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TRISH HATLEY NW Jazz Profile | THE MIX | WASHINGTON | Artist Spotlight: Trish Hatley December 2007 David Keys: I just want to say that I really like your new record, "On The Quiet Side." Trish Hatley: Thank you. We worked a long time on it and I'm really proud of it. [ Read more: Page 1 Page 2 ] TRISH HATLEY CD: ON THE QUIET SIDE ejazznews.com CD Reviews: Trish Hatley, "On The Quiet Side" Wednesday, December 26, 2007 by Edward Blanco Part of an eclectic threesome group called Trish, Hans & Phil, for over fifteen years, vocalist Trish Hatley has been delivering swinging interpretations of the great American Songbook in the Northwest part of the country. A beautiful songbird from Anacortes, Washington, Hatley goes it alone here recording soft romantic standards with a delightful album of gentle jazz with "On The Quiet Side." With the assistance of producer John Caper, Jr., who gave birth to the concept, and keyboardist Darin Clendenin, this project came to be assembling a musical ensemble of ten players and a light string section to complete the background for one beautiful album of love songs. I was immediately taken by perhaps the best rendition ever of Sergio Mendes’s classic "So Many Stars." Sung to the heart by Hatley, no one else has ever come close to Lani Hall’s original on the "Look Around" album from Brasil 66. Possessing the voice of angel, Hatley’s singing throughout provides the perfect texture in interpreting beautiful romantic loves songs with a jazzy twist. Ivan Lins’s "I’m Not Alone" is just another winner among many on this disc as Hatley captures the emotions of his beautiful lyrics with grace. Billy Strayhorn’s "Lush Life" never sounded so sweet under this lady’s mesmerizing style accompanied quite well by Clendenin warm play. All is not softly taken though as she delivers a Brazilian slanted rendition of Dave Frishberg’s "Zanzibar" complete with nice instrumentals provided by the strings. Hatley provides emotional versions of wonderful love songs like "You Don’t Know Me," and "Where Do You Start?" and finishes off an enchanting album with Lins’s "Love Dance," and the Brandt/Haymes standard, "That’s All." For those who may not be familiar with Trish Hatley, I encourage you to sit back, relax, turn on "On The Quiet Side," turn up the volume and listen to a lovely voice and a jewel of an album. Well done Trish! I can hardly wait for your next release. If youíve only heard the swinging side of Trish Hatley (Trish, Hans & Phil), this CD represents the vocalist at her romantic best. Simply put, these are love songs. Listen, and youíll understand why Trish Hatley is a singer who deserves our new-found attention. She possesses not only a great voice, but the ability to take lyrics youíve heard dozens of times and make a song sound new again. No doubt about it, thatís a rare and wonderful talent. And Trish Hatleyís has it! —Phil Stout, MUSIC CHOICE
It has been said that marriages are made in heaven. I want to announce a wedding made in the state of Washington. When you put vocalist Trish Hatley of Anacortes together with pianist Darin Clendenin of Seattle, you have a marriage of musical talents that is heavenly. When Trish sings, it is as if she were singing to you and you alone. Her style, phrasings and interpretations bring out every possible intimacy and nuance contained in each song. All of this is then complemented by her impeccable intonation. Every note is a pearl.
There definitely must be something in the water up here in the Pacific Northwest that aids in breeding outstanding female jazz singers because we do have quite a number of them. Close to the top of the list has got to be Trish Hatley by any standards you choose (no pun intended). Aside from the technical aspects of possessing a wonderful vocal instrument, great control of her entire range, and singing with consistently laser guided intonation, Trish's ability to get inside the emotional core of everything she sings without resorting to pathetic obvious musical tricks is definitely a God given gift. This is really evident to me on the great Johnny Mandel song "Where Do You Start" and Michel Legrand's "You Must Believe In Spring". "I Get Along Without You Very Well" is set in a poignant duet with pianist Darin Clendenin.
