Blossom Dearie

The American Songbook in London: Janet Seidel [A Tribute to Blossom Dearie]

Reviewed by: Michael Darvell

A Tribute to Blossom Dearie (1924-2009)

Music and/or lyrics by Blossom Dearie, Linda Alpert, Johnny Mercer, Vincent Youmans & Irving Caesar, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Harold Arlen & E. Y. Harburg, Tunik and Vinever, Irving Kahal & Harry Richman, Dave Frishberg & Bob Dorough, John Wallowitch, Murray Grand, Michel Legrand, Cy Coleman & Carolyn Leigh, and Janet Seidel

• Janet Seidel – Singer & Pianist
• David Seidel – Double bass
• Chuck Morgan – Guitar & Ukulele

Pizza on the Park, Knightsbridge, London

Sunday, May 10, 2009

The American jazz singer, pianist and cabaret performer Blossom Dearie, who died in February 2009, was a true original. With her light, little-girl voice she sounded unique. Born in a suburb of New York, she studied classical piano but soon turned to jazz. After she left school she moved to New York City and began singing with The Blue Flames with the Woody Herman Orchestra, and the Blue Reys with Alvino Rey’s band. Moving to France in 1952 she started the Blue Stars singing group which subsequently became the Swingle Singers. In Paris she met Belgian flautist and saxophone player Bobby Jaspar who was to become (briefly) her husband. She played the New York nightclub circuit and made her first appearance in London in 1966 at Ronnie Scott’s. She regularly returned to London for the next thirty years, playing at Ronnie’s, Pizza on the Park and latterly The Green Room at the Café Royal.

Blossom Dearie had an intimate style of performance: a light, breathy voice with an almost whispered delivery that took its audience into its confidence. She sang many songs but favoured those that were written for her by the likes of Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg, John Wallowitch and Johnny Mercer. She also wrote for herself and collaborated with many lyricists. She was great friends with many jazz legends such as Miles Davis and Gil Evans. She eventually started her own record label, Daffodil Records, so that she could control the content and the marketing of her output. Apart from her television work she contributed to the soundtracks of several films. An abiding image of her, though, is seated at the keyboard in a supper club, singing close into the microphone, performing the idiosyncratic material that made her reputation and gave her a following for over fifty years.

Janet Seidel is a Sydney-based singer and pianist who has been performing jazz-oriented material and the Great American Songbook since high-school and university days. She was inspired by Blossom Dearie, in particular her record of originals, “Blossom Dearie Sings". Janet’s voice is similar in timbre to that of Blossom. In her cabaret tribute and on her “Dear Blossom” CD she recreates Blossom’s style of delivery without slavishly making it an imitation. It is more an impression of the great and original singer. It is good to have a reminder of the jazz musician’s work and to have somebody else carrying on the tradition.

Seidel is joined on her UK tour by her brother David and Chuck Morgan, both excellent musicians who fit together sympathetically. Seidel demonstrates Blossom’s versatility in her choice of songs, opening with ‘Surrey with the Fringe on Top’ (from “Oklahoma!”) which Blossom made truly her own, as a romantic ballad. ‘Tea for two’ is a song which Janet finds particularly moving even though its words were originally meant to be a dummy lyric, a way of seeing how the melody goes with words against it. As it happens lyricist Irving Caesar did not get around to changing them for Vincent Youmans’s music and thus a classic song was born.

‘I’m shadowing you’ is a song that Blossom wrote with Johnny Mercer which is a satirical slant on the work of J. Edgar Hoover and the CIA. Even in something quite serious Blossom enjoyed herself. Janet also sings Michel Legrand’s ‘Once upon a Summertime’, for which Mercer wrote the English lyrics. ‘My attorney Bernie’ is one that Janet, assuming the mantle of Blossom, does in such a sweet and direct way, that it becomes the epitome of charm. There are laughs in John Wallowitch’s ‘Bruce’, about a confused young man who doesn’t quite know which sex to dress as. You feel that Blossom would not have been judgmental, and Janet conveys the sympathy felt for the subject in an awkward situation.

There’s lots more to savour here such as Blossom’s tributes to John Lennon and Georgie Fame, and Janet reveals just what a spirited yet gentle performer she is. Her song to Blossom gives her album its title. As she says: “my song is a tribute to the gentle voice, meticulous and unique artist who so captivated me back in 1975 when I heard her as support artist for Stephane Grapelli in Adelaide’s Festival Theatre.”

