Someday, Someday – Rebecca DuMaine and the Dave Miller Trio

… beautiful tone, clear articulation, ability to dig deep into the meaning of the lyrics and the joy that she displays while singing are unchanged as is Dave Miller’s swinging solos and tasteful accompaniment…many of the songs (even the vintage ones) relate to the pandemic, and the singer contributed two originals.

With the release of Chez Nous in 2019, the future certainly looked bright for singer Rebecca DuMaine and her father pianist Dave Miller. But then the Covid-19 pandemic hit and, as for virtually everyone, their plans and dreams got put on hold.

“2020 has certainly been a dark year,” says Rebecca. “I found myself gravitating more towards singing melancholy songs and I also started writing. We decided to do an album that deviated a little from our typical sunny upbeat and hopeful mood and looked into songs that were a little bit darker but still ultimately hopeful. It was a cathartic experience for us.”

Dave Miller grew up on Long Island, New York and started playing piano when he was just three. Although classically trained, seeing Ahmad Jamal in concert and loving the music of George Shearing resulted in him switching to jazz as a teenager. His group is heard at its best on 2009’s Rapture and their 2019 tribute to George Shearing Just Imagine plus their recordings with his daughter.

Rebecca DuMaine was raised in the San Francisco Bay area and had a successful career as an actress who appeared on stage, in commercials and voice-overs, and is additionally a professor of voice and speech.

She always loved to sing but found that she preferred singing jazz over musical theater. Since moving back to Northern California from New York in 2010, Rebecca has sung regularly with her father’s trio. They have recorded five CDs for Summit prior to 2020.

REVIEW:

“REBECCA DUMAINE  & the Dave Miller Trio/Someday, Someday:  Hanging out with her pop again, one of the hippest lawyers we know of, Dumaine serves up some of the tastiest cocktail jazz once again.  With a nicely varied set card that doesn’t stick to just one era, she covers the bases well while hitting it out of the park consistently.  This is a well needed dose of class that comes in handy right about now.  Well done.”

-MIDWEST RECORD

REVIEW:

“…Deliciously diverse jazz vocals Rebecca DuMaine and the Dave Miller Trio.  I give Rebecca and Dave’s trio a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) score of 4.98…”

-Contemporary Fusion

REVIEW:

Vocalist Rebecca Dumain and The Dave Miller Trio are also preparing the release of their new album titled “Someday, Someday.” It is an uplifting set of fourteen swinging numbers, beginning with fun, energetic “Just Friends,” as you instantly fall in love with this combo. Rebecca’s voice leads the way through Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again (Naturally),” while The Dave Miller Trio add the perfect backdrop for the title track “Someday, Someday.” The wonderful lyrics of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” are perfectly given their rightful due in this jazz setting, before the band get a little funky with the beats of “Time To Get Unstuck (Happy Little New Song),” one of only two originals that appear on the album. The Dave Miller Trio add an interesting time signature to the classic “Cry Me A River” and Rebecca shines on the French traditional pop standard “La Vie En Rose/Au Privave.” They finish their new album with the light-hearted sway of “Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams” and the jazzed up pop hit “Sunny,” made famous by Bobby Hebb….

-JPS Musicblog

REVIEW:

Vocalist Rebecca Dumaine has a bright and trumpet-brassy tone to her voice, and she uses it well with clean enunciations of standards with the adroit Dave Miller Trio. She asserts her self, popping out of the cake on a fun “The Gentleman Is A Dope”  and saunters to a bluesy “As Long As I Live”. Some Chim Chim Cheree-ing by the trio leads into a clever read of “Cry Me A River” with the team bopping and Dumaine hopping on a rich read of “La Vie En Rose/Au Privave” mixing Left Bank with 52^nd Street. She shows herself an adept Latin lover as she sashays on “Samba De Mon Coeur Qui B at” and her own fun and percussively percolating title track. Her more intimate side is shown with a rich duet with voice and piano intro on “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans” while her quirky aspects are glistening on “Time To Get Unstuck”. Bright smiles to pass around.

