – Best Of Jacintha (2008)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

For the 1st time ever, Groove Note presents a collection of the finest recordings by the incomparable Jacintha. Spanning a decade of musical output, this set is the definitive Jacintha sound. With a timeless voice that resonates across the world, Jacintha is quickly becoming a modern classic. Her interpretations are smooth & sensuous, ranging from ballads to bossa nova. Jacintha is able to bring poignancy to any lyric, with a delivery that is both sultry & relaxing. New fans & seasoned devotees alike will be amazed at the clarity of presentation on this compilation. Modern jazz has never sounded quite like Jacintha, & Jacintha has never sounded quite like this!

hraudio | discogs

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Title: Jacintha – Love Flows Like A River (2005)
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

‘Love Flows Like A River’ by Jacintha (on the Harmony Records label) features beautifully recorded contemporary arrangements of several Mandarin favorites as well as a couple of jazz tunes, performed in Mandarin. The album explores the theme of love, with its ebb and flow, rise and fall, and many changing currents, just like a river. According to the record label, the concept for the album evolved, as Jacintha spent several months in 2004 selecting songs and working on the arrangements. It soon became clear that the heart of the album would be a collection of sad and well-known love songs – not only the six beloved Chinese songs.

At the time of the album’s release, Jacintha was already well-known in the audiophile market. ‘Love Flows’ was recorded over four days at Audioplex Recording Studio in Tampines, Singapore with Los Angeles recording engineer Mike Ross. Vintage tube mikes (AKG, Telefunken and Neumann) were used during the session. The vocal mike on Jacintha was a legendary U-49 tube. The entire session was recorded all-analogue through a classic Neve Analogue Mixing Board. The multi-track masters were flown from Singapore to Los Angeles and all the mixing for the eight vocal tracks was done by Ross at LA-FX in Burbank. The final tracking and mixing session for the instrumental track, I Have An Affair, was done at the world famous Oceanway Recording Studios in Hollywood in May 2005 and features Anthony Wilson (of the Diana Krall Quartet) on acoustic guitar.

hraudio | discogs

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Title: Jacintha – The Girl From Bossa Nova (2004)
Genre: Jazz, Bossa Nova
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Jacintha picks up the tempo on her first bossa nova session. Featuring a program of some of the most well known classics of the genre, including several Jobim favorites like So Nice, Desafinado, Dindi and Corcovado, as well as less familiar tunes like O Ganso and So Danco Samba, this CD is a striking change of pace for Jacintha. With superb work from tenor Harry Allen and guitarist John Pisano (ex-Diana Krall), the album’s supreme finishing is the magical playing of legendary Brazilian master percussionist Paulinho Da Costa, who blesses the entire album with an authentic bossa nova vibe.

hraudio | discogs

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Title: Jacintha – Autumn Leaves: The Songs Of Johnny Mercer (1999) [Reissue 2000]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Nine of the 11 tracks here are ballads. Their uncluttered arrangements spotlight Jacintha’s smooth and sensuous voice, while her expressive phrasing draws the most from the classic Johnny Mercer lyrics. Jacintha includes the original lyrics to “Autumn Leaves,” done in soft and flawless French; otherwise, her primary innovation is to deliver the tunes straight and sincerely, with minimal improvisation and maximum tenderness. There’s no trace of the customary bitterness in “One More for the Road,” and her unaccompanied reading of “Moon River” liberates that song from any prior goopy associations. In fact, her version brings out the poignancy of the lyrics so purely that her additional chorus, coming after a rather wandering piano interlude, seems redundant. The band is good but pretty restrained throughout, supplying subtle commentary and close support, then breaks out nicely on the two up-tempo tracks: “And the Angels Sing” and “Something’s Got to Give.” Jacintha’s measured, legato approach isn’t very conducive to swinging, but listening to “Skylark”and “Midnight Sun,” in particular, is like sipping cool champagne in a fragrant hot tub. Another highlight is the bonus track, “Here’s to Life,” a signature tune for Shirley Horn, which Jacintha takes at a slightly faster tempo. While it’s not a Mercer lyric, its beautiful sentiments and melody fit nicely into this relaxed and intimate set. Whatever this CD may lack in fire, it makes up for in warmth.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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