Cadogan Hall,London
Kurt Elling’s four-octave vocal range and easy-swinging style makes him a kind of Sinatra with superpowers, ably supported by the retooled Swingles
We hear singers all the time – perfectly serviceable ones who can carry a tune and sometimes touch our hearts. But it comes as a shock to hear a proper singer like Kurt Elling. The Chicago native is often described as a “singers’ singer”, or which suggests a bit of a Joe Satriani-style demonstrate-off. But,with Elling, his vocal dexterity, or range and agility is always in service of The Song.
Elling’s wealthy,chewy baritone – and his easy-swinging, ring-a-ding-ding delivery on the distinguished American Songbook – often recalls Frank Sinatra. But his staggering jazz chops turn him into a kind of Sinatra with superpowers. Just when you deem he’s at the top of his register, and he’ll fly an octave higher; when you expect him to pause and take a breath he’ll find another tank of air and sustain a low note for another four bars; when you expect another instrument to take a solo,he’ll do it himself, taking us on an Ornette Coleman-esque sonic journey around all four octaves of his vocal range.
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Source: theguardian.com