NICKI ALLAN

REVIEW by Ron Burnett, York Press

The Nicki Allen Sextet, You’re Gonna Hear From Me (33 Records)

Nicki graduated from the Leeds College of Music and quickly became a professional vocalist and voice teacher, working in pop, jazz and musical theatre.

As principal voice coach at the Royal Northern College of Music and visiting lecturer at Chester and Manchester University, she still finds the time tour her jazz sextet and their confident professionalism on this 13-track album is testament to the virtues of a working band on the road.

Pianist Graham Hearne and drummer Ronnie Bottomley are fellow faculty members at LCM. Thanks to them, the great American songbook programme will not frighten your granny and their arrangements lend a bright freshness to the album.

The tight horns voicing on Get Out Of Town (Bottomly) and the Latin-tinged You Go To My Head (Hearne) are an update of the invigorating efforts of Shorty Rogers.

Almost Like Being In Love and Nicki’s own composition, Working It Out, a stirring jazz waltz, are scored by Phil Steel.

Nicki arranges her own composition, Better Days, with voice and piano trio. Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now becomes an other-wordly, ethereal vocal backed by subdued, bowed bass and distant-in-the-mix trumpet. Pin back your ears: this is the best of Yorkshire jazz.