Kathleen Kolman

New England is now home for many excellent vocalists on the distaff side like Donna Byrne, Kris Adams, Krisanthi Pappas, Carol Akerson and Rebecca Parris, among others. With her inaugural album, The Dreamer, Kathleen Kolman has earned a spot on that roster. The album's play list avoids the comfortable standard classic material of Cole Porter, the Gershwin Brothers, Johnny Mercer and JimmyVan Heusen. Instead her musical agenda is comprised of tunes which haven't received the same recording attention as the more famous entries in the Great American Songbook, but which nonetheless attract performers known for their good taste. Kolman favors songs that lean toward the melancholy which suit her full, deep voice as on the doleful "Where Do You Start." Her rendition of "Detour Ahead" ranks up there with recordings by Billie Holiday, Terri Thornton and Jeri Southern. Room has been made on this track for a short but tasteful drum solo by Les Harris, Jr. The album's opener "Let's Get Lost" is done medium tempo and showcases Mark Shilansky's spare, minimalist but tuneful piano. Kolman's comfort with Latin rhythms is apparent as she whisks through Jobim's "The Dreamer" and the Menescal/Boscoli - penned "Little Boat." On the first, Charlie Jennison's Herbie Mann-like flute gets center stage attention and, on the second, his smooth, in tune soprano saxophone. The passion Kathleen's voice makes "As Long as He Needs Me" a truly emotional experience as Jennison's stirring tenor sax optimizes Kolman's dramatic expression, making this track one of the highlights of the album. Sensual anticipation is the mood on "Fever" with Jennison's tenor again helping to sustain the mood. Up tempo material is not entirely ignored as Kolman swings on "You Hit the Spot," a ditty written by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel for the 1936 film Collegiate. Kolman chose excellent area musicians to accompany her to the studio to do this album who share credit for its success. ~ Mark Shilansky's piano is sympathetic with and supportive of Kolman throughout. ~ Flautist and sax man Charlie Jennison's superior solo work has already been mentioned. ~ John Lockwood is a bass player of choice in the New England area. His virtuosity is put on display on the album's coda, "Triste." Lockwood, along with — Les Harris' drums give real meaning to the old rubric that "if you get the rhythm section right, playing the song is easy". The Dreamer is a fine out of the box effort by Kathleen Kolman and is recommended. ~ Dave Nathan, All Music Guide

ARTISTS KATHLEEN HAS SHARED THE STAGE WITH: Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, Warren Wolf, Marianne Methany-Katz, Mark Shilansky, John Lockwood, Les Harris Jr., Charlie Jennison, Harvey Diamond, John Funkhouser, Jerry Sabatini, Mark Poniatowski, Rick Dimuzio, Vince Evans, Craig Allston, Todd Marcus, Eric Kennedy, Rick Udler, Bruno Luccini, The Seacoast Big Band