Meet Ken Greves

On The Face of My Love, countertenor Ken Greves answers what could well be an eternal question: Why make another album about love? And he does so emphatically: Because there may be a more complete way to tackle its rainbow of moods and feelings. It is very possible that no one in recent memory has gotten into character to perform the role of lover with such majesty and fire as Greves plays out the myriad shades of sadness and joy associated with the eternal passion that exists where heart and mind meet. Greves' lover is almost as lonely as Heathcliff but, with classical triumph of human endeavor, settles the score with the demons who threaten to break his spirit.

 

If all this sounds as if it were a monumental Grecian operatic narrative it almost is, except that in the case of Greves' "Face of Love," its story is fused into a molten mix of the Great American Songbook couched in a slow, sullen swing, as it bumps and grinds, and rubs elbows with jazz's animated idiom. Greves' story of love tumbles down in short bursts of intense, almost in-the-moment energy, and feelings that are wrung out of the lyric line of each melody as the vocalist infuses the characters in each song with his own, deep interpretation. Beginning with the classic Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn "Daydream," Greves sets the tone of his hopeful quest. This he finds with exquisite grace and elegance on "A Nightingale Sang In Berkley Square."

 

Soon, of course, the storm of the relationship develops and the aching vocals capture the spirit of Greves' lonely feelings through masterful renditions of "Everything I Have Is Yours," "It Was Written In The Stars," "Alone Together" and two beautifully handled Billy Strayhorn charts. In the first, "My Flame Burns Blue" Greves sings the lyric interpretation by Elvis Costello of Strayhorn's "Blood Count," recreating the most definitive version of this song and the elementally sad, "Chelsea Bridge ," where it seems the romantic world of Greves' character falls apart completely. However, throughout the album there is an ululation of feelings, moving up and down the spectrum of love's feelings as it labors towards a triumphant, all-encompassing joy. These are the moments of spectacular interplay between, and especially, pianist Wells Hanley, but also bassist Tom Hubbard and drummer Jacob Melchior.

 

However, it is the sympathetic manner in which vocalist and pianist dance to each other's tunes that makes this artistic relationship a memorable one. In this regard, Hanley and Greves recall the wonderful partnership between Kurt Elling and Laurence Hobgood. Hanley's svelte pianism is every bit a match with Greves' subtle intonations. On "Alone Together"-with Greves center stage and Hanley in the shadows, just half a beat off the pace-the two artists reveal what true simpatico is. This track is the epitome of the sharp bursts of feeling that drive an entirely memorable album that begins and ends with classic interpretations of “Daydream.”

 

Track listing: Daydream; A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square; Where Have You Been?; You Stepped Out of a Dream/Dearly Beloved; Everything I have Is Yours; I Thought About You/My One & Only Love; Witchcraft/ That Old Magic; It Was Written In The Stars; Alone Together; My Flame Burns Blue; Day In, Day Out; There's a Lull in My Life; Chelsea Bridge; Someone to Light Up My Life; Don't Look Back; By Myself.

 

Personnel: Ken Greves: vocals; Wells Hanley: piano; Tom Hubbard: bass; Jacob Melchoir: drums.

 

Style: Jazz/Straightahead/Mainstream

 

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A prolific interpreter of American standards, singer Ken Greves transports audiences back to the Golden Years of jazz and champagne music with his latest album, The Face Of My Love. The selection for the recording includes hallmark works by some of jazz music's most cherished writers like Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Mercer, and Jimmy Van Heusen. Greves' vocals are beautifully poised as he molds his ruminations to the melodic knolls, and strokes the lyrics like they were made of fine porcelain. He brings out the songs classic curves and melodic charms while enhancing their timeless quality as they pass from generation to generation.