Hopefully Janet Seidel will return to the UK after her current tour. Apart from her Blossom Dearie tribute Janet is also a major jazz artist in her own right.

Janet Seidel presents Dear Blossom at Pizza on the Park, Knightsbridge, London, on 17 & 18 May and at the Kendal Jazz Club on 13 May, Thoresby Riding Hall on 16 May, Lyth Arts Centre on 20 May, Glasgow Recital Hall on 24 May; Petham Village Hall, Canterbury on 27 May, and Fleece Jazz at Kersey Mill, Suffolk on 29 May

Pizza on the Park bookings: 08456 027 017

American Songbook in London

Kendal Jazz Club

Thoresby Riding Hall

Fleece Jazz at Kersey Mill

Janet Seidel

The album "Dear Blossom" is on the La Brava Music label (LB0064)

Janet Seidel Trio, City Halls Recital Room, Glasgow

The Herald

26 May 2009

Alison Kerr

Star rating: ****

Anyone who considered and rejected the notion of attending the Glasgow debut of

Australian singer-pianist Janet Seidel on Sunday night should really be kicking themselves for missing out on an evening of first-class entertainment.

Seidel, who was accompanied by her regular guitarist Chuck Morgan and her bassist brother David Seidel, immediately won over the crowd at the Recital Room with her sunny disposition and exquisite, crystal clear vocals. The influences may be Blossom Dearie and Peggy Lee, but it was Julie London - albeit with a wider range and more power - whom Seidel's soft and gentle voice instantly brought to mind.

The theme of the evening was the late American singer-pianist Blossom Dearie, and Seidel lived up to her promise of performing Dearie's material - both her original songs and the standards she favoured - without imitating her. Only on the her own tribute song Dear Blossom did she have a go at what she cleverly described as Dearie's "fairy voice" (thankfully, because a little of it goes a long way).

That said, Seidel clearly shares an impish sense of humour with her idol: this was a gig with lots of laughs, thanks to such witty songs as I'm Hip, Peel Me a Grape and, especially, the hilarious Pro Musica Antiqua. Other highlights included lovely versions of It Might As Well Be Spring (partly sung in French), a Mancini medley and Tea for Two.

Seidel is clearly a class act but not so overly polished that she seems to be merely going through the motions. And if the audience's enthusiastic reaction is anything to go by, this first visit to Glasgow certainly won't be her last.

BLOSSOM DEARIE April 29, 1926 - February 2009

New York: Feb. 7, 2009: Legendary songwriter/singer Blossom Dearie died peacefully in her Greenwich Village home following a lengthy illness. She was 84 years old. Her longtime manager/representative Donald Schaffer said she died of natural causes.

Ms. Dearie was always known for her girlish voice and writing urbane songs about love and humor and collaborations with the likes of Cy Coleman and Johnny Mercer. Her last professional engagement was at Danny's Skylight Room (now closed) on Restaurant Row where she performed regularly for seven years through 2006.

Born Marguerite Blossom Dearie in East Durham, New York on April 29, 1926, and after studying classical music, began her career in earnest as a teen when she switched from classical piano to jazz. She moved to New York City after graduating high school to pursue a serious music career. Initially, she began singing with groups such as The Blue Flames with The Woody Herman Orchestra and another group called the The Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey's Band) before embarking on a solo career.

In 1952, she moved to Paris where she shared an apartment with rising jazz singer Annie Ross. Soon, she formed a vocal group called The Blue Stars. In 1954, the group had a hit with a French language version of "Lullaby of Birdland." In time, the group would become The Swingle Sisters. While living in Paris, she met her future husband, a Belgian flutist and saxophonist named Bobby Jaspar. On her first solo album, released in France, she played piano but did not sing. Her most famous song of that period was titled, "The Riviera," co-written and composed with Cy Coleman and Joseph McCarthy in 1956.

Returning to New York in the late '50's, she recorded six albums on the Verve label through the early sixties. Most were recorded using a trio or quartet. "Today" talk show host Dave Garroway was an early fan and featured her on the program several times. Her fan base was rabid and growing by then. In 1962, she recorded a song for a radio show for Hires Root Beer. Its popularity was such that it led to the LP, "Blossom Dearie Sings Rootin' Songs." In 1964, she recorded her best known album for Capitol Records, "May I Come In?" which was recorded with a full orchestra. It was during this time that Ms. Dearie started performing in supper clubs in New York where she began honing her distinctive singing style. In 1966, she made an appearance at Ronnie Scott's night club in London and quickly became a popular attraction there. She also gained notoriety for frequent appearances with Dudley Moore and Peter Cook on television. Also while in London, she went on to record four albums on the Fontana label.

