"Expressive, elegant . . . A masterpiece."
http://www.mundoaseptico.com
"Deserves a Grammy . . . "
Jean-Pierre Schricke, Highlands Magazine
"Excellent album . . . Brilliant return of Kathy Sanborn."
"Focuses on dreamy moods . . . musical musings . . . With Ricci's muted horn, Sanborn's tone is closely akin, melding well on 'Always You' and trading off as she gives scat lines on the sepia toned 'Kissed (Shoobop Shoobop).'
“I was first introduced to Kathy’s excellent jazz vocal work when I reviewed her in issue # 161… she got really high marks from me in that review, & this new release is even better (in a different sort of way).
Just listen to the laid-back approach she takes on the opener, “Another Sultry Night“… it doesn’t hurt that she has some superb guitar lines from Vito Gregoli supporting her, but the tune is a winner all the way around, and you’ll find yourself (as did I) playing it over & over again! Her ability to “sing love into life” through her lyrical/musical talent is a skill many desire, but few artists have at this level.
Those who read my reviews frequently will know that I believe originals penned by the musician carry more weight, and you’ll hear why as you listen to the sultry groove she establishes on the 4:33 “Reflections in the Rain“… if you don’t get “pictures” from the way she paints with her words, you need to get an ear examination… just kidding, but this is among the best jazz vocals I’ve heard (yet) in 2017.
It is Kathy’s total talent and superb pacing, along with the wonderful violin work from Rocio Marron, that made it an easy choice for my personal favorite of the ten songs offered up for your listening pleasure… on “Guiding Light“, she will reach the hearts of listeners around the globe, wrapping them into the comfort zone she performs in. A truly impressive jazz vocal album that gets my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."
Rotcod Zzaj
“Even before putting this on the player one can’t help but be impressed by the lushness of the presentation. This digipak contains a lot of information about Kathy and her producer Keerthy Narayanan (who also is her arranger), commentary by multi-Grammy & Latin Grammy award winner Kabir Sehgal, photos and information on all the musicians involved, and a booklet containing all the lyrics. One gets the impression that this is a release of quality, and that is only reinforced as the music comes out of the speakers. This is Kathy’s eighth album, and unlike many other artists she isn’t revisiting songs from times gone by, but instead is presenting an album of originals, all her own work.
This is cool jazz, where the mood is reflective and cozy, where each note and nuance has an important part to play and where the vocals are never forced and at times are almost languorous. There is a decadent feeling to the album, a richness and quality, and one can just drift away on her wonderful voice, with a production that provides space yet also brings everything together. Delicate yet powerful, Kathy’s love songs bring together different threads and strands to create a wonderful whole.”
Kev Rowland
“ . . . cozy, soft, and sexy like a favorite cashmere sweater. There is something ethereal and captivating about this artist, about her band and her stories . . . You’ll remember the Kathy Sanborn sound long after the last tune has finished.”
“Kathy Sanborn’s eighth CD, Recollecting You, is quite remarkable in a number of ways. First, how the hell a woman so fully evocative of the post-West Coast School Of Cool could have escaped my attention, and that of the major labels and cinematographers, for so long is baffling, as evidences of complete maturity mark every inch of this breath-taking disc. I guess it’s possible, but…I missed eight releases? Amazing. Nonetheless, Recollecting You is a singularly unique immersion in musical romance, hedonism, and achingly wistful reminiscence.
Sanborn takes up where the cherished Misty Miss Christy left off in the late 50’s, then slides gently over to slip into the throne Sade vacated, enveloped in warm fog and balmy breezes. Along the way, she’s embraced the sensual depths of Ricki Lee Jones and Kimiko Itoh, not to mention Kenny Rankin at his most sensitive. Every cut on the 10 track collection, completely written by Sanborn, drips with consummate sensuality from the most profound intensities of the feminine soul, passions turned around to quietly smolder in smoky renditions.
Then there are the masterful embellishments of her backing quartet led by producer Keerthy Narayanan on keyboards and bass, exquisite in both cases. The gent may be India-based but he’s overpowered this splinter of the Western jazz genre and made it his own. He arranges all the songs, an exceedingly artfully stripped-down Nelson Riddle or Henry Mancini but with every ounce of the lush passions of the two compressed into every moment. Brilliant readings from the ensemble weave luxury into delicacy, guest guitarist Ciro Hurtado appearing in “Kissed (Shoobop, Shoobop)” while band member Wayne Ricci is a reborn Chet Baker on trumpet.
Most of this disc is the equivalent of a down-tempo enthrallment in soma, Aldous Huxley’s fictive pleasure drug, though “The Boys are Back Again” suddenly glides uptempo, as does its follower, “Always You,” illustrating Sanborn’s heady zest for life, band bouncing along beside her, somewhat like some of Sergio Mendes’ older work a la Fool on the Hill. Nonetheless, if Recollecting You doesn’t establish Ms. Sanborn as a major presence, then I give up and you’ll find me wandering the world in sackcloth and ashes . . . but with a portable CD player and this disc, of course."
“An outstanding album, with musicians in complete harmony with the project.”