 

Greves displays an instinct for finessing American standards like Strayhorn's "Daydream" and Cole Porter's "Where Have You Been." His versing is poetic, and his suave handling of the tunes is thoughtful as he traverses along the chord progressions with a leisurely stride. His treatment of Manning Sherwin and Eric Maschwitz's "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" accentuates its romantic-bent, while Greves' refurbishing of "You Stepped Out Of A Dream" bodes a dreamy sonorous. His rendition of Harold Arlen and Leo Robin's "It Was Written In The Stars" has a gristle of heavy bass streaks which turn to a breezy bossa nova style in "I Thought About You." His remodeling of the torchlight flutters in Billy Strayhorn and Elvis Costello's "My Flame Bums Blue" is shrouded in somber tones, which shifts to an upbeat pulse in Rube Bloom and Johnny Mercer's "Day In, Day Out." The shimmering tones of the piano keys in "Someone To Light Up My Life" cradle Greves' vocals in silky threads, which transform into a sprightly jitter in "By Myself' inducing a festive mood into the album.

 

Ken Greves' treatments have a penchant for classic styles and veer towards sustaining a positive mood even through the melancholic tunage of Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge." Hope springs eternal in Ken Greves' delivering of American standards, showing an inclination to influence audiences to adapt to a leisurely stride through life like himself.

 

Jazz Reviews: Ken Greves - By Susan Frances - JazzTimes

 

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O's Notes: Ken Greves is a classically trained vocalist exploring jazz on this romantic album. He is backed by a strong trio featuring Wells Hanley (p) Tom Hubbard (b) and Jacob Melchior (d). The sixteen selections are all classic tunes arranged to take us through all phases of romance: single, courting, falling in love, experiencing heartbreaks and then being alone again. This all occurs in just over an hour! It is adventure that we are all too familiar with. Greves does a good job immersing himself in the moods.

 

D. Oscar Groomes

O’s Place Jazz Magazine

http://www.OsPlaceJazz.com

 

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Year 2009

 

Purchase Link: CD Baby

 

Personnel: Ken Greves (vocals), Wells Hanley (piano), Tom Hubbard (bass), Jacob Melchior (drums)

 

Specializing in the music of Harold Arlen, influenced by Judy Garland and raised by musician parents, who quickly discovered their son’s fascination with music, theater and dance, it was only natural for Ken to pursue a career in adult standards.

 

Today we will focus on a Harold Arlen and Leo Robin composition, from the new Greves CD, The Face of My Love. Ken Greves brings out in his interpretation of "It Was Written In The Stars," an emotional cry that takes us through the full course of the relationship stages. Ken's voice is soft, yet masculine in delivery. You can hear the passion for Arlen's music deep in Ken’s soul. Pianist Wells Hanley, weaves a fabric on lyrical canvas for bassist Tom Hubbard and drummer, Jacob Melchior to create and lifting pad for Ken's voice to delicately lay upon. Ken’s interpretation is befitting the composer, though he makes the cut truly his own, he does honor the composer's original concepts.

 

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It was hard to get past the album title, I mean c'mon: The Face Of My Love (Jazz Cat)? It just caught me off guard and I had to laugh before I was able to play the music.

 

The album features Ken Greves vocalist a number of jazz standards, songs like Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge" and Cole Porter's "Where Have You Been?", along with "You Stepped Out Of A Dream", "That Old Black Magic", and "By Myself". He says in the liner notes that he was inspired to do this album after being a fan of Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now, and did it where his album begins and ends with a dream. I like the execution and concept of that, and if you're a fan of jazz mixed in with pop, you will love this, especially if you like the slightly camp way Bobby Short did things.

 

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The funny thing about a songbook collection like this is that if you do it for a major label, you have to water it down to make everyone happy and it then becomes wildly hit or miss beyond your control. If you do it as an indie, it can only suck because you suck. Greves loves his work and hopefully it's more than a hobby. A solidly delightful walk down memory lane in which the classic American songs get strung together into a theme that pretty much covers the life cycle of a relationship. On the money throughout, Greves goes way beyond being a jive ass crooner and wears the mantle of vocalist quite well. Classic "Americana" fans will love it.

 

Volume 33/Number 47
December 17, 2009
Midwest Record
Chris Spector, Editor and Publisher
JAZZ CAT

 

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There are a lot of jazz vocalists who record songs from The Great American Songbook. Of those that I review that take on those songs, just about all of them are female vocalists. But once in a while I'll check out a male vocalist who decides to do a few of those classic numbers.

 

One such vocalist is Ken Greves. He has recorded an hour plus album that is full of those great standards. The title of this new album of Ken's is The Face of My Love. It is being released by Jazz Cat Productions, an outlet for indie jazz artists. I reviewed an album by Jon Crosse about three years ago that was released on the same label.

