Clare Teal: Get Happy
Friday, 22 Feb 2008 17:10
Get Happy is a collection of jazz, swing and modern classics.
W14, out February 25th
In a nutshell…
Up-beat, Easy listening, In-offensive, Polished
What's it all about?
Get Happy is, as titled, a call to happiness from Clare Teal, one of the UK's most versatile female vocalists. Its 13 tracks feature cover versions of jazz, swing and easy listening classics and three songs of her own. It includes her interpretation of Irvin Berlin's classic Cheek to Cheek, Cole Porter's Begin the Beguine and Neil Sedaka's Breaking up is hard to do.
Who's it by?
Clare Teal grew up obsessed with the music of the 30s 40s and 50s and got her first job singing jingles. She released three albums under independent label Candid before signing to Sony in 2004 when she released her debut album Don't Talk. The album received widespread acclaim and topped the UK jazz charts, leading Sir Michael Parkinson to describe her as "one of the best vocal talents to emerge from the UK in a long, long while". Get Happy is her eight studio album and first release under a new contract on the W14 record label.
As an example…
"Forget your troubles, common get happy, you better chase all your cares away, shout hallelujah, come on get happy, get ready for the judgement day."
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Considering her profile, previous successes and the album's content, this release should be warmly welcomed by critics and fans alike. However, with ten cover versions, it is unlikely to cause a stir or write a new chapter of jazz history. Destined for hotel lounges and dinner parties.
What the others say
Described by one reviewer as "a beautifully balanced album" and "a more realistic representation of Clare's superb live performances". Her three songs "are surely destined to become classics and covered in their own right".
So is it any good?
Effortlessly and sensitively delivered, Clare Teal's collection of cover versions will no doubt find its way onto many fans' shelves. At home with jazz, swing and easy listening classics, her voice somehow manages to hold not just individual notes but also syllables.
It is hard to remain untouched by this albums' happiness, although there was one drawback. Taking on Van Morrison's Moondance was a gamble that failed to pay off. Both Clare and her band suffered an episode of Jazz Tourette's, and dragged it through a tortuous extra minute - death by bebop.
Despite this, Clare's enjoyment in recording flows throughout every track. From the flirtatious Love for Sale to her own fresh and up-beat All for Love - she delivers every vowel with clarity and feeling.
Of her own three tracks, High Love is perhaps the most impressive, both lyrically and musically.
If only she could have avoided the moon and stayed on her own tracks with the bebop, this album would have received greater praise.
6.5/10
Mark Pawlak 
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