david mcleod teaches voice including basic theory, interpretation, and presentation| judging by this album, he practices what he teaches| covering virtually every vocal base from the 1950s to the 1970s, with some modern nuggets thrown in, he joins hammond B-3 organist col nolan for ear-catching vocal renditions as he redefines the meaning of lounge|

Not just the usual one short step from musik, mcleod and nolan have put together a program that covers a variety of styles| "you and me and always" is something right out of motown, replete with a girl group backup — the male australian answer to martha and the vandellas peppered with a dash of the gospel-tinged soul of aretha franklin| This is signifyin' "take me back to the roots" stuff| interested in a little modified doo wop complete with speaking the lyrics? Go to "i'm sorry," the tune that helped make brenda lee and didn't hurt the platters|

ray charles' type R&B is caught in the master's composition "maryanne," where david seidel contributes the rhythm and nolan the blues| an excellent track| on the jazz favorite "blue and sentimental," mcleod sings with that sobbing catch in the voice so common in country| just to make sure that no one misunderstood what he was doing, he moves along with the patsy cline hit "crazy," again with nolan's organ setting mcleod's rendition apart from most other versions|

what makes this session work is not only the impassioned vocalizing of mcleod, but the smearing, soulful hammond organ of nolan| in addition to nolan, maree teinway's piano makes a contribution as on a jazzy, swinging "lullaby of birdland" without either getting overwhelmed by or in the way of the organ| all in all, this is a fine outing and is highly recommended|

 dave nathan| all music guide

you’ve broken out the olives, gin and vermouth…. now for the right music|  enter david mcleod and col nolan|  to sit and listen to, some may find mcleod’s approach a little insipid when there are recordings by billie holiday, guiseppe di stefano, ray  charles or judi connelli around|  but as something comfortable and relaxing – like…well, like stretching out on the couch – this is more than pleasant|  the very hip accompaniment is led by the creeping, swirling sounds of nolan’s mighty hammond organ, supported by drummers ron lemke and hamish stuart, david seidel on bass and guitar, and both nolan and maree steinway on piano| over this cool, spacious, well-recorded backdrop, mcleod croons tunes ranging from count basie’s blue and sentimental to willie nelson’s crazy|  ahhh… ***

smh – the guide

i doubt whether david could argue that this cd consists of middle of the road jazz|  lounge is the hip term for it, of course.  but those into jazz with a twist should not stop reading.  in fact blue lounge offers quite a few endearing surprises|  there is a tender soulfulness apparent on david’s rendering of the classic tunes featured here that elevates the recording far above what one would assume is his competition|  he is able to do this due to his ensemble’s comprehensively engaging musicality and the ease with which they embrace the material|  a little bit funky at times, always composed and pulsing with wit, this is cool jazz rather than lounge, as long as you don’t get hung up on the connotations of the word ‘cool’|  david certainly hasn’t|  oh yeah, and the guy can sing|  or should that be swing?  whatever|                              

blow cd reviews 

craig n. pearce| the drum media

now here’s a cover album done the right way|  aussie jazz singer david mcleod has a stellar voice, and he takes this fantastic collection of songs and nurtures them like little babies with the combination of restraint and passion in his vocals|

the album opens with my love is, and its this track that lets you know that you’re in for a cruisy, jazzy, smoky lounge kind of ride| songs like just for a thrill will make you want to slow dance, and mcleod’s unique interpretation of black hole sun will make you want to lie down on the lounge with the cd player on repeat and some cold cucumbers over your eyes|  you’ll want to take up smoking while listening to blue and sentimental| this album is a whole body experience, but don’t be scared|  it’s worth the trip|

julie catt| sydney star observer

what is the lounge phenomenon?  retro ‘90s rehashed camp – to quote the perhaps foolhardy words of the booklet here – or something else?  in david mcleod’s case it’s fairer to say it’s a vehicle for a very accomplished and enjoyable jazz singer|  not least of the pleasures is the consistency of the australian accompanists – keyboarder col nolan, drummer hamish stuart and others|

mood:  schmooze|

best track: black hole sun

7 out of 10

australian table

david mcleod, one of today’s most engaging contemporary vocalists, has released his second cd, blue lounge sessions on the la brava label| mcleod released his debut cd, am i blue, on the label four years ago| that time saw him composing all the tunes, penning the lyrics and playing piano on twelve of the thirteen tracks|

this time david has surrounded himself with some stellar performers, col nolan, maree steinway, ron lemke, david seidel and hamish stuart, and has chosen to showcase his talents as a gifted vocal interpreter| the thirteen track contemporary cd incorporates a unique blend of r&b, pop and jazz with numbers from the pens of michael franks, lil armstrong, count basie, george shearing, willie nelson, mose allison, one imagines, each selected for melody, lyric and mood|

a hip, laid-back stylist, with strong colouring of contemporary, mcleod has a mature sense of interpretation, an inventive musical mind and most importantly a remarkable interpretive empathy that brings out the best in melodic line and lyric thus enabling him to create and sustain the mood| tunes include | blue and sentimental crazy| lullaby of birdland| just for the thrill| and maryanne| the icing on the already rich cake is the one mcleod original, you and me always|

as the liner notes say ‘on blue lounge sessions, veteran aussie jazzman col nolan does for the hammond organ what lionel hampton did for the vibraphone leaving david mcleod’s delicately impassioned vocals to shine out like a good deed in a naughty world’| nolan plays the hammond organ on twelve of the tracks|

if this cd doesn’t inspire you to hear a ‘live’ mcleod performance, nothing will|

jill morris| jazz action society news letter