 

Ken had a really good trio backing his vocals. There is Wells Hanley on piano. Tom Hubbard is on bass and the drummer is Jacob Melchior. Wells lends his talents to several cabarets in New York along with giving lessons and such. Tom has performed with Randy Becker and Cyrus Chestnut. Jacob has played with some of New York's top jazz musicians.

 

Ken himself has a pretty extensive history of working in theater and cabaret.

 

For the first song on the album Ken chose the slow and gentle Duke Ellington piece, Daydream. Ken did a decent job with the song.

 

Melodic and sometimes high octave vocals can be found in A Nightingale in Berkeley Square.

 

Another good piece is Ken's rendition of Cole Porter's Where Have You Been?

 

I really liked the bass in the background of You Have Stepped Out of a Dream / Dearly Beloved.

 

Slow and somewhat aching vocals are nicely done in Everything I Have Is Yours.

 

Picking things up a bit, Ken does a decent job with the Van Heusen/Mercer medley I Thought About You / My One & Only Love.

 

Other songs on the album include Alone Together, My Flame Turns Blue, There's a Lull In My Life, Don't Look Back and It Was Written in the Stars.

 

There is a nicely done medley of Witchcraft/That Old Black Magic. The piano in the background is especially good.

 

Ken has a zippy little number with his rendition of the Bloom and Mercer song Day In, Day Out.

 

Then there is the poignant Billy Strayhorn song Chelsea Bridge. That is followed by a heartening version of Someone to Light Up My Life.

 

Ken ends the album with the rousing By Myself, a classic Arthur Schwartz tune.

 

With his background in theater and cabaret, Ken Greves brings a pretty high level of talent to this recording. His choice of mellow love songs was very good. This is an album that could be danced to at the end of a romantic evening out.

 

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It seems that the 'Great American Songbook' has never been healthier thanks to all the recent albums received here for review. Rock music may make the big money but thankfully there seem to be loads of upcoming jazz vocalists like Ken Greves who are reviving and finding new ways of putting these songs over. And so to The Face Of My Love, sixteen songs drawn from the cream: Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz, James Van Heusen and Johnny Mercer and many others. Performed with a trio backing [Wells Hanley on piano, Tom Hubbard on bass and Jacob Melchior on drums], the voice is at the forefront, and Mr Greves certainly has a distinctive tenor voice with crystal clear diction. Songs include: A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, You Stepped Out Of Dream/Dearly Beloved, Witchcraft/That Old Black Magic, Someone To Light Up My Life, I Thought About You/My One And Only Love and Day In, Day Out amongst the mixed songbook on display here. Mr Greves does add some stylistic flourishes to the songs which I find a little awkward at times, but I am willing to concede that my ears may not be in tune with the artistic muse at work here, plus being British our tastes in how a song should sound may be different -so, a little culture clash, perhaps. On the other hand The Face Of My Love is certainly a worthy example of songcraft and anyone who is a fan of the 'classic' song should check this album out by visiting Mr. Greves website [www.ken.greves.com] and sampling a track or two before ordering this CD.

 

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Can’t help but think/dream back to the tube (oh, so many years ago) when growing up in western Pennsylvania…crooners like Andy Williams & Perry Como come to mind, though Ken’s vocals are certainly in his own distinctive style; all 16 tracks are uniquely Greves’ own style. Nonetheless, it’s clear that he’s in love with that solid ol’ “lounge jazz” that drew me to sit & listen to male jazz vocals. His rendition of Witchcraft/That Old Black Magic makes it easy to imagine a slow wood fire burning in a piano bar somewhere on Long Island…no smoky cavern here, this definitely the “uptown” version with brandy snifters clinked together after the $50 dinner together. This isn’t the kind of jazz that gets you dancin’ round a tribal fire, it’s more like what I call “Maidenform jazz”… you know, silky gowns dancin’ th’ night away. Those who want a taste of nostalgia for well-crooned vocals in a jazzy supper club setting will agree when I declare it HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. “EQ” (energy quotient) for this one is 4.85. Get more information at www.kengreves.com.

 

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