Janine Gilbert-Carter

If you'd like to hear someone who has the years of experience behind her, check out the music of Janine Gilbert-Carter. She has released a string of albums over the years, the most recent being A Song For You: Live at the 15th Annual FMJS East Jazz Festival (JGC Productions/Jazz Karma).
When it comes to singers like Gilbert-Carter, you can't help but just smile and go along for the voyage she wants to take you on, because not only will it be entertaining, but it can be soothing and fun. She brings out all that she has with performances of "Green Dolphin Street", "Please Send Me Someone To Love", and "When I Fall In Love". A good singer can take you on an emotional rollercoaster, but a great singer is one that can make you feel her emotions and make you believe she is in tap with what's going on in your heart. The bluesier material is where she truly shines, and when she sings the Etta James staple "At Last", it's not only in celebration of the song but it's almost as if she's singing to Sister Etta and telling her "I feel it too". Same can be said for "Someone Else Is Steppin' In", a Denise LaSalle classic that she truly takes home. A very remarkable talent.
- John Book

There was a tender atmosphere in the hall, largely due to the sincere performances, despite some technical difficulties involving the house lighting. Highlights include the rendition of "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" by Kelly, a 15-year old wunderkind. A wheel chair bound Ron Kearns, a 30-year veteran of the Montgomery County Public School System, gave a passionate performance of "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," a favorite of Wells. Harold Mann brought a rarely seen sense of wit to his drumming that put smiles on everyone's faces. And of course, the evening would not have been complete without the vocalists, of whom Janine Gilbert-Carter stole the show. - Lois Gilbert

Jazz can only endure so many vocal performances that take the art to some interesting and even ground-breaking outer reaches before things must correct themselves with a release or two that are straight down the middle, reminding us how we got there to begin with. Janine Gilbert-Carter fills the bill with a no-nonsense recital of standards that should help any jazz listener understand what Miles Davis was trying to say when he played, “On Green Dolphin Street.”
Gilbert-Carter is backed by a guitar-piano quintet with a reeds front. Her voice is soulful, full of Church, capable of filling sonic space with an aural humidity that is honest what-you-see-is-what-you-get. Nowhere is this better displayed than on Percy Mayfield’s “Please Send Me Someone to Love,” and Etta James’ theme, “At Last.” On both, Paul Carr’s full-bodied tenor caresses Gilbert-Carter’s phrasing, while soloing with great gusto and the occasional crack, always keeping things real. Guitarist Steve Abshire adds tasty chording and six-string filigree. Pianist Chris Grasso can lay the blues on, having certainly listened to Red Garland’s “…Someone to Love” and James’ “At Last.”
The bawdy blues is reserved for sassy Denise LaSalle’s “Someone Else is Steppin’ In’.” Abshire hits his comping stride, compelling the band to greater and greater intensity. These pieces are late in the recital, the earlier positions reserved for ballad, a trinity of which make the fulcrum of the recording. “Green Dolphin Street” is delivered with punch and panache. Carr trades his tenor for the wicked soprano, which he guides serpentine through the standard. “Street” is followed by a sprite “All of Me.” Grasso’s bouncing intro and deftly light touch disguises the virility of his solo, single notes ringing like a cross between Horace Silver and Gene Harris. The triad of ballads conclude with Leon Russell’s “A Song for You.” Gilbert-Carter waxes emotively, propelled by Chris Grasso’s simple accompaniment.
A Song for You is a meat and potatoes jazz vocals recording, sung by an accomplished artist showing us all how these songs are to be sung.

Track listing: There Is No Greater Love; What A Difference A Day Made; Don't Go To Strangers; Candy; Here's To Life; Green Dolphin Street; All Of Me; A Song For You; - C. Michael Bailey

Janine Gilbert-Carter's "A Song for You," recorded live at the 15th annual East Coast Jazz Festival. Ably abetted by Steve Abshire's supple guitar underpinning, Paul Carr's robust tenor and soprano saxophones and a solid rhythm section anchored by pianist Chris Grasso, Gilbert-Carter focuses on such romantic standards as the majestic Dinah Washington chestnut "What a Difference a Day Made," a swinging "All of Me" and "Here's to Life," a serene affirmation closely associated with Washington jazz legend Shirley Horn. But Gilbert-Carter also dips into such modern texts as Elton John and Bernie Taupin's title track and shows her bluesy side on the sly "Someone Else Is Steppin' In," closing with "At Last," a song that demands the full, exhausting emotional commitment evident in Gilbert-Carter's nearly seven-minute testimonial.


