Vocalist Karen Mack has been kicking around New York City, staying busy. Too busy to release a recording of her own…until now. Mack teams with longtime friend and colleague, Peter Eldridge, founding member of the New York Voices, to assemble a collection of 12 lesser covered jazz standards. originally conceived as an EP of jazz classics as a birthday gift for her mother-in-law, Mack, with Eldridge, expanded the scope to a full recording. Mack and Eldridge share production and arranging credits.
Keeping her creative forces close, Mack’s band was made up of Eldridge as pianist and organist on the album, along with including guitarist Jesse Lewis, bassist Matt Aronoff, drummer Jared Schonig, on drums, and percussionist Ben Wittman. Featured guests include Darmon Meader (also a founding member of the New York Voices) on saxophones, Nadje Noordhuis on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Elliot Roth, who provided piano, vocals, and arrangements for “It’s Hard to Say Goodbye.”
Mack has an honest voice, authentic in its presentation. Mack holds the melody close in her art, avoiding scat gymnastics and vocalese. “Imagination” shows Mack’s imagination in crafting a an inventive and fresh performance. The singer achieves a fun and authentic innocents on Nellie McKay’s “I Wanna Get Married.” Catch And Keep is a pleasing debut from an equally pleasing voice.