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Oregon native Tom Grant is a fine pianist; I reviewed his excellent Santa Claus Is Going to Town in 2005. Here, he joins with Rebecca Kilgore, a super jazz vocalist also based in the Northwest, on Winter Warm. The results are thrilling; this is a first-class jazz album for the holidays.

Winter Warm defines intimacy; cozy with Kilgore's remarkably supple voice and Grant's nimble keyboard action (and Dave Captein's subtle bass stylings on just over half the tracks), you absorb every bar as though the artists were in your living room corner. The album's name says it all--the atmosphere is warm, low-key, and heartfelt. Although Grant is undeniably an outstanding pianist, Kilgore is the star of this show, and her wonderful voice is spot-on. Grant typically struts his stuff between verses, inserting wonderfully jazzy piano interludes mid-track. Kilgore's singing style is easy-going, understated excellence; never showy or pretentious, she delivers every note with sophisticated style and nuanced emotion. Even Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer plays as a classy swing selection in the skilled hands of Grant and Kilgore. I could listen to this album all day.

As Rebecca Kilgore sang the closing bars of The Christmas Song, I hated to say goodbye to this fine offering. If you are a fan of intimate jazz ensembles, you will love Winter Warm. Invite Tom Grant and Rebecca Kilgore to your place this December. You may never want them to leave!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)

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From the liner notes:

Rebecca Kilgore, vocals
Tom Grant, piano on all tracks, vocals on tracks 7,11,12
Dave Captein, bass on tracks 2,3,6,8-12

Produced by Tom Grant
Engineered by Tom Grant


From the Website:

TOM GRANT, master instrumentalist, talented singer and natural entertainer nimbly walks the line between jazz tradition and modern pop. This soft-spoken Oregon native's inspired songwriting produces propulsive R&B grooves, infectious melodic hooks, and stylish ballads with equal ease. He plays jazz piano with the harmonic sophistication and deep sense of swing that only comes from more than three decades on the bandstand. At the same time, his recordings have consistently landed at the top of the Smooth Jazz charts, a genre of music Tom helped pioneer in the mid-80s.

As the Pacific Northwest's most renowned musical artist, Tom Grant's career achievements reflect his unique ability to embrace the full spectrum of contemporary music.

Tom and Rebecca Kilgore Grant

Winter Warm

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Track List