On March 13, jazz vocalist Emmy Irvine and jazz drummer Dempsey Miller showed why Oberlin is home to one of the greatest conservatories in the world. They presented their junior recital to a packed audience in Birenbaum Performance Space with an ever-changing band. From arrangements to their own original music, it is hard to not be impressed by the talent and skill each of them carries.
Irvine began her half with Betty Carter’s “Sounds.” Although it is a jazz standard, her arrangement had a musical theater feeling, showing Irvine’s range as a musician and her love for the genre. She made sure her band hit all the right beats, and also added her own solos to embellish the harmony leaving people in awe.
Her vocal talent shined with a warm and bright timbre similar to Sarah Vaughn’s, but she truly stunned the crowd with her original “Nobody’s Secret,” accompanying herself on the keyboard with chords akin to a Hiatus Kaiyote or Yebba song. Each chord was full of life and helped to show Irvine’s inspiration from genres like R&B/Soul.
Irvine then invited the band back onstage finishing her set with another original, “Do I Need?” This drew yelps and hollers from the audience. Not because no one thought she could do it, but because no one could believe they were hearing and seeing this for free.
Miller then took the stage behind the drums and started with Jeff Parker’s “Sea Change.” One can tell Miller is dedicated to her craft because she hones in on each instrument she accompanies. She is truly the heart of the band and takes that job very seriously. “Sea Change” was full of waves of dynamics that Miller controlled masterfully while also attuned to the rhythms of the solos from the guitar and the bass.
People did not realize the next tune, “Untitled,” was a Miller original. Describing this song is difficult. It has the feeling and harmonies of Roy Ayers mixed with the drumming of a Thundercat song, but that doesn’t capture the piece’s overall soundscape.
Miller finished her set, and the recital, by inviting Irvine and other musicians onstage for her arrangement of Sacha Distel’s “The Good Life.” This again showed off Miller’s prowess at driving a song, while making space for her collaborators to find their own pockets. Hearing Irvine and Miller collaborate on the final song brought the recital to a perfect conclusion.
It’s not hard to believe why Oberlin has been able to produce multiple Grammy award winners. One, if not all of us, are sitting next to a future winner and Irvine and Miller showed just that.
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