Nancy Reed & Spencer Reed HAPPYING

July 6, 2024

NANCY REED & SPENCER REED

HAPPYING

Reed Jazz

Nancy Reed, bass/vocals; Spencer Reed, guitar/vocals; Bill Goodwin & Neil Braunstein, drums; Dave Liebman, soprano saxophone; Jay Rattman, alto saxophone; Peter Philips, synthesizer; Ed Ludwig, tenor saxophone; Craig Kastelnik, Hammond organ.

Here is a vocal duo, steeped strongly in the prolific bebop era of Jon Hendricks-days. They open with a swinging rendition of “Cheerful Little Earful.” From the beginning, they are harmonically doing their bebop thing. Nancy Reed also sings descant against her husband’s wordless scat singing. Jay Rattman strides onto the set featuring his alto saxophone. Half a century ago, Nancy (a vocalist and bass player) met Spencer Reed, who was also a singer and a guitarist. They met in the Bronx projects and forged both a musical and romantic relationship that has blossomed and grown over the years.

Their rendition of “Whisper Not” is beautiful. Their voices blend like butter and warm toast. Reaching back in time, the Reed’s rejuvenate the pop hit record, “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It is?” once made popular by the Chicago group on their 1969 debut album “Chicago Transit Authority.” Nancy and Spencer make the rock/pop tune sound jazzy.

Nancy has a satin smooth vocal style. Together with Spencer, they have a unique and special tone. I actually listened to this album twice, with a stack of CDs in a pile for my attention glaring at me from my desktop. These two sing like instruments. It was refreshing to hear them. In addition to vocalizing, they both play instruments. That adds to their musicality, doubling the pleasure.

“Happying” is a title as creative as their music. Someone made ‘happy’ a verb and I love that concept. This album is a compilation of three sessions. The first took place in Brooklyn, with the legendary drummer Bill Goodwin on his Trap kit. The second session stemmed from Nancy’s house band at the Hillside Inn Resort and was recorded in their home studio, dating back to the late 1980s. The third recording was made in a home studio session, uplifted and inspired by the NEA jazz Master, saxophonist Dave Liebman, who makes his appearance during their arrangement of “Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?.”

Every song on this album spotlights the comfortable blend of an awesome duo, along with their talented accompanying band. Their harmonies and arrangements are fresh and take me back to the days of the Lambert, Hendricks & Ross vocal jazz. Their music is both modern and historically reminiscent at the same time.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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