Stevie Vallance
A collection of projects by Stevie Vallance's production company.
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by John Reid
Vallance is a vocalist in real life and a good one, too. Her CD, Practically Naked, kicks off with a gentle ballad, "Where Do You Start," and I was immediately struck by how different her singing is. There are several standards here: "My Funny Valentine," "Gone With the Wind," "Lullaby of Birdland," "Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." She takes on a great singer's test piece here, the epic "Lush Life" by Duke Ellington's alter ego Billy Strayhorn, and she impressively makes it her own. On Horace Silver's "Doodlin'" she exhibits fine voice control in moving back and forth across the break between chest and head voices in a kind of yodeling fashion, a technique that has been mastered by Aaron Neville among others. Another tune of note is the lesser known Lennon and McCartney song, "In My Life." She is backed by a Vancouver band led by pianist Michael Creber and including ex-skywalk bassist Rene Worst, drummer Buff Allen, and saxophonist Jim Pinchin. Before she leaves town, you can hear Vallance performing her jazz repertoire... in a benefit for the Humane Society. Also, if you are interested in knowing more about her or getting the CD, check her Web site at www.stevievallance.com
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