Times Too

Album Review

Grace Kelly (no relation to the late actress) shows a surprising maturity for a musician who is only in her early teens. Times Too is actually her second recording as a leader, an ambitious two-CD set that showcases her abilities as an alto saxophonist, composer, arranger, and vocalist. On the first disc, she sticks primarily to familiar jazz compositions and standards, backed by pianist Doug Johnson, bassist John Lockwood, and drummer Yoron Israel. Counting Lee Konitz and Jerry Bergonzi among her instructors, Kelly is obviously a bit young to have developed a distinctive sound, but she shows a good bit of imagination in her flights of improvisation, while she obviously believes in regular practice before entering the studio, often the downfall of many a young jazz wunderkind. She utilizes space perfectly in a slightly breezy take of "Isfahan," negotiates the brisk changes of "All the Things You Are" without a miscue, and captures the drama within "'Round Midnight," though the normally emotional "Blood Count" (composed by Billy Strayhorn as he suffered in the final stages of esophageal cancer) would have benefited from a more poignant interpretation — something that would be hard for someone so young to express. Disc two focuses more on Kelly's vocals and original compositions. Her "Key to the Missing Door" is a pop ballad, with the young singer showing a bit of nervousness before gaining steam. She's plenty confident in a bluesy take of the Beatles' "Oh, Darling." Kelly's "Time to Be Free," her best effort as a writer, is heard in two versions, one with overdubbed harmony vocals and the other with Kelly switching back to alto sax. She trades licks with fellow alto saxophonist Jeremy Udden (who is also one of her teachers) in a spirited, funky treatment of Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours." Few young jazz musicians are ready to tackle as ambitious a program as 13-year-old Grace Kelly did for this CD. Hopefully, it will serve as a stepping stone for her to achieve greater recognition and a satisfying career.