Jackie Ryan with Red Holloway@The Bakery01.05.11
By George W. Harris

Hitting LA in support of her rousing recent release “You and the Night and the Music”, vocalist Jackie Ryan started the New Year off with a solid band, displaying all of what is right about jazz singing. Backed by the air tight Tamir Hendelman trio (with bassist Carlito Del Puerto and drummer Dean Koba), Ryan was in jubilant form as she swung the daylights out of tunes like “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To” and “I Just Found Out About Love.” Combining the vocal depth of Vaughan, the Clarity of Cole, and the joy of Ella, Ms. Ryan got the room rocking with effervescent readings along with the wailing sax of Red Hollowy on f songs like”Let There Be Love” and “Opportunity, Please Knock”. What brought the house down, however was her treatment of the gentler material, particularly a dramatic and bel canto treatment of “Besame Mucho” Her alluring and husky voice was perfectly complemented by Hendelman’s sensitive piano work. Any lady who can be this delicate, and yet still get up the moxie to go toe-to-to with Holloway on the rowdy and raucous “Red Top” is one that is headed in the right direction. Catch her next time in town, before the next time is Disney Hall.