Keeper of the Flame

'Leslie Lewis and the Gerard Hagen Trio make for a lovely marriage in jazz circles.' - Susan Francis, Jazz Review 'Keeper Of The Flame' is the follow up recording to 'Of Two MInds' (2008). 'Of Two Minds' was released in Japan on the SSJ Label and received 5 Stars in Japan's 'Swing Journal' magazine. It charted at #28 on CMJ in the U.S. 'Keeper Of The Flame' is Leslie's decidedly 'jazz' take on these wonderful Brazilian songs with some standards done in a similar style. She is backed by the Gerard Hagen Trio (Gerard Hagen piano, Domenic Genova bass, Jerry Kalaf drums) along with saxophonist/ flutist Gary Foster as a guest artist. Cashbox Magazine Jazz Reviewed 9/14/10 Leslie Lewis Keeper Of The Flame The musical starmakers at Surf Cove Jazz are putting out a warning: Make way for the next big thing! Leslie Lewis has a hot one on her hands with 'Keeper Of The Flame.' A bona fide sure thing for jazz radio success, the album is packed with tracks destined for cooler iPods nationwide. Working with The Gerard Hagen Trio, Lewis' voice is the foundation for a collection of songs meant to whisk the worries of the world away. It will have been a while since music seemed to be just what you were hoping for, and that's where I was at with 'Keeper.' Of the tracks to select from, 'Day by Day' stand out for me. If I were choosing a first single, this one would top the list. Perfect for a beachfront sunset. Let Leslie Lewis make your night tonight with the songs from 'Keeper Of The Flame.' Leave the hard calls for another time. Christopher Llewellyn Adams 5 Stars Jazz Times 09/25/10 • Albums • By Wilbert Sostre CD Review: Leslie Lewis - Keeper of the Flame Featured Artist: Leslie Lewis CD Title: Keeper of the Fame Year: 2010 Record Label: Surf Cove Jazz Style: Jazz Vocals Musicians: Leslie Lewis (vocals), Gerard Hagen (piano), Domenic Genova (bass), Jerry Kalaf (drums, percussion) Review: Leslie Lewis is all a good jazz singer should be. Her beautiful tone and classy phrasing on tracks like Day By Day, You Don't Know What Love Is and Speak Low evoke the sound of the classic jazz singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. On the title track, Keeper Of The Flame, Leslie's soulful voice plays beautifully with the melody and tempo changes with Jerry Kalaf adding a powerful drum solo. Her silky, smooth vocals on the jazzy version of Ivan Lins The Island hits you full of emotion. The Brazilian influence can be heard all through this album, especially on the tracks Day By Day, the jazzy arrangements of Antonio Carlos Jobim's A Felicidade, Chega de Saudade and the sublime version of Fotografia. On these tracks at times one may hear echoes of the Ella Fitzgerald Sings Jobim album, both in tone and phrasing. As a Puerto Rican I always enjoy listening to Juan Tizol's Caravan, one of the most recorded jazz classics. Leslie's vocals are just perfect on one of the best versions I have heard recently, with interesting rhythmic and harmonic choices. Leslie Lewis' vocals are complimented perfectly by her husband, Gerard Hagen, and his trio, and special guest Gary Foster on sax. Tracks: Keeper Of The Flame, The Island, Spring Is Here, Day By Day, A Felicidade, You Don't Know What Love Is, Fotografia, Chega De Saudade (No More Blues), Speak Low, Caravan Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre Jazz Society of Oregon Review Jazzscene -- George Fendel Keeper Of The Flame, Leslie Lewis, vocals. So many singers. So few jazz singers. Not to worry. Lewis proves once again that she can