Media Articles, Reviews,
Quotes, Video;  Promo Photos

Classical Voice of North Carolina.org
Review of Chapel Hill Community Chorus Concert
July 20, 2007

   By Ken Hoover    (Used by permission) (Click to see page:)
                         

Durham Herald-Sun, "Durham singer to resurrect an unheard 'classic' "          July 20, 2007

   By Sonia L. Johnson, including photo by Walt Unks,
      (Used by permission)           (Click to see page:)
                      

WCOM 103.5 LP FM Carrboro NC
April 15, 2007

  Live radio interview on "Melva's Musings on Jazz," with host
  Melva Okun. Summary at her site.

WSHA 88.9 FM Raleigh NC
October 10, 2006

  Live radio interview and guest programmer on "Straight No   Chaser:Tuesday Edition," with host Riley.

WSHA 88.9 FM Raleigh NC
September 6, 2006

  Live radio interview on "Local Artist Showcase", an hour with
  host Rashad.

radioioJAZZ.com
  
  CD Single "Madame Heartache" is featured in "HOT PICKS" for
  the week of July 10-16, 2006. See page and comments:
                  

WSHA 88.9 FM Raleigh NC
April 26, 2006

  Live radio performance and interview with host John Bouille,   joined by Jules van Binsbergen, piano & Peter Innocenti, bass.

The Daily Tar Heel, "Weaver Street Concerts..."

   By Alexander Trowbridge, including photo by Allison Miller,
   Monday April 3, 2006
             

Durham Herald-Sun, "Emerging Artists"
December 16, 2004

   By Cynthia Greenlee-Donnell, including photo by Walt Unks,
      (Used by permission)
            

Many moods of jazz
By OWEN CORDLE
The Raleigh News & Observer, Gift Guide
Nov. 28, 2004

Susan Reeves, "Alive!" (Bent 4 Music). Local jazz singer with local duo at local jazz club -- another example of Triangle talent that transcends the backwater connotation of "local." Reeves studied under Mary Lou Williams and Paul Jeffrey at Duke. She sings Clifford Brown's challenging "Joy Spring," reason enough to commend this CD. (see whole article)

Susan Reeves, "aLive" ***
By OWEN CORDLE
The Raleigh News & Observer,
Sept. 26, 2004

Steady progress has guided Triangle singer Susan Reeves' career, which began in Paul Jeffrey's jazz department at Duke University. Jazz continually poses something new to learn, something old to reassess and something fundamental to shore up. For Reeves, impressive results appear throughout "aLive" (Bent 4 Music), recorded at Jayzz jazz club in Raleigh with Triangle musicians Dana Chell (guitar) and Ben Palmer (bass). Guest pianist Martin Eagle appears on one track.

The album opens with Clifford Brown's "Joy Spring," a daunting bebop workout that offers no shade along the way. Reeves sprints securely in her bright, optimistic voice as Palmer walks a firm line underneath. Chell solos with a tone and melodic approach reminiscent of Jim Hall. He consistently intrigues throughout the album as he superimposes occasional boxy rhythmic phrases over the swing feel of Palmer's bass and meshes webs of harmonically arresting arpeggios. Sometimes he captures the spirit of Hall more than Hall himself does these days.

The group transforms "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" into a blue sunrise, with Reeves jivey and overtly bluesy. The Hoagy Carmichael ballad "Skylark" affords an earful of the singer's sweet vibrato (which recalls Marlene VerPlanck, admittedly an obscure reference, but perhaps familiar to some) and in-the-tradition jazz phrasing.

On "As Long as I Live," Reeves' exaggerated enunciation and phrasing trip the "caution" light for me. Can't say that I'm a fan of this mannered approach. Things right themselves for the remainder of the album, which includes, among others, a fine and mellow "Come Rain or Come Shine" and a nicely paced Reeves ballad called "Let Me Fall in Love."

Reeves recorded this album four months before she and Palmer performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival this summer. A CD release party is scheduled for Friday at Vin Rouge in Durham with Chell, Palmer and Eagle. The album is available from the singer's Web site, www.susanreeves.net.

