"Anne and Mark Burnell proved you don't need a piano when you sing a cappella this well."

“Wonderfully eclectic, ….you guys are great together.”

 

-Rick Kogan, WGN Radio AM720 Chicago                                 

 

 

CABARET SCENES 

by Jeff Rossen

BLUES IN THE NIGHT:

Songs by Harlod Arlen

(Spectrum Music)

 

February 15 marked the 100^th anniversary of Harold Arlen’s birth.  The man who crafted such diverse melodies as the whimsical Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead and dreamy Over the Rainbow for the film The Wizard of Oz as well as the scorching Blues in the Night and mournful The Man That Got Away created over 600 songs during a career that spanned over 50 years. 

 

In celebration of his centennial, Anne Burnell (formerly performing as Anne Pringle prior to the release of this album) gathers 12 of his blues oriented works that demonstrate well just how many forms “the Blues” can take-brassy, melancholic, defiant, overwhelming.  And the assortment allows Burnell to showcase her versatility as well, from the hip-popping swagger of the title track and steadfast defiance of I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues to the crushing pain in The Man That Got Away and infectiously optimistic take on Over the Rainbow. 

 

Heavily spiced with with a jazz flavor in Bob Ojeda’s sensational arrangements, the musical backing Burnell receives on this set is superb, especially when it comes to the stylings of violinist Edgar Gabriel, whose near duet with Burnell during a jazz waltz setting of Over the Rainbow has this track repeated three times on the first listen before moving on to the rest of the selections. 

 

Burnell’s engaging performance style instantly grabs the ear, and she does here what she does so well, not so much perform her musical choices as sharing them with us.  Arlen himself would be pleased with this marvelous tribute-celebration.

E JAZZ NEWS by Karl Stober
Harold Arlen within six decades made music happen in any way, shape, or form, he was the best at what he did. His impact on the industry is one which may never be duplicated, so the tributes flow like the notes from his mind. Amid the many attempts there happens to be a select few that stand out and make one take a second look, Anne Pringle Burnell is one of those. With a voice that can manipulate style, tone , and composition she can trigger magic to reinvent sound when it comes to music. For this gift, I highly recommend with the utmost confidence “Blues In The Night” Songs by Harold Arlen, however done with style by one very special Ms. Burnell.

In conjunction with Bob Ojeda, Count Basie Band veteran, Ms. Burnell has in many ways paid fine tribute to one of music’s best. Her signature seductive blues style has captured the distinct panache that goes with an Arlen composition. As husband Mark Burnell joins her along with other highly gifted members the crisp and precise arrangements just expel themselves from the disc.

Chicago’s finest yet most delicate, Ms. Burnell just liquidates emotions felt from hits such as Over the Rainbow, Paris is a Lonely Town, Blues in the Night, and Stormy Weather. Suffice to state that all efforts on this project deserve across the board billing, I can only say that it’s a project for varied tastes. This jewel box has a cut for every mood, any time, for anyone!

The real key to this project is selection and delivery. Ms. Burnell and Bob Ojeda took real energies and time to put a collection together that in summary embraced the works of Arlen. For some its not enough but to cram six decades in one project is a fools fantasy. Ms. Burnell delivers the right mix of selection with her sultry performance that hit’s the right mood with each selection. Each effort she performs, showcases her range of feel and quality of tone. An excellent tribute team effort by all.

Key in on two cuts if you will. “The Man that Got Away” exhibits her sense of feel through her vocals. A gift lost with many of jazz’s vocalists today. To express a moment that the lyrics were meant to carry out is an art. Ms. Burnell realizes that. “ A Women’s Prerogative” is a showcase of Mark and Anne creating a moment with true feel . Upbeat and focused allowing for the stylishness to unearth itself as it was meant to be. Very cool.

“Blues In The Night” and Ms. Burnell is a marriage of two talents that needed to join hands. Her voice fit’s the style and with arranger Bob Ojeda ‘s direction the end result was enchanting. To be frank it’s a keeper!

Karl Stober is a national freelance music journalist/interviewer.

 

“If there’s ever to be another Jackie Cain and Roy Krall -- it is to be in the person’s of Anne and Mark Burnell”

        -Larry Smith, WBEZ 91.5fm

            National Public Radio

 

APPLAUSE!  APPLAUSE!
Volume VI, Issue 4

by Jan Wallman
"Duets & Duels" - Anne Pringle & Mark Burnell
Judy's Chelsea (169 Eighth Avenue; 212-929-5410)
Reviewed 9/7/00 at 8:30pm

Pringle and Burnell returned to Judy's Chelsea for a two night gig just a year after their triumph there in last year's show "Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves" (reviewed here Volume V, Issue 1) having spent most of that intervening time in their usual Chicago performing spaces and recording their just released debut CD "The Little Things We Do Together" for Spectrum Records.

In this current offering, the husband and wife singing duo perform some highlights from thier previous show, notably their spectacular version of Kurt Weill's "Mack The Knife" done auf Deutsche by singer/pianist Mark Burnell with a spoken English obbligate by Anne Pringle. New this season and on the recording were a remarkably clever medley of "42nd Street", "Puttin' on the Ritz" and "Lounging at the Waldorf" and an outstanding song which they wrote together called "Another Chorus of the Blues". Although they are known for their renditions of standards and pop hits made new by Mark Burnell's ingenious arrangements, this sample of their original work proves that the duo can do a lot more than interpret other songwriters' music. I hope to hear more of the songs they write in a subsequent engagement. Since they are based in Chicago where they perform steadily, we may not get to hear them in person in New York or a while, but you can enjoy their CD.

