Updated 1 March 2002
From 'Sydney Images'
February 2002
Easy on the ears and pleasantly uplifting Love Letters is the product of the happy confluence of a number of elements.
The lovely lyrical voice of Sydney vocalist and pianist Janet Seidel and the resonant soulful sometimes playful always inventive fills and solos of American Harmonica player William Galison; a large representation of songs by Hoagy Carmichael (and friends); and the talents of local jazz guitarist Chuck Morgan, drummer Adam Pache and bassist David Seidel who also produced the album.
Standout tracks include the atmospheric Baltimore Oriole and easy swinging Nature Boy solos by Seidel on piano and Morgan on guitar flourishes courtesy Galison: and a sublime treatment of Ellington's In a Sentimental Mood.
Alan Bargebuhr in Cadence magazine USA said in Feb 2001:'It is simply more of the exquisite singing......as if to validate her credentials as Australia's latter day Doris Day.'
Scott Barker in Tuscon Lifesyle magazine USA said in March 2001: 'Australian vocalist/pianist Janet Seidel is a true blue jazz baby. She's been compared to everyone from Doris Day to Peggy lee and it's definitely fair to say that her understanding of the classics is equal to that of those legendary greats. She manages the hat trick of sounding flirtatious, confident and even wryly humorous, lending an extra depth to the songs.'
David Nathan in 'All about Jazz' USA : Online guide in 2001 said: Whatever language she chooses to sing in Seidel makes any song sound better than it should. Seidel is the vocal counterpart of Paul Desmond who was reknowned for his comfortable style and respect for the melody line...Seidel is at home in a number of styles. She can lull you with a sentimental ballad and then get naively erotic with a blues, Irrespective of their genre all songs are delivered in a delightful, ear catching, engaging manner.
20.1.01 review from Polish Jazz reviewer Piotr Iwicki 'She is the most popular Jazz singer in Australia, I proudly compare her to Diana Krall. Yet she is not an identical copy of the popular Canadian. Janet has made an outstanding contribution to Jazz, and her jazz is a show of her knowledge, versatility, and an unbelievable deep feeling and through this Miss Seidel balances between the ecstatic Shirly Horn, and vocalists Doris Day and Peggy Lee.'
Sydney singer Janet Seidel and New York harmonica player William Galison have been delivering a simple message to Queensland jazz audiences: two distinctive voices can ignite and fire each other.
Seidel and Galison have been touring South-East Queensland, performing for the Noosa Jazz Action Society, the Toowoomba Jazz Club and the Brisbane Jazz Club to launch their CD (Love Letters, La Brava Records).
Their tour culminated with their final Queensland performance on Monday night for the Gold Coast Jazz Action Society.
The swinging duo had the added advantage of tight and expert backing from Seidel's regular working band (bassist brother David Seidel, guitarist Chuck Morgan and drummer Adam Pache) for Sunday's performance at the Brisbane Jazz Club.
Seidel now has eight CDs, several prestigious ARIA endorsements and years of paying her dues behind her. Galison has recording credits with Peggy Lee, Sting, Les Paul and Astrid Gilberto.
He also records his own CDs on Verve (including Overjoyed, voted No. 6 in the US contemporary jazz charts), and regularly gigs around New York as a jazz and session player.
About her own success, which will soon include a lucrative tour of Japan, and widening exposure to her growing US audiences, Seidel has an easy explanation: "I gave up on Elton John, found the best material I could from the great American songbook, and learned one very important thing - there is still a place in the musical world for a melody singer," she said.
"That's where my present and future directions will lie: to sing simply, respect the melody and continue to improve the way I play the chords and harmonies."
Always ready to experiment, Seidel was keen to give Galison equal billing on her new CD as well as on-stage.
"I've always sung and played with horn players, yet I discovered that the harmonica touches people in places that other instruments don't," she said.
The professionalism of both performers rarely flagged in their three generous sets.
Seidel's lyrical understatement consistently shone, beginning with her opening number (a loping, languid, medium-paced And the angels sing). It was also carried through on ballads as well as up-tempo numbers, as she accompanied herself on piano.
Galison, alternating with both diatonic and chromatic harmonicas, expertly showcased the instrument's rich timbre behind Seidel on several ballads and delivered on the instrument's lusty capacity to swing (Lucky's wedding and Some blues).
They capped their performance to a standing ovation, delivering on their salute to trumpeter Chet Baker (Every time we say goodbye), offering Them there eyes as an encore.
She is the most popular Jazz singer in Australia, I proudly compare her to Diana Krall.
Yet she is not an identical copy of the popular American.
Janet has made an outstanding contribution to Jazz, and her jazz is a show of her knowledge, versatility, and an unbelievable deep feeling and through this Miss Seidel balances between the estatic Shirly Horn, and vocalists Doris Day and Peggy Lee.
Not without significance is her chosen arrangement of her band, (from jazz combo to orchestra) which fully fulfills the combination. (Thank you to Kevin Hunt and Col Nolan who plays the forte piano and hammond organ)
Janet has not tried copying famous interpretations of standard jazz.This is proven in her version of 'Love for Sale' in which a slow version of the blues is heard instead of the common quick swing. On her record there are 14 songs which are very pleasent to the ear.
As evidenced in her music she can also play Swing.
Songwriters Monthly USA said:
"Janet has a drop dead gorgeous voice. Her instinct for phrasing and mastery of subtleties will leave you quivering with delight. Highly recommended".David Schwartz's Cabaret Hotline review of the Sydney 2000 Cabaret convention said on 11 July 2000: Janet Seidel, performer in some of Sydney's finest hotels sang a beautiful set of songs associated with the career of Doris Day and made this material seem charming and un-hackneyed. Though this was an excerpt from her show "Doris and Me" Ms Seidel managed to convince us that the performance could stand alone."
Songwriters Monthly USA said:'Janet has a drop dead gorgeous voice. Her instinct for phrasing and mastery of subtelties will leave you quivering with delight. Highly recommended' 5.11.00
Jazz Critic for The Australian, Kevin Jones wrote - 'Janet Seidel is a class singer. Her voice is as pure and warm as a summer breeze.' 29.3.98
Adrian Jackson in the Melbourne Age praised her - 'nimble vocals and unfailing taste.' 2.4.97
Kenny Weir wrote in the Melbourne Herald-Sun - 'Janet Seidel is a singer who swings, caresses thelyrics of great songs with a subtle and sexy vocal magic.'4.3.00
In the UK, Jazz Journal International Bruce Crowther said - 'she sings with seemingly effortless and swinging grace. She displays a lithe and effortless sense of swing: The current leader of a world class pack of Australians.' 30.2.00
David Schwartz in the Cabaret Convention online review wrote - 'Truly elegant styling, a cool professional, one of the treasures of Sydney' 14.6.99