CD "aLive!" Liner Notes
"Talent deserving wider recognition" is a common expression, a cliché fraught with overtones of frustration, inexplicable neglect, injustice…whatever. Happily, none of this applies to Susan Reeves. "Talent destined for wider recognition." A much more felicitous thought. And that's what applies here. I knew that immediately a couple of years ago when Susan and guitarist Dana Chell performed live on my WSHA radio show. The voice, timing, phrasing, focus, the obviously meticulous attention to repertoire. It was obvious to me that Susan, unlike many "jazz singers," is a consummate musician. And from the first bar, Chell brought forth a reminder of why Johnny Smith was always one of my favorite guitarists.

Now, two years later, there's a newfound confidence in Susan's presentation. A confidence that can only come through working with excellent musicians who are willing to put forth the effort she expects. And I can tell you from close observation that working with Susan is no jam session. The ever increasing pace of bookings, rehearsals, constant introduction of new material into the repertoire, including originals (check out Susan's "Let Me Fall in Love" on this disc). As a musician, Susan knows exactly what she wants. What's more rare, I think she knows how to get there too. In the same sense that Betty Carter knew. A deep understanding of what nurtures her performance.

"Susan Reeves aLive" is a great snapshot of an artist well on her way to wider, richly deserved recognition. This may be your first Susan Reeves CD. It won't be your last.

     -Bob Rogers
     WSHA-FM (88.9), Raleigh, NC
     www.wshafm.org

Quotes

"...susan has incredible quality in her voice and delivers the jazz with passion plus!!"
      - dr. mike matheny, radioioJAZZ.com

"Especially impressive was the lead-off song by Bobby Sharp, "Madame Heartache," to which Reeves has laid claim as a signature tune."
      -Ken Hoover, CVNC.org 

"...an exuberant and swinging delivery and delicious tone."
      - Mike Volow, CD Baby

"You have a very melodic, alluring, free-flowing voice that draws the listener in. ...it sounded absolutely beautiful. You have an exceptionally musical voice, it catches your attention right away... you're top of my list... you will be a hit. "
    - Ben Herrmann, Director
      Raleigh Waterfront Concert Series

"The Duke Jazz Ensemble captured the spirit of that era best behind vocalist Susan [Reeves]. Someone said, 'She sings classy pretty,' and, indeed, her phrasing, poise and "class" made you think of Rosemary Clooney."
   - Owen Cordle, The News& Observer

"Dirty Dozen Sets Staid Stewart Dancing"
"The Jeffrey Quintet did more than warm up the audience at Stewart Theater in Raleigh..."
"Jeffrey's quintet for this set was an attractive group, headlining the bop scatting of Susan [Reeves], largely in unison with but sometimes in counterpoint to the leader's tenor. The effect is to combine the heavier tone of the sax with a musical tone similar to a flute, but with the additional warmth of the human voice. It worked nicely Sunday, especially in midpassage when Miss [Reeves] sang the lyrics to the Gershwin standard Embraceable You and then joined Jeffrey in the variant, and when she shadowed his horn line on Bemsha they worked some lovely harmonies on the tune."
     -R.C. Smith, Durham Morning Herald

"Perhaps the high point of the evening was vocalist Susan [Reeves], whose singing . . . revealed a fine voice and musical sense."
   - Louise Lofquist, The Chronicle

"Susan [Reeves] was hot. She hit everything with power and assurance: practically blew the top off of every note. She took a solo flight…which had the audience yelling their approval."
   - Branson Edwards, The Chronicle

 

Video
See the clip from NBC17 news! (used with permission)
Sunday December 28, 2003: The Susan Reeves Quartet with Dana Chell, guitar; Ben Palmer, bass; Todd Proctor, drums. Filmed at Jayzz, in Raleigh, NC
                     Video - (Windows media version)  
                     Video - (Quicktime version)  

 

Download Promo Photos
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