Atla & Matt DeChamplain - Pause (2015)

Pause is the first recorded chapter in the musical love story of Atla and Matt DeChamplain. The singer and the pianist both completed their Bachelors at the Hartt School of Music’s Jackie McLean Institute and earned their Masters from the University of Toledo. At the latter, Atla studied with Jon Hendricks, the genius of vocalese (composing lyrics and stories to classic recorded solos). While the 93-year old Hendricks just appears as the second voice on “Two For The Blues,” his influence and inspiration are felt throughout this stirring modern bop set.

The married couple display both youthful enthusiasm and maturity throughout Pause. They co-wrote all of the arrangements except “Two For The Blues” and they debut their original “Pause.” With the assistance of three equally skilled sets of bassists and drummers, the DeChamplains succeed at making bop and vocalese relevant to the 21st century.

The opener, “I Can’t Believe You’re In Love With Me,” is filled with surprises including an impressionistic piano intro, the use of stop-time rhythms during its second chorus, key changes, song quotes and a heated double time section. Chick Corea’s “Spain” benefits from some hot alto playing from guest Kris Allen. “Three O’Clock In The Morning” is a particular delight, with vocalese lyrics by Atla written to Dexter Gordon’s joyful solo from 1962. After the beauty of Atla’s voice is displayed on “Daydream,” “Two For The Blues” revives the Lambert, Hendricks and Ross arrangement based on Count Basie’s recording. “Pause” has a more contemporary feel, giving Matt an opportunity to stretch on electric keyboards.

The other selections include Hendricks’ humorous lyrics to Horace Silver’s “Home Cookin,’” Atla’s passionate scatting on an uptempo “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” a haunting and mostly wordless “On Green Dolphin Street,” the Jimmy Rushing blues “I Sent For You Yesterday” (with Matt backing Atla with some excellent stride piano), a very expressive version of Thelonious Monk’s “Ask Me Now” and one of the fastest versions ever recorded of “Them There Eyes.”
Pause is filled with exciting and swinging moments, a very impressive effort by Atla and Matt DeChamplain. (Scott Yanow)

Tracklist:

1. I Can't Believe You're in Love With Me (feat. Paul Keller)
2. Spain (feat. Kris Allen)
3. Three O'Clock in the Morning
4. Day Dream
5. Two for the Blues
6. Pause
7. Soul Food
8. I Can't Give You Anything but Love (feat. Kris Jensen)
9. On Green Dolphin Street
10. I Sent for You Yesterday
11. Ask Me Now
12. Them There Eyes