-- Mike Joyce

Appearing Friday at the Tribute to Ronnie Wells at Strathmore.
- Mike Joyce

vocalist Janine Gilbert-Carter, another Wells protege, certainly left a strong impression. She contributed the evening's most stirring performances, singing two blues, including "Stormy Monday," with great assurance and resounding power.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/22/AR2007072201151.html?tid=informbox - Mike Joyce - Washington Post

Janine Gilbert-Carter - A Song For You 4/4

O's Notes: Janine is singing in front of a quintet as a part of the East Coast Jazz Festival. She sings from her soul and is shadowed nicely by Paul Carr (sax) on "Please Send Me Someone To Love". It is one of a dozen bluesy ballads associated with the legendary singers who Gilbert-Carter modeled herself after. This is a lively performance. All of the musicians are into the experience and their enthusiasm flows into the audience
- D. Oscar Groomes

Ms. Gilbert-Carter has been hanging local awards on her DC-area wall for a few years now.
It's about time wider audiences begin hearing about her, too.

Ms. Gilbert-Carter possesses a powerfully first-rate voice, and this is a nice collection of standards that showcases her voice well. The backing group - Chris Grasso on piano (nice solo on "What A Difference A Day Made"), Gavin Fallow on bass, Clyde Adams on percussion, Steve Abshire on guitar, and Paul Carr on sax - each take nice turns without overpowering Ms. Gilbert-Carter.

I particularly liked Mr. Abshire's solo on "When I Fall In Love." Good stuff.
Other favorites include "Candy," with a nice solo by Mr. Carr on Tenor Sax. Ms. Gilbert-Carter is able to make the ballads touchable, and her gospel background lets her blow the windows out when it's called for.

iTunable - go listen. I think you'll like!

Highly recommended.
Three microphones (out of four)
- Doug Boynton
(06/17/07)


- Girlsingers.org

DVD Title: "A Song For You" Live at the East Coast Jazz Festival

Year: 2006

Record Label: Jazz Karma Records

Style: Jazz DVD / Video

Musicians: Janine Gilbert-Carter (vocals), Paul Carr (saxophone), Gavin Fallow (bass), Steve Abshire (guitar), Clyde Adams (drums), and Chris Grasso (piano)

Review: Janine Gilbert-Carter is a journeyman jazz singer who does everything well.
She delivers the goods even if it is without the fanfare given to lesser singers. Like many other singers, she began singing in church and has released both gospel and jazz CDs. Winner of the 2002 Absolute Jazz competition, the Pennsylvania native regularly performs around the Washington, D.C., area.

Live at the East Coast Jazz Festival captures the veteran vocalist in an intimate performance that showcases her smooth, honey voice and a winning delivery that never sounds phony or forced.

This DVD features Gilbert-Carter performing a set of 13 chestnuts, ranging from Dinah Washington’s “What A Difference A Day Makes” to Shirley Horn’s “Here’s To Life.” It’s a well-sequenced set that maintains momentum throughout the show. For example, a slow, bluesy rendition of “A Song For You” is followed by the up-tempo “No Greater Love.”

Although the set list is stacked with well-traveled numbers, Gilbert-Carter manages to inject enough skill and enthusiasm into the songs to make them fresh. “When I Fall In Love” is given a nice mid-tempo treatment, and “All of Me” is a breezy ride from start to finish. Gilbert-Carter adds a bit of a gospel touch to “Please Send Me Someone To Love,” making it one of the evening’s highlights.

The DVD lacks any extras, but it nicely captures a solid singer performing a solid set of songs. Gilbert-Carter is backed by Paul Carr on sax, Gavin Fallow on bass, Steve Abshire on guitar, Clyde Adams on drums, and Chris Grasso on piano.



Tracks: What A Difference A Day Makes, Don’t Go To Strangers, Stormy Monday, Candy, Here’s To Life, Candy, Here’s To Life, Green Dolphin Street, All Of Me, A Song For You, No Greater Love, Please Send Me Someone To Love, Steppin’ Out, When I Fall In Love, and At Last



Artist's Website: http://www.janinecarter.com

Reviewed by: Donna Kimura

- Reviewed by: Donna Kimura