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Katharine Whalen's Jazz Squad by Katharine Whalen (1999)

A Random CD Review from the Stutzman Memorial Archive

Katharine Whalen’s Jazz Squad by Katharine Whalen (1999)

My computer was randomly in the mood for some jazz standards today. This is kind of an interesting little CD. First of all, some context: Katharine Whalen was in the band Squirrel Nut Zippers and this CD also features her former band mate Jim Mathus on guitar. It is straight-ahead jazz, played unadorned in a small combo setting. There is really very little that sets these performances apart from any restaurant combo you could hear on just about any night of the week in thousands of cities across the country.

However, it’s the “very little” that I want to talk about. At most points, it sounds like Whalen is doing an imitation of Billy Holiday. And really it’s uncanny how close she sounds to her obvious heroine. And that makes me wonder—is there any place in “art” for this kind of focused, specific modeling? Does it make her less of an “artist” that she he has been able to come so close to Holiday’s voice? My gut reaction is the old cliché: “she needs to find her own voice.” Literally. But then I think that there is an element of copying in all the arts. No one is an absolute original, are they? Music isn’t created in a vacuum. The Beatles started out aping the skiffle groups. Led Zeppelin, the Yardbirds, Eric Clapton-they were all white boys who happened to like American blues. Eddie Van Halen, while totally re-invigorating electric guitar, was in turn a disciple of Clapton. And on and on it goes.

So, can I really condemn Katharine Whalen for so successfully learning from her influence? No. The artistic impulse is a slippery thing, largely built on an individual making her own choices. Just because I happen to wind up on the receiving end of someone’s art, it doesn’t mean I am given free reign to judge both creator and creation. Discerning creation alone is enough challenge for a lifetime.

That said; separating Whalen from all Holiday considerations leaves this a fairly unaffecting album. I wouldn’t call it great, or “fine art,” but it’s certainly not garbage, either. As you can see, I’m kind of ambivalent towards this album.

posted by Mike @ 4:08 PM