They are just so right together musically and so relaxed and real in their informal interaction with each other that you feel by the end of the show that you have come to know them. The enjoyment they project in entertaining their audiences is palpable. Everyone has a good time. Look for their return to Judy's Chelsea and, in the meantime, buy the CD "The Little Things We Do Together" at Amazon.com, Tower Records and elsewhere.

CABARET SCENES, NEW YORK
Vol. V, No. 11
November 2000

ANNE PRINGLE AND MARK BURNELL
More experienced are Anne Pringle and Mark Burnell, a husband and wife team based in Chicago who came to Judy's Chelsea with their show, Duets and Duels, following a week as Fellows at the Cabaret Symposium. Anne, singing in a delicious velvet voice, and Mark as accompanist and duet partner, blended smoothly in a broad range of standards combined with occasional light-hearted novelties. Among the best numbers: Anne's moving rendition of their own song, Another Chorus of the Blues. When he's not at the piano, Mark moves center stage with Anne and doubles as string bass -- not on string bass but, with just voice and musicianship, providing melodious and rhythmic back up. Admittedly still exploring their style, Anne and Mark are worth watching.
        -- Peter Haas

Cabaret Hotline Online

CABARET REVIEW – CHICAGO by Todd Shuman

Mark Burnell & Anne Pringle, "Our Songs"
Davenport's Piano Bar and Cabaret, October 6, 2002, 9:00pm


It is always a treat to hear songwriters perform their own material, and this month at Davenport's Piano Bar and Cabaret we get a double treat - the wonderful cabaret/jazz duo Mark Burnell and Anne Pringle performing their own original music.

Mr. Burnell and Ms. Pringle's show, "Our Songs," is a collection of eighteen songs that they have written together of with other collaborators over the years, strung together with stories of how each song came to be. From the hopeful and positive opening number, "Something I Can Feel" (Pringle), to the blues-tinged "Another Chorus of the Blues" (Pringle/Burnell), this was one great evening of song that left me wondering, "Where have THESE songs been hiding?" Along the way I discovered many musical gems --Anne Pringle's ode to acting, "Peppermint Tea", and Mark Burnell's take on the Chicago expression "Cooler by the Lake" being two of the many, many highlights of the show.

With complex melodies and thoughtful lyrics, Burnell and Pringle are certainly two gifted songwriters, This is one show that should not be missed. They will be performing "Our Songs" at Davenport's every Sunday in October at 9:00pm. Reservations are encouraged.

Davenports's Piano Bar and Cabaret, 1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 773-278-1830  www.davenportspianobar.com

 

 

 

Cabaret Hotline Online

 

Mark Burnell and Anne Pringle, "Tales of Our Travels"

Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret, Chicago

October 19, 2000

 

Cabaret masters Mark Burnell and Anne Pringle love to travel, and in their latest show at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret, they take their audience on a trip to places they have been and places they would like to visit. This is one magical journey of song that I am glad I got to take.

 

Mr. Burnell and Ms. Pringle launch the audience right into this excursion with the fabulous arrangement of "Let's Get Away from it All" before asking the always pertinent (and amusing) question -- "Why Do the Wrong People Travel". Singing as a duo, Pringle and Burnell's rich voices blend in a beautiful harmony, and this can be heard in their a capella reading of "Route 66" and their beautiful rendition of "Two for the Road". As soloists, their talents are also unmatched. Ms. Pringle offered a lovely version of "On a Slow Boat to China" and her "Time Between Trains" was one of the highlights of the evening. Mr. Burnell showcased his own wonderful talent with the amusing "Another Song about Paris" and his own composition about bicycling in Amsterdam -- "Fiets Don't Fail Me Now". Mr Burnell is one of the most talented pianists and arrangers that I have seen in Chicago. His work is is always fresh and innovative, and he always finds ways to make old standards sound brand new. I was particularly struck this evening with his rhumba-like arrangement of "I Love Paris", which was nothing short of magnificent.

 

While it seemed as if it took some time for Mr. Burnell and Ms. Pringle to get "in their groove," once they did their excitement and energy was uncontainable. This was a fun show, and it was clear that Pringle and Burnell had a good time doing it.  Their patter was humorous, clear, and worked at linking the assortment of songs quite well. More importantly, it never one sounded stilted or overly staged. Hearing these tales of their travels, I am now positive that Mr. Burnell and Ms. Pringle are the poster children for traveler's aid!

 

Mr. Burnell and Ms. Pringle have consistently proved themselves to be one of the most exciting, fresh, and talented duos in Chicago, and they continued to live up to this with "Tales of Our Travels." While this show only has two scheduled performances left at Davenport's --October 20 at 8:00 pm and 10:30 pm -- it is highly recommended. For those who cannot make this show, I urge you to watch out for future cabaret shows featuring Mr. Burnell and Ms. Pringle. In the meantime, their debut CD. "The Little Things We Do Together," might help to fill the void. It is available at Amazon.com.

 

Chicago Cabaret Reviews by Todd Shuman