Scott Hamilton, Leah Kline & Francesca Tandoi - Triple Treat (2017)

In Holland ( the Netherlands) I have been living and working with a WIDE variety of musicians. What is so amazing about living here, is that there is for me a lot of freedom to explore my voice and my own musical sensitivities.
I was singing with a swing band Dr. Bernard and his Swing band, and this band focused on Benny goodman style music. Which , being a dancer ages ago. made me very interested in singing on the beat, whereby most torch songs are sung with a back phrasing. I really enjoyed being the one to set a tempo and push the band. This skill became handy when I took on this project of Sax, piano and voice. All lead instruments, all of us soloists, all of us creating tension by phrasing behind the beat.
I felt it was my responsibility sometimes to sing ON THE beat , to create variety.
For Francesca ( our lovely Italian/Roman) pianist the task was of course heavy on her to be the rhythm section,
Scott is known for his smooth languid delivery. We didn't really ask him to phrase differently.. We didn't dare! ha ha.

But as far as variety is concerned, I felt it was also nice to sing and play in layers, for instance in First song and some other tunes, I sing some phrases above to color the solo or Thicken the sound layer.

Being young people playing the oldies, I am really proud of the modal treatment of some of the tunes. I think for this I really like Get out of Town. Francesca and I played with the double time feel but then also extending the bars. The double time tempo really comes in the B part. and I took the liberty of adjusting the lyrics ( her also phrasing forward) to get all the lyrical meaning without rushing.

In every album I make there is always One original tune and on this album it's Light at Heart. These were lyrics that I made for a colleague of mine. Anne Chris who decided to write her own lyrics, so I took the lyrics to Dirk Balthaus who I worked with for 5 years and on the album JuzzFlirtin, and he created the melody to this tune. But we only made one album together. I asked Francesca to play it, and she really dug it.

Francesca is a sort of italian, Blossom Dearie, and I thought it was a shame to not ask her to sing a tune so we added But not For me, for fun. I liked also adjusting my voice tone to blend with her mood.

Four Brothers , is Francesca's favorite, and our snapping really helps to hear her groove. Scott just whipped out the harmony at the session.
What I really like about Scott is that we only rehearsed once, and the interpretations and solos are truly intuitive and not overly spoken.

First Song, I love the lyrics, but I also love the melody, and I like the original key which is difficult to sing the lyrics to convincingly as it is so far out of the speaking voice for me. So.. I just hummed it.. a bit nasal so it would penetrate. It has a spiritual quality. Like in a church or a boys choir like feel. I suppose it's a compliment, but one of the first listeners said about this tune, " When I die, I want this played at my funeral. So beautiful! " now can you get more spiritual than that.

This Album's idea was brought about by Scott Hamilton's mananger in the Benelux area. Jerry Steyger, who is also the manager of the Bernard Berkhout Band. He said this is the First Time Scott has recorded a trio album without a rhythm section. So I hope it is worthy of that debut. I am certainly honored. Both parties on the album are true professionals and it was a pleasure to work with them. Quickly, intuitively and nice vibes.

My inspirations for this album are definitely Anita O'day, Kurt Elling, and I suppose a bit of Blossom Dearie too!
Hope you enjoy listening.
Léah Kline