Is It Me...? Polly Gibbons

• 1 Ability to Swing 05:45
• 2 You Can't Just 04:04
• 3 Sack Full of Dreams 05:21
• 4 Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams 04:12
• 5 Wild is the Wind 05:56
• 6 Basin St. Blues 05:44
• 7 Midnight Prayer 03:42
• 8 Is It Me...? 04:55
• 9 Pure Imagination 05:39
• 10 Dr. Feelgood 05:06
• 11 I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart 04:34
• 12 Don't Be on the Outside 04:26
• Total Runtime 59:24

Info zu Is It Me...?

With soulful vocals and an innate blues sensibility, Polly Gibbons has been likened to many jazz and soul greats, but with her own unique style. Playing with her versatility as a performer is what her new album is all about.

Polly, who recently was nominated Vocalist of the Year by Jazz FM, has been a staple of the UK Jazz Scene since the mid-2000s. In commenting on her new album, she states: “It’s a massive melting pot, varied but beautifully linked because I love every style I’m singing. Jazz would never have happened without the blues, which came out of the gospel tradition – and blues is the foundation of contemporary Western culture and pop/soul music, and so on.”

The album’s set list mines many unusual and unexpected, but supremely cool sources, including three originals she penned with Pearson; “Midnight Prayer” (which earned first place in the singer-songwriter category of the 2014 Indie International Songwriting Contest), “You Can’t Just,” and “Is It Me…?” She opens the album with a vibrant, jazzy twist on “The Ability To Swing,” and brings a bluesy elegance to the hopeful theme of “Sack Full of Dreams.” She taps into the Great American Songbook with “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams” and Duke Ellington’s “I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart,” a track on which Polly and L.A. studio trumpeter Willie Murillo are showcased.

"Possessing a powerhouse voice and equally gifted ability to delivery in multiples of genres, Gibbons is doing her country proud as an ambassador of high talent. A joy to listen to from beginning to end, and the variance of styles keeps the listener engaged. A true treat to be complete." (allaboutvocals.com)

Polly Gibbons, vocals
Tamir Hendelman, piano
James Pearson, piano
Shedrick Mitchell, Hammond organ (tracks 3, 7)
Graham Dechter, guitar
Kevin Axt, bass
Ray Brinker, drums
Willie Murillo, trumpet
Vinny Dawson, trumpet
Bob McChesney, trombone
Andy Martin, trombone
Bob Sheppard, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute
Brian Scanlon, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute
Keith Bishop, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute
Tom Peterson, baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone

Polly Gibbons
is one of the most respected and talked about young singer/songwriters of her generation. Nominated for a BBC Jazz Award back in 2006 with no album release to her name, was clear indication of just how special a singer and performer Polly is. Much esteemed by her contemporaries, Polly has built a reputation as being an original and gifted voice. With warm, rich, soulful vocals and an innate blues sensibility, Polly has been likened to many of the jazz and soul greats bringing her own storytelling and earnest depth alongside unique humour and fun to performances. Having developed her craft over the past decade, Polly has performed at all the leading UK jazz clubs, international festivals and is a regular at Ronnie Scott’s performing with the All Stars. My Own Company, her debut UK jazz album with James Pearson, pianist and Musical Director of Ronnie Scott’s, was released to critical acclaim in August 2014 – long overdue, yet not before time, with Polly sounding more beautiful and rarer than ever. The album features original material including Midnight Prayer, co-penned with James Pearson, which won the Indie International Song Writing Competition 2014.

Polly signed to acclaimed US jazz label Resonance Records at the beginning of 2014, and soon after recorded the album ‘Many Faces Of Love’ in Los Angeles with founder and producer George Klabin. Having completed a highly successful preliminary autumn tour in Florida, New York, Boston and Minneapolis, the album was released globally on 4th February 2015.

Polly’s influences are brilliant, broad and inspired ~ from the poetry of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, to the be-bop of Charlie Parker, the deep wails of Mahalia Jackson’s gospel, to the emotional depth of Donny Hathaway, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone; the soul of Marvin Gaye, the blues of Buddy Guy and more contemporary brilliance in the sounds of Prince and D’Angelo.

Booklet für Is It Me...?