John Minnock

A Different Riff: Minnock Sings Shire

Dot Time

Admittedly, it took time to get to this one, still shaken by vocalist John Minnock’s passing in late February. Yes, A Different Riff: Minnock Sings Shire is unfortunately a posthumous release, his fourth album and his third for Dot Time, having covered the earlier two on these pages. We heard Minnock sing the renowned composer David Shire’s songs on both earlier releases, 2020’s Herring Cove and 2022’s Simplicity but this is a full album of Shire’s material, with many songs specifically written for Minnock’s unique delivery. It’s the first time a full album of Shire’s songs has been rendered in a jazz context. As with the other projects, Minnock continues to partner with NEA Jazz Master and soprano saxophonist Dave Liebman who co-produced along with Shire. The rhythm section consists of emerging pianist Sean Mason, bassist Mark Lewandowski and drummer Pablo Eluchans.

By his own admission, Minnock, originally a cabaret singer, was still evolving as a jazz vocalist, but he claimed that this was his best project. If this is your introduction to the vocalist, you’ll quickly note his unique phrasing, emotive delivery, sly wit, and a husky voice that at times has a surprising range. If you’ve listened to his previous albums, you’ll also be struck by his unabashed advocacy of the LGBTQ community. He wasn’t the least bit afraid of expressing his vulnerability, able to offset that with humor and a balance of riveting storytelling and introspective moments. He made melancholy beautiful rather than mournful. Minnock certainly stood apart; there are no convenient reference points.

The 86-year-old Shire is a legend of state and film, with soundtracks that include The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation and Saturday Night Fever and classic songs such as “Starting Here, Starting Now,” most often associated with Barbra Streisand. Pianist Bill Duffy, a longtime collaborator of Minnock’s, contributed five arrangements, beginning with the opener “What About Today?” with lyrics from Richard Maltby, Jr., it’s a piece from 1968, a protest song of sorts, relevant in today’s protest ridden environment with Minnock’s voice rising, strongly accenting the words in the chorus, with Libman mirroring the melody while Lewandowski and Mason match Minnock’s emotive power in their animated turns. Minnock’s comment gives an insight to his personal interpretation, “My interpretation is a bit more introspective than many others – as if for an LGBTQ youth left adrift in the political climate of today – connected, but isolated.”  Duffy arranged the same writing team’s “I Don’t Remember Christmas,” a cabaret tune, given a jazz facelift, a sterling example of how Minnock has transformed his cabaret style to that of a jazz vocalist, spurred on here by the rhythm section.

Those two songs presented remarkable dynamics, but Minnock takes it to a higher level in his unhurried, sublime take on “Autumn,” a duet with Mason, who as young pianist has already supported several jazz vocalists including sensation Samara Joy. While Shire, Maltby Jr. and Duffy are behind these three, Shire also wrote the lyrics for the title track with Duffy arranging, specifically for this project. This presents Minnock’s witty side in music that is intricate but deftly navigated by Minnock, who unleashes energetic scat. Tempo tampers down for “With You, I’m Born Again” as Minnock duets with his friend Deborah Lippman in this sensitive ballad, one of Shire’s most well-known tunes. Humor is on display again on “Back on Base,” a facetious tale about a singer flirting with his bassist, unbeknownst to the latter who is immersed in the music. Obviously, this is a feature for Lewandowski.

“Only When I Laugh” is the fifth tune arranged by Duffy with lyrics again from Maltby Jr. It stems from the film of the same name, one that had one of the first mainstream presentations of a gay character, where neither the film nor the character’s presence was about being gay. This is a standout track that depicts Minnock’s storytelling talent with deep bluesy accompaniment in terrific solos from Liebman and Mason, all culminating in a dynamic finale.

“After All These Years”, was initially recorded on Minnock’s Herring Cove, rendered here in emotion dripping fashion with gripping dynamics in another duet with Mason as Minnock sings about a same-sex couple together for many years, who were finally given the right to marry. Minnock is in a different light in the upbeat, blissful “Only Jazz,” these two representing, along with the title track, compositions where Shire wrote both the music and lyrics. The final vocal is the most challenging one to sing as “Starting Here, Starting Now” was ‘owned’ by Barbra Streisand until now. Minnock put his own distinct coloring on the tune which takes on added gravitas, knowing he’s gone. As a bonus, Shire takes to the piano in a sterling instrumental duet with Leibman on “With You, I’m Born Again,” as Minnock’s way of honoring these two greats.

Minnock, though not nearly as heralded, was great too. All the evidence is right here in his strongest bow.

• Jim Hynes

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