Chris Anderson is a legendary and, until the mid-1990s, underdocumented veteran pianist. In his mid-70s at the time of this set, he collaborates with Sabina Sciubba, a pop singer from Germany who was in her mid-20s and had always loved jazz. Sciubba shows on this set of standards that she is quite capable of swinging and of adding her own personality to the older songs. With fine backup provided by bassist David Williams and drummer Billy Higgins, the singer sounds haunting yet respectful on such tunes as "The More I See You,""My Romance,""Estate" and "Ain't Misbehavin.'" Anderson, a particularly talented accompanist, additionally has a couple instrumentals as features. Tasteful and subtle music. - Scott Yanow
Chris Anderson has played with vocalists before, in the first part of his career - although he hasn't backed anyone regularly since a short stay with Dinah Washington in 1961. Still, as he comments, "When you do something pretty well, you don't lose your touch for it. You just have to listen, and know where each syllable occurs in the scheme of things - and if the singer wants to move it, to know how it can be moved. You have to know how not to overplay, and sometimes when not to play at all.
Sabina Sciubba's voice wear no makeup, needs no perfume, carries no airs. She sings nakedly, with clear, crisp presentation: unadorned, her voice doesn't need the various dress-up devices that so many singers use to repackage the rough spots. On this album, she found herself able to emphasize these basics, thanks to the delightful complexities emanating from the keyboard. "Chris's approach to music is almost mystical, " Sciubba exults. "He's such a great harmonizer, and singing with him, I got simpler. Usually, when the accompaniment is straighter, just the chords as written, I will improvise more. But Chris, he carries you on a harmonic base. You could just sing one note, and with the chords he play under it, it keeps changing."
Tracks
01. The More I See You (Mack Gordon/Harry Warren)
02. You Don't Know What Love Is (Gene Paul/Don Raye)
03. My Romance (Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers)
04. Estate (Bruno Brighetti/Bruno Martino)
05. Polka Dots and Moonbeams (James Van Hausen)
06. How Long Has This Been Goin' On? (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin)
07. Ain't Misbehavin' (Harry Brooks/Andy Razaf/Fats Waller)
08. The Gipsy (Billy Reid)
09. Too Late Now (Burton Lane/Alan Jay Lerner)
10. Lazy Afternoon (John Latouche/Jürg
DAVID WILLIAMS double bass
BILLY HIGGINS percussion
CHRIS ANDERSON piano
SABINA SCIUBBA vocals
Recorded July 1998 at Pro Musica, Chicago, IL (5) and Avatar Studios, New York, NY
Naim Label - naimcd030