Sue McCreeth - No Evil (2014)

For this, her third jazz recording, Sue takes the bold step of enlisting the support of just two core musicans, guitarist Jim Mullen and bassist Andrew Cleyndert, with Steve Waterman on trumpet and flugelhorn. Most of the songs are first or second takes. There is a clear vulnerability in her timbre, wistful on 'Come Rain or Come Shine' and 'The Man I Love', she turns up the passion, becoming almost anguished in her delivery on 'God Bless the Child' and 'Stormy Weather'. Steve Waterman adds just the right mellow soulfulness to 'Without a Song'. and a nicely measured solo on 'Weaver of Dreams' and a lovely flugelhorn solo on 'Very Early'. The overarching feeling is quality late night jazz vocals with Jim Mullen providing relaxed yet bluesy accompaniment thoughout. An album to treasure and to share with friends. ~Alan Musson, Jazz Kaleidoscope

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Album Notes"]Dave Gelly

Until now, she has mainly recorded her own songs, but one couldn't help noticing that, whenever Sue McCreeth chose something else, it would be Herbie Hancock or maybe Wayne Shorter. In other words, she doesn't go for the easy option.

This is her first all-standards album, and in impeccable company, too - guitarist Jim Mullen, trumpeter Steve Waterman and bassist Andrew Cleyndert. It's not singer plus accompaniment so much as four musicians working together, and the result is a dozen intimate and nicely judged performances. The subdued volume brings out the best in McCreeth's voice, especially her whispery low register.

''Sue McCreeth is a skilful and faithful interpreter of the repertoire, and 'No Evil' is a very pleasant and well-executed recording that features some lovely solos, particularly from guitarist Jim Mullen on a sweet rendition of 'God Bless the Child'. The minimal line-up of Mullen, Steve Waterman on trumpet and Andrew Cleyndert on double bass lends itself to the gentle pacing and ambience at play here. A fine album by any standard(s).' JAZZ UK, April 2014
Jazz UK, April 2014

'Another high quality recording from this ultra-flexible, well-regarded vocalist, singing from the Great American and modern jazz songbook with a quartet including Jim Mullen.' Jazzwise Magazine, April 2014

Sue McCreeth won recognition as one of the most engaging jazz vocal talents of the UK in 2000, when she led various jazz ensembles on the South Coast. Her CD '500 Miles High the Air is Blue' (2001) received widespread critical acclaim in the national and jazz press.
Since then she has worked extensively throughout the UK with some of the finest jazz musicians on the scene; been shortlisted twice for the International Song Writing Competition; won three touring awards from Jazz Services; and sold out for the London Jazz Festival.
Her second critically acclaimed studio jazz album 'Just for Luxury' (2004) consolidated her profile as one of the most admired and bookable vocal talents in the UK. Later also she co-wrote and recorded the well-received original jazz fusion/dance CD with the band 'Infinite Sunday' (2012).
Sue’s most recent studio CD 'No Evil' was recorded in the summer of 2013 and is due for release in early 2014. She completed a ten date tour of the UK in October 2013.
A highly trained vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, experienced professional international lounge pianist/vocalist, post graduate qualified music teacher, Sue has also completed master classes in jazz singing and has worked in the Czech Republic as a vocal coach for the British Council.
Since she was eighteen, she has been on the stage with high profile dance bands, a blues band, an Indian fusion band and various high profile jazz ensembles. She also stood in for Claire Martin at Oundle International Festival. Sue has studied for many years with voice coach to professional singers, Joy Mammen, whom she still consults.
Sue McCreeth's strength has been said by many to be the sheer quality of her voice, with a rich and bluesy jazz tone over three octaves in live performance. She captivates audiences with her flexible and emotional vocal range, contemporary compositions and hip, sultry mainstream classics. In the press her voice has been described variously as “almost simultaneously ethereal, sensuous and torchy”; “cool and misty; “rich and sultry”; “smooth as silk”; “lovely”; “heavenly”; “luxurious”; “emotional”; “intense”; “a thing of beauty”; “[with] technique and control that do all”; “astonishing”; and “sumptuous”.
She says, "I remain deeply committed to my roots, which are the sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Cleo Laine - who I imitated as a child - and to the extended harmony, esoteric melody and improvisational magic of music that is called jazz."
Sue has worked with Andrew Cleyndert, Jim Mullen, Steve Waterman, Bobby Wellins, Martin Shaw, John Horler, Steve Melling, John Donaldson, Terry Seabrook, Mike Gorman, Colin Dudman, Steve Lodder, Dave Green, Terry Pack, Paul Morgan, Mario Caribe,, Spike Wells, Steve Brown, Tristan Mailliot, Bobby Worth, Mark Fletcher, Matt Home, Mohamed Assani, Satin Singh, Ian Salmon and Mike Varty and Tony Ormesher.
Jazz UK Magazine
APRIL 2014
Album number five from Sue McCreeth is something of a departure for the singer, as she approaches the standards that make up the bulk of the disc's tracks in a rather more straight-ahead fashion than she has done on previous recordings. Sue shows herself to be a skilful and faithful interpreter of the repertoire, and 'No Evil' is a very pleasant and well-executed recording that features some lovely solos, particularly from guitarist Jim Mullen on a sweet rendition of 'God Bless the Child'. The minimal line-up of Mullen, Steve Waterman on trumpet and Andrew Cleyndert on double bass lends itself to the gentle pacing and ambience at play here. A fine album by any standard(s).
Jazzwise Magazine
APRIL 2014
No Evil
A more mainstream jazz session but nevertheless another high quality recording from this ultra-flexible, well-regarded vocalist, singing from the Great American and modern jazz songbook with a quartet including Jim Mullen.

The Observer
DAVE GELLY
…Some will inevitably get lost in the crowd, a fate I sincerely hope does not befall Sue McCreeth… Outstanding… The charm of her style lies in the clear, modest simplicity and grace with which she brings off quite daunting musical feats …an element of ethereal calm… a charming and exquisitely performed set… a cool, misty kind of voice and a style which invites rather than insists on attention… her own ‘Only Here’ and Chick Corea’s ‘500 Miles High’ are outstanding.

Tracklist:

01. Stormy Weather (5:40)
02. Honeysuckle Rose (3:54)
03. Without A Song (5:01)
04. Speak No Evil (4:20)
05. God Bless The Child (6:33)
06. Pretty Eyes (4:39)
07. Devil May Care (4:09)
08. Round Midnight (5:06)
09. Weaver Of Dreams (4:17)
10. Very Early (4:08)
11. Come Rain Or Come Shine (4:41)
12. The Man I Love (5:12)