PETER APPLEYARD & THE SOPHISTICATED LADIES play Koerner Hall Tuesday (June 26) as part of the Toronto Jazz Festival. See listing. Rating: NNN
Canadian vibraphonist Peter Appleyard is 83, but his musicianship remains fluid and vibrant. His new album of jazz standards was recorded at CBC Studio 211 and features a cast of popular female jazz and blues singers as well as Appleyard’s quintet of excellent players.
There’s a battle of focus between the vocalists and the vibe solos, which works when the instrumental comes as a sudden surprise and changes the course of the tune, as on opener After You’ve Gone (featuring Emilie-Claire Barlow), or when the vocal sits naturally with what the band is doing, as on earthy Georgia On My Mind (featuring Jackie Richardson). But often the vocal parts, though good, leave us anticipating Appleyard’s next solo. It’s a vocal jazz record where the vocals take a back seat.
Top track: Georgia On My Mind
