RITA DI GHENT
The Birth Of Sprawl (Groove)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Look out world, here comes Rita! She's the coolest jazz diva on the scene. She's flashy. She's brash. She's hip. She's coming to your town! As Jazz Festival surprises go, Rita might be the buzz of this year's lawnchair ordeal. Rita has the goods: a resonant vocal that ranges nicely from smokey sultry to scat happy to street vibe smart. "The Birth of Sprawl" jumps from loop happy aciddy jazz to carefully reworked standards ("God Bless The Child"). The playing is stellar, the compositions impressive and the vocals in your face. Too much I fear, as Rita gives it all up on her coming out effort. This thing shouts: "watch out world, here comes Rita!" Not that she may not own it soon, but a little subtlety wouldn't hurt.

© 1999 - John Sekerka