-George Harris for Jazz Weekly

REVIEW:

When the insightful and delightfully swinging daughter and father duo Rebecca Dumaine (vocals) and Dave Miller (piano) released their dynamic 2019 album Chez Nous, they could scarcely have imagined just how the world would soon change – and how sorely we would need their blend of heartfelt tenderness and whimsical, sparkling energy to help us through.

REVIEW:

The pairing of vocalist REBECCA DuMAINE with THE DAVE MILLER TRIO has proven to be a winning combination.  Someday, Someday (Summit – 777) is their sixth album, and once again DuMaine’s smooth vocalizing is perfectly complemented by Miller, bassist Chuck Bennett and drummer Bill Belasco.  Other than the title song and “Time to Get Unstuck (Happy Little Newe Song),” both penned by DuMaine, most of the other 12 tracks are familiar standards and pop tunes like “Alone Again (Naturally),” “The Gentleman Is a Dope,” “As Long As I Live,” “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams” and “Sunny.”  DuMaine does take a side trip for some French material, Benjamin Boilay’s “Samba de Mon Coeur Qui Bat” and a medley of “La Vie En Rose and “Au Privave.”  The jazz influence is always present in DuMaine’s vocalizing, surely a result of having a fine jazz pianist like Miller as her father.  It is a delight to see this kind of familial relationship blossom into a working partnership that produces appealing music like that found on Someday, Someday.

-Joe Lang for Jersey Jazz

REVIEW:

The esteemed vocalist Rebecca DuMaine again aligns herself with her father, the acclaimed pianist Dave Miller, and they’ve also got Bill Belasco and Chuck Bennett on drums and bass to help navigate the 12 standards and 2 originals.

“Just Friends” starts the listen with an upbeat and danceable, timeless jazz flavor, as DuMaine’s bright and elegant vocals guide the quick opener, and “Alone Again (Naturally)” follows with a calmer pace of reserved keys from Miller, as DuMaine’s expressive pipes and Belasco’s deft drums steer the eloquent storytelling.

Landing near the middle, “Both Sides Now”, a Joni Mitchell tune, then finds an emotive and dreamy place to reside, while “Time To Get Unstuck (Happy Little New Song)”, a DuMaine original, is a playful and melodic highlight where scatting and gorgeous singing are both present. “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan”, another standout tune, then displays DuMaine’s versatility as her flowing delivery complements the ballad and then later on swing atmosphere.

Close to the end, the glorious “Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams” showcases Miller’s exceptional skills as bouncy bass from Bennett adds much to the feel good climate, and “Sunny” exits the listen with a brisk atmosphere of piano acrobatics, a glowing rhythm section and, of course, DuMaine’s inimitable singing.

Although many of the tracks here are tinted with melancholy, it’s ultimately a very hopeful listen, where Bossa Nova and boppish solos are present as Dumaine and company offer a top notch jazz listen that all fans of the genre will enjoy.

-Tom Haugen for TakeEffectReviews.com

REVIEW:

“Clear” and “crisp” are the adjectives that keep coming to my mind when listening to the singing of Rebecca DuMaine and the piano-playing of her father, Dave Miller. It’s refreshing to listen to their direct, unpretentious approach—with her bright vocal timbre and excellent diction, his respectful precision reinforcing the melody line during instrumental breaks, and their economy.

This is the sixth release combining the singer and jazz trio which includes drummer Bill Belasco and Chuck Bennett as the current bassist. The recording is dedicated to the memory of his predecessor in the California-based group, Mario Suraci (1928-2021).

