JERSEY JAZZ

July-August issue of Jersey Jazz
by Joe Lang

LINDA PURL has had a varied career, acting on stage, screen and television, as well as singing in musicals, clubs, concerts and on recordings. The last of these activities is most recently demonstrated on Taking a Chance on Love (Reaching Records – 8495022), a nicely paced twelve-track album. Tedd Firth, the peerless accompanist is on piano, and supplied all but one of the arrangements for the disc. To fill out the rhythm section are David Finck on bass and Ray Marchica on drums, with Nelson Rangell along on reeds. Purl opens the program with a natural pairing of “Pure Imagination” and “Never Never Land,” the only chart by John Proulx. Also paired are “Lucky Day” with “I’m Shooting High” and “And We Will Fly” with “Come Fly with Me.” Purl is a confident singer who treats each lyric with respect. Firth’s arrangements emphasize the jazz feeling that underlies Purl’s vocalizing. Purl has given us a pearl of an album. (www.lindapurl.com)