Abbie Gardner

Abbie Gardner has a strong throaty voice that's reminiscent of Wesla Whitfield's. On My Craziest Dream, which appears to be her debut, she uses it to render evergreens from the 1920s and 1930s with a crew of guys who play like they were around when this music was the cat's pajamas. I assume the pianist Herb Gardner is her father, but her starring role has nothing to do with nepotism. She has the chops to carry this off. She delivers these songs enthusiastically as if they were new. She takes them head on, on their own terms, and embodies their insouciant spirit. Pianist Gardner supports her with four-square stride piano and reedman Dan Levinson offers up solos that never stray from the truisms of traditional swing, yet never sound archaic. This sounds like music that would be perfectly at home in some local watering hole, the musical equivalent of homecooked comfort food.

Tacked onto the end of the session are two pieces featuring originals written and sung by Herb Gardner. They mine the same stylistic territory musically, but the subject matter is more personal. "Staten Island" is a rollicking Broadway-like celebration of "Staten Island," complete with rat-a-ma-tat drum solo climax. "Gunshots and Sirens" is better, a humorous tribute to the city life. Gardner claims he'd rather put up with "gunshots and sirens" instead of "deer in the woods carrying Lyme disease." It's all good fun, and I expect goes over well live. I know this CD whets my appetite to hear the Gardners and company in the flesh. - Cadence Magazine

There's a bright opening to Abbie Gardner's debut Jazz album with "Happy Feet"; in fact the CD remains bright throughout. Dan Levinson with his clarinet and sax gets through a load of work, and helps to lift the album with the freshness of his playing. Abbie shows some of the nuances of Billie Holiday, and with the help of Abbie's pianist and arranger Dad, Herb Gardner, they put together a lively and swinging set of mostly standards. Herb has a full and swinging sound on "Under A Blanket Of Blue", on which he conjures some great piano, and Abbie's voice is sweet, silky and expressive. "Your Mother's Son In Law" allows Dan Levinson to let fly on clarinet, and Herb joyfully thumps the ivories. Occasionally Herb and Abbie duet. "Please Don't Talk About Me" allows us to notice character against sweetness. These are straightforward arrangements, and Abbie sings them all with a smile (one imagines). There is a lightness about her that is very appealing. From a player's point of view, there must be something special when performing with your daughter. This is a jolly and light-hearted CD; enhanced even more by the splendid clarinet and sax playing of Dan Levinson, and the solid work of bassist Mike Weatherly and Robbie Scott on percussion. Thirteen standards, and the two originals by Herb Gardner, continue in the same vein. A thoroughly enjoyable CD.
by Ferdinand Maylin - http://users.rcn.com/jazzinfo/0704/0704NS/NSAbbGrd.html

I'm not usually a huge fan of jazz standards, but Abbie Gardner's fine, lively, nuanced interpretations of this material really won me over. Frequently cover albums such familiar material can feel a little lifeless or simply repeats of other people's versions. Or worse, when listening to them you feel like once you've heard one verse you know exactly what the rest of the song is going to sound like. Abbie Gardner's versions are so definitely not like that each line she sings is alive and is just right. I found the songs commanded my attention and each verse drew out new elements in familiar songs. She's got a great sense of rhythm and the songs really swing. This album is a gem. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com) - www.ectoguide.org