In 1974, she established her own record label, Daffodil Records. This allowed her complete artistic, recording and distribution control over her growing cache of material. Through the years, she also appeared on many television programs most notably the children's series called "Schoolhouse Rock." Here, many of her pieces were co-written with Bob Dorough. Her child-like voice can be heard on "Mother Necessity," "Figure Eight" and "Unpack Your Adjectives." Her distinctive voice can also be heard on soundtracks of several films including, "Kissing Jessica Stein," "My Life," "Without Me," "The Squid and the Whale" and "The Adventures of Felix." She also recorded with several musicians including Bob Dorough and Lyle Lovett.

In 2007, Australian singer Kylie Minogue said that Blossom Dearie was one of her strongest influences.

Her musical sensibilities were always rooted in jazz as well as popular song, but her voice and style were uniquely hers ("chic, sleek and squeaky-clean, a voice in a million" said Leonard Feather in the Los Angeles Times). She often toured in Europe, Australia and across the globe performing her light-hearted, fanciful and funny songs for sophisticated audiences. Her very special repertoire ranged from Gershwin, Porter, Rodgers and Hart and Johnny Mercer favorites to comic gems by John Wallowitch and Dave Frishberg and many romantic ballads she composed herself to lyrics by Jack Segal.

Early in her New York Career she recorded six albums for Norman Granz's Verve. The following four have been re-released: "Blossom Dearie," "Once Upon A Summertime," Give Him The Ooh-La-La," and "Sings Comden and Green," and "Verve Jazz Masters 51: Blossom Dearie."

Since 2002, "Soubrette Sings Broadway Hit Songs," and "My Gentleman Friend." have been available on her Daffodil Records. Rex Reed called her "one of New York's treasures," in the New York Observer, while Rogers Whittaker of The New Yorker asserted that her performances range "from the meticulous to the sublime." And Blossom always said about her songs, "They appeal to all ages."

She is survived by a brother named Barney from New York State. Funeral plans have not been announced.

Download Janet's tribute song to Blossom Dearie written in 2004

Janet's trio tribute to icon Blossom Dearie, launched in June 2004, has already enjoyed sell out seasons at National Press Club, Canberra; Adelaide Festival Theatre and Woodfire Cabaret in Sydney.

'Someone should send Janet Seidel flowers for her delicate and engaging tribute to a truly eccentric music talent, the ageless Blossom Dearie. She takes a representative sample from her catalogue and sings with a touch of the breathy finesse that characterises a Dearie song. Seidel is a very fine singer in a very cool way with a light touch on the keys.'

- Review from the Adelaide Advertiser

The show can be two 45 minute sets with a 20 minute interval or one 90 minute set.

Blossom Dearie has been an inspiration to Janet since her High School and University days.

Here is an excerpt from an article she wrote for the Melbourne Sun Herald:

Among my earliest jazz record purchases was 'Blossom Dearie sings' an album of originals: delightfully witty songs which seemed like an extension of her intimate style of singing.

She used her harmonic knowledge and piano skills to accompany herself and proceeded to captivate the huge theatre and make each song a work of art. Whether it was a Rodgers and Hart show tune or one of her poignant or funny tunes, or Dave Frishburg's 'My Attorney Bernie' or 'The Pro Musica Antiqua' it was obvious to all that her 'less is more' delivery was superb.

I have seen her since then in concert but never as wonderful as this night. It's a cliché but on seeing her I thought: 'That's just what I want to do for the rest of my life'.

I understood that by using my naturally pure but not overly powerful voice I could communicate my love for subtle and well written songs by the often overlooked method of letting the song sing itself.

Song List:

• Dear Blossom
• Surrey with the Fringe on top
• Down with love
• Pro Musica Antiqua
• Moonlight Savin’ Time
• It might as well be spring
• Comment Allez-vous?
• I’m Hip
• Once upon a summertime
• Tea for two
• You Fascinate me so
• Gentleman Friend
• Hey John
• Sweet Georgie Fame
• Figure Eight
• I’m shadowing you
• I like you, You’re nice
• Peel Me a grape
• My Attorney Bernie
• Bruce
• It’s too good to talk about now