“A sultry CD, proving that jazz is not necessarily for improvisation, but for the right atmosphere. Recommended.”
“World-class musicians . . . poetic lyrics . . . plenty for listeners to enjoy.”
"KATHY SANBORN/Recollecting You: An album of original love songs recorded with some swift up and comers that are cleaning up the town fast, Sanborn serves as a bridge between classic cool jazz vocal and nu cool. This atmospheric set is a throwback to when an album was a statement in its whole and didn't need a single to power it when the chops and smarts ruled the roost. Contemporary jazz vocal fans will know this is one to take to heart. Well done."
“Most highly recommended . . . Shimmering vocals . . . Kathy's music will remain in your mind/heart/head for days (if not months) to come.”
"Singer-songwriter Kathy Sanborn breaks ground for World Groove music with her 2015 CD, Lights of Laniakea. There’s plenty of World Music sounds, courtesy of top musicians like Ricky Kej (arrangements, keys, bass), Vanil Veigas (santoor and keyboard programming) and Varsha Kej (sitar) and others, but the spotlight is on Kathy’s sultry sounding vocals. Merging exotic instrumentation with a kind of New Age oriented smooth jazz sound, Lights of Laniakea is all over the map musically but that’s what makes it so appealing. If the goal of Lights of Laniakea was to relax and inspire the listener, than Ms. Sanborn has wildly succeeded. That place where exotic Indian influenced jazz meets New Age vocals is where you’ll experience Lights of Laniakea. Music just doesn’t get more relaxing and sublime sounding than Lights of Laniakea."
“Lights of Laniakea is one of the top new age (and world) vocal albums of the year.”
"When you can say that an album of music does not exactly sound like anyone else, it is generally a compliment, but also a bit scary for listeners used to familiar touchstones in popular art. But when the music is this good, it over-rides all concerns and simply pleases anyone who takes the time to sit back and enjoy this cosmological ride."
"Kathy Sanborn describes her musical style as versatile; in her latest release, ‘Lights of Laniakea,’ she has delivered once again with her wonderful range of vocal styles being presented at their best.
Moving effortlessly from pure vocalisation as an instrumental component of her band to the Latin jazz rhythms, cool jazz beats, a little dash of the blues and sultry velvety sounds reminiscent of Sade, the work is fresh, enjoyable and delicate in a strangely robust manner.
The inspiration for this album comes from the mapping of a new supercluster in space by the University of Hawaii in 2014, which contains the Milky Way. The supercluster was named 'Laniakea,’ which means Immeasurable Heaven, and also pays tribute to the Polynesian navigators who used the stars and star maps to navigate their way across the oceans.
Immeasurable variations created and blended together to take the vocalisation of sound into the light of spiritual awareness, has been captured by Sanborn and Ricky Kej, working together to create a symbolic transference relating to movement towards the light of the cosmos to help light our way, as we search for positivity, light, love and goodness as an integral component of our lives.
As you listen to the words gently melded into the music you will hear a recurrent theme of light, abundant love, a belief that someday people will stop the wars and work towards making the world a better place, coupled with a genuine desire to encourage people to move away from the darkness, into the healing light. The pallet is as diverse as it is beautiful and with the undoubted skills of Kej adding to the mix, the alchemy reaches out to touch and soothe on many, many levels making incredibly pleasurable listening."
"The fluid beauty of Lights of Laniakea hearkens to its inspiration, a recently mapped supercluster in space containing our galaxy, dubbed Laniakea (meaning 'Immeasurable Heaven') by astronomers. An enchanting, cross-cultural audio experience, Lights of Laniakea is rapturously radiant."
“Lights of Laniakea almost feels as revolutionary as bebop did to jazz. Gentle but certainly a wild ride.”
"Kathy’s music creates a dreamy ambience that is as relaxing as it is uplifting; contemporary, yet timeless. Lights of Laniakea provides an enchanting listening experience to tune into the cosmos and drift away on."
“Kathy Sanborn is one of the most original vocalists in the American musical landscape.”
“Kathy Sanborn is able to convey emotional truths with a sound no one else can produce--a quavering joy that works equally well over an ocean or acoustic chords of ballads. No one else sings like that.”
“Kathy's voice truly is a gift from the heavens.”
“Dreamy ambience . . . reminiscent of vintage Anita O'Day.”
“A success . . . Tranquil musical atmospheres . . . Six Degrees of Cool demonstrates, once again, Sanborn’s silky voice and excellent vocal control.”
“Ten delicious selections . . . You will find yourself playing it continuously . . .”
“Steamy . . . Classic jazz with a torchlight finish . . . a jacuzzi for the ears."
“Kathy Sanborn brilliantly alternates ballads with upbeat music as demonstrated by songs like ‘Secret Paradise,’ ‘Waterfall,’ ‘Blame It On A Kiss,’ ‘Tell Me Goodbye,’ ‘Painted Blue,’ or the impeccable ‘Blues For Breakfast.’ Sensuality, freshness and well-constructed melodies are the common denominator of Blues For Breakfast.”