Review of Kate Baker and Vic Juris, “Return to Shore”

Singer Kate Baker and veteran jazz guitarist Vic Juris were married, in person and musically. Both have a rich sound with an emotional directness of expression, and both have a similar slightly behind-the-beat phrasing that respects the melodies. “I’ve Grown Accustomed to His Face,” for example, isn’t a melody that invites a great deal of unnecessary embellishment, and Baker delivers it simply and honestly, with regret that stops short of maudlin self-indulgence. Juris responds with a guitar solo that says “I understand, everything will be alright.” Appropriately, it turns out this song was played at Juris’s funeral, as he died of cancer not long after these sessions on Return to Shore: The Duo Sessions (Strikezone) were recorded.

Baker has a lovely voice, full of subtlety and character. She never sings loudly, just as Juris never plays loudly, so their harmonies can blend with beautiful interplay. One of her favorite singers is Shirley Horn, and the comparison is a valid one.

It takes a flexible voice, a mature harmonic concept from the guitarist, and established personal styles from both to authentically cover the range of music they’ve selected here. The set list includes “God Only Knows” from the Beach Boys (which needs to be a jazz standard now), “Black Crow” and “Both Sides Now” from Joni Mitchell, plus some under-recorded gems like Alec Wilder’s “Blackberry Winter.” There are also some elegant originals, including “Moonscape,” which in retrospect became a moving tribute to Juris. The cover of “Both Sides Now” stopped me in my tracks.

The guitarist and close friend of the couple, Dave Stryker, does excellent work as producer. The recording reflects the warmth and affection that so obviously went into these performances. The album is a fitting tribute to Vic Juris.

(Originally published on the Arts Fuse, Nov. 3, 2022)
https://artsfuse.org/263809/november-short-fuses-materia-critica-2/