REVIEW EXCERPTS: SPRING ~ Light Out of Darkness = Susan Krebs Chamber Band (2018)
Vocalist Susan Krebs has carved a niche for herself as one of the premier singers in chamber
jazz, a hybrid style characterized by classical influences, intimate recording quality, delicate
musical interplay and poetic lyrical content. She’s a silky-toned performer with an intuitive
melodic sense and a literary way with words, and she’s been instrumental in ushering chamber
jazz into the 21st century. ~ Brian Zimmerman/JAZZIZ Magazine
“Krebs is already well known for a bold soul and fearless creative muse, two characteristics she
draws upon deeply as she recasts the songs of spring, emphasizing the season's reputation for
renewal and regeneration… First rate music making, this.” ~ C.Michael Bailey/All About Jazz
“Krebs has an intriguing sound; where appropriate she can be wryly amusing or slyly knowing,
and she is always highly musical… A very good album that will appeal not only to those who
enjoy jazz singing, but also to a wider audience. ~ Warmly recommended.” ~ Bruce Crowther/Jazz
Journal/UK
“Like a really great book, you won’t be able to stop listening until the last note – it’s
spellbinding…Susan’s enchanting Chamber Band’s treasure of an album.” ~ Contemporary
Fusion Reviews
Krebs’ strong, passionate voice bursts through the beauty of her latest release. Her chamber
band takes jazz to a new level. ~ Bob Leggett/Indie Voice
Anyone soulful and spiritually intuitive enough to celebrate the season of renewal by
juxtaposing a bluesy Ray Charles classic alongside fresh, inspired arrangements of pieces by
Vivaldi and Stravinsky deserves our deepest love and attention… Working with her unique four
piece jazz chamber band – Krebs mines the jazz, classical and Broadway realms to create a
beautiful story. ~ JW Vibe/Jonathan Widran)
“Creative interpretations by vocalist Susan Krebs, as she surrounds herself in a pastoral garden
with Rich Eames, Rob Lockart, Scott Breadman and Luis Mascaro. Her voice has a cheerful,
parloresque wisp to it… Highly recommended for the music, vocals and mood.” ~ George
Harris/JazzWeekly.com (Ringer of the Week)
trio WoRK CD Review Quotes:
“Together, this band of three creates a unique listening experience with creative arrangements,
awesome musicianship and a vocalist who’s unafraid to jump off any musical precipice without
a parachute.” (Dee Dee McNeil/Musical Memoirs)
Pure lightness and freewheeling magic in each re-imagining.” (Jonathan Widran/JW Vibe)
This is about as elegant as music gets… (Making A Scene)
REVIEW EXCERPTS: Simple Gifts = Susan Krebs Chamber Band (2015)
Potent, fecund, and essential… 5 STARS ~ C. Michael Bailey/All About Jazz
An album to ponder vignette by vignette. ~ Carlo Wolff/DOWNBEAT
A new Jazz paradigm… fresh and beautiful. ~ Robert Nicosia/Music Man Blog
Virtuosic spontaneity, tempered and 'cooked' by riveting lead vocalist. ~ C.J. Bond/Jazz
Music Blog
Like food cooked over a slow Bohemian fire, Simple Gifts is savory and satisfying...
Honed in small venues and living rooms, Simple Gifts is an album to ponder vignette by
vignette. ~ Carlo Wolff / DownBeat
Krebs' recording is that potent, fecund, and essential… an extension and a perfection of
that effort to push jazz boundaries into alternate areas… I do not anticipate hearing a
more satisfying or original recording the rest of this year. ***** 5 Stars
~ C. Michael Bailey/All About Jazz
Virtuosic spontaneity, tempered and 'cooked' by riveting lead vocalist Susan Krebs… she
eschews no vocal challenge: demonstrating enviable pitch range, extraordinary
intonation, and a finely tuned sense of vocal dynamics…There is no escaping the magic
embedded in these “simple gifts”, as Krebs makes her songs personal, authentic and
unforgettable. ~ C.J. Bond/Jazz Music Blog
Inventive arrangements and concepts…there’s magic to be heard.
~ Dan Bilawsky/All About Jazz
The Susan Krebs Chamber Band takes the classic Chamber Music concept, infuses
wonderful modern day musical thinking and performing and suddenly it becomes a new
Jazz paradigm… I can only describe the music on this CD as fresh and beautiful.
~ Robert Nicosia/Music Man Blog
Krebs and her band sound like no one else in today’s jazz world… the vibe here is
contemporary jazz drawing from many influences from the past… Susan is an excellent
singer, blessed with a strong voice that understands jazz nuance.
~ John Sanders/Jazz Music Archives
The sessions must be fabulous over at Susan’s Salon…Wonderful new release from
Susan Krebs and highly recommended. 4 Stars
~ Matthew Thiel/Jazz Music Archives
REVIEW EXCERPTS for Everything Must Change (2011)
A jazz singer...steeped in experience with a no fear soul...
The double-shot of experience and exuberance is what characterizes Krebs' art, and she
spreads both liberally on Everything Must Change... (C. Michael Bailey/All About Jazz)
Krebs has the latitude to make the music she wants to make and add her own special
sauce as and when needed. Here we have an intimate, gutsy jazz vocal date...and she
once again shows that she can handle any facet of jazz singing. (Chris Spector/Midwest
Record)
Krebs' music wraps itself around the listener like a big hug...
Krebs displays her love of good songs, as well as the emotional and symbiotic
relationship that she intimately has with them. Throughout the entire set she exudes
confidence, delivering the musical goods...a sincere singer whose ballads and sense of
swing remind me of Shirley Horn. (Joe Ross/BlogCritics.org)
Her ability to own the melody and convey the lyric with conviction and originality
cements the notion you are witnessing a true song stylist...
Everything Must Change is truly a jazz offering that stands out head and shoulders
above the plethora of vocal jazz CDs...each track has its own special fabric that weaves
the entire release together with the one undeniable quality, Krebs vocals. Her
interpretations truly push and pull each composition to its fullest potential engaging the
listener’s to delve further into the message of change. (Constance Tucker/All About
Vocals)
REVIEW Excerpts for JAZZ AVIARY (2007):
In JAZZ AVIARY, Krebs has created a rare and mesmerizing creative experience. (Don
Heckman/Int'l Review of Music)
Irresistible offerings from a formidable jazz artist. (All Music Guide)
Krebs' interpretive passion, intelligence, and love for the project can be heard
throughout. (JAZZ IMPROV MAGAZINE)
Blessedly free of affectation, Krebs rivals Karrin Allyson and Diana Krall in her ability to
climb inside a lyric and make it seem she's lived there her entire life. (JAZZ TIMES)
Krebs and her amazing musicians have created something of singular beauty. (LA Jazz
Scene)
...a series of delicate yet masterfully constructed origami creatures. (JAZZ TIMES)
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