TRISH, HANS AND PHIL The voices of Seattle visitors Trish, Hans, and Phil are a perfect blend. When the three harmonize, the sounds they make are enough to soothe the savage breast in just about anyone. So why at the Metropolitan Room a week or so ago did the trio open with a Vegas lounge version of "The Way You Look Tonight" (Dorothy Fields-Jerome Kern)? Maybe they wanted to establish Trish Hatley as the lead singer. She does have a clarion voice made to nail standards. In quick time, though, they may have lulled their audience - those, that is, who didn't already know who they are - into thinking nothing special was about to happen. But before you could say "watch out," they segued into a three-part arrangement of "Tuxedo Junction" (music by Erskine Hawkins, William Johnson, and Julian Dash; lyric by Buddy Feyne), and the air was suddenly charged with promise. That promise was fulfilled with the Beatles songs to which the triumvirate gave unexpectedly fresh settings. The first they rejiggered was "Got to Get You Into My Life" (John Lennon-Paul McCartney), which turned into only an appetizer for their later "Eleanor Rigby" (also Lennon-McCartney). For that one Hans Brehmer, the group's adventurous arranger, did plenty of chord ruminating in the bass clef. The way the three look is a significant part of their appeal. Trish is tall, striking, her long hair definitely alluring. Goateed Hans has an amusing lean face - also a quick wit, which he showed off on words added to Cole Porter's "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To." Phil Demaree, whose roundish face ends with a lantern jaw, has a twinkle in his eye and does a fair amount of poker-facing. He doesn't say much. Twice he seconded remarks the other two made by commenting, "You're right." He was cute on the faster melody of Irving Berlin's counterpointed "You're Just in Love." Presented by and at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St., NYC. "…they are bright, swinging and entertaining" For 14 years, TRISH, HANS & PHIL have been making very hip sounds in Washington state, the kind of sounds that you expect to find in a place like New York City, Los Angeles or Chicago. Over the years vocalists Trish Hatley, Hans Brehmer, who also plays piano, and Phil Demaree, who also serves as the group's bassist, have built up a book of considerable size. They have wanted to produce a recording for quite a while, and now, with the ironically titled "Greatest Hits, Volume 1" (THP Productions, no catalog number), they have released their initial CD. Aided by John Anderson on saxophone, Ken French on drums, Alan Keith on trumpet and Bill Anthony on trombone, they have put together a most enjoyable 16-track program that mixes standards and jazz tunes with a couple of side trips to the pop song catalog. On some tracks, they harmonize effectively, while on others one of them takes over the vocal spotlight. The arrangements by Brehmer and Demaree set the tunes nicely, and are well executed by all involved. Among the tracks that particularly appealed to me were "You’d be So Nice to Come Home To," "Rio de Janeiro Blue" "A Night in Tunisia" and "Jeanine." They close with a neat take on "Brahms Lullaby." One thing that comes through clearly is that this is a group that has a lot of fun performing, and you will have fun listening to them. —Joseph Lang, Jersey Jazz "The Thursday night Four Freshman Fan Jam was memorable for my first in-person listen to Trish Hatley. I knew from her CD she was a terrific vocalist, but seeing her perform is to see a talent to be reckoned with! In addition to being a great singer, Trish has personality to spare. Of course, it also doesn't hurt that she's gorgeous as well. Harold Betters and his group, along with Yaz, and later, Vince, Curtis and Bob sitting in (Four Freshman), made it a truly fun evening." —Phil Stout, Music Consultant, Music Choice, JazzRadio Berlin "All of us as Simpson Motors want to thank you for bringing your fabulous band to Montana. You were all so warm and entertaining that we really felt like we got to know you and your special sound. All the venues want you back. "I had the pleasure of including Trish, Hans, and Phil in my lineup for the 2005 Jazz Under the Stars concert series at Pacific Lutheran University. They came highly recommended from their previous performances at venues such as Bake's Place. They were perfect for the JUTS crowd. Their smooth jazz sound and beautifully blended group vocals were a delight. Trish really knew how to communicate with an audience and had our folks in the palm of her hand for two hours. Bravo to TH&P." "In the Mood, A Tribute to the Golden Age of Radio, what a success! Everywhere we go in the community, people have commented about the show and what a great time was had by all." |