Plucking items from Broadway scores of three different decades, this collection shows ease with the title song from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, “The Gentleman Is a Dope” and “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan.” Other material here is a mix of jazz, pop, and a couple of things sung in French. On the topic of choosing the repertoire, liner notes and publicity frame Someday, Someday somewhat as a reaction to the pandemic, acknowledging the frustration it’s brought and the hope and patience we need. These feelings inspired Rebecca DuMaine to write her own words and music for two inclusions. One is the title song (about the claustrophobic looking at the outside through a window and also looking forward to the time things will be better). The other is a sprightly thing that encourages the addressee to be positive and productive, titled “Time to Get Unstuck (Happy Little New Song).” Being able to dismiss woes and cheer up can be an easier-said-than-done kind of goal, but such comfort food cooked up by songwriters is nothing new, as demonstrated by the presence of the 90-year-old advice to “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (and Dream Your Troubles Away).” The seriously sunny singer seems sure of her optimistic stance whether she’s delivering this lyric’s bromide to “Just remember that sunshine always follows the rain” or from “Sunny,” a hit dating back to the 1960s that announces that “the dark days are done and the bright days are here.” I did find myself smiling.

With just piano accompaniment, Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” gratifyingly allows for something mature and reflective. (More of this kind of introspection and vulnerability would be an asset to future releases.) Otherwise, much here is energizing and brisk, with agreeably longish instrumental sections with Miller’s straight-ahead and strong driving of melodies. Meandering and extra decoration are not big priorities. A perky, plucky attitude suits the Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler promise of unchanging affection, “As Long As I Live,” but it is unexpected with the Edith Piaf signature “La vie en rose.” In this case, the facelift is a nice change of pace, and also has a Charlie Parker-derived jazz twist.

Something that especially delights me on many Someday, Someday tracks is the flair and care in handling the way an arrangement ends, with fresh and cute jazz ideas (often vocally) to cap something off. Each such unanticipated kind of “P.S.” accents the mood, becoming a savored, perfect cherry on top of the sundae. As writer Whitney Balliett once described the genre, “Jazz is the sound of surprise.” That sound is something I like. Like father, like daughter … I think that inkling runs in the family.

-Rob Lester for TalkinBroadway.com

REVIEW:

Rebecca sings a lot of romance, heartache, and ultimately some jovial tunes. Dave Miller provides accompaniment on piano with his trio including bassist Chuck Bennet and drummer Bill Belasco to make Someday, Someday a cool romantic set. Dumaine hits her stride on “Samba De Mon Coeur” and keeps the fire burning over the next 2 songs before slowing down for “Both Sides Now”. Ultimately, they complete the cycle of love with hope on “Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams” and “Sunny”. Catch them at an outdoor venue in Northern California!

-D. Oscar Groomes for O’s Place Jazz Magazine

REVIEW:

Written and recorded during a dark and depressing time for many during the pandemic, this album provides an introspective view of the past year, whilst being optimistic for a bright future, through DuMaine’s interpretations of jazz classics and two of her own compositions.

DuMaine has had a successful career as an actress and a professor of voice and speech, and her flawless diction and clarity throughout the album effectively enhance the emotions of the lyrics. Her smooth tone, recalling Sinatra’s persuasive, silky phrasing, gets straight to the heart of the sentiments of each piece.

Following her 2019 release Chez Nous, where she appeared with her father Dave Miller’s combo, DuMaine again keeps it in the family, playing with Miller, bassist Chuck Bennett and drummer Bill Belasco. In aiming to create a dark but hopeful sound, DuMaine employs a variety of styles, from an upbeat, 3/4 interpretation of the ballad Cry Me A River to the contrastingly swinging I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan.

The intimate piano and vocal duet between father and daughter on Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now is particularly heartwarming, the balance between players perfectly supporting the melody.

DuMaine’s own composition Someday, Someday creates contrast. It juxtaposes an uplifting, syncopated samba accompaniment with negative lyrics, DuMaine hoping to convey a sense of hope in an overall dismal time. The star of the piece is percussionist and drummer Bill Belasco, who arguably keeps the track interesting where DuMaine’s vocals feel overly repetitive on a slightly awkward melody.

Overall, the album is a journey of emotions with a great selection of songs, some moments of true beauty and some interpretations that just hit the mark.

-Valentina Addis for Jazz Journal, UK