Vocalist-lyricist Georgia Mancio and pianist-composer Alan Broadbent have come to define jazz singing, accompaniment and songwriting today at the highest level. In 2017 and 2021, Georgia and Alan released two stunning albums—Songbook and their follow-up Quiet Is the Star. All of the songs were composed by Alan, and the lyrics were by Georgia. Now, we have a glorious third entry from this writing and performing duo—A Story Left Untold (Room Spin), with Andrew Cleyndert on bass and Dave Ohm on drums. [Photo above of Georgia Mancio and Alan Broadbent by Tatiana Gorilovsky]
Alan is a legend and a beautiful cat. He has been recording since 1965 and arranging on recording sessions since 1967. He was Woody Herman's pianist in the 1970s and arranged some of the Thundering Herd's best material. He also recorded two sterling duo albums with vocalist Irene Kral—Where Is Love (1974) and Gentle Rain (1977). And the list goes on. Over the decades, Alan recorded with a staggering number of jazz gods. His playing on the new album is so elegant and lovely. Every chord and improvisation defines great taste. For more on Alan's background and accomplishments, see my interview here.
Georgia is fast becoming a legend. She has been recording since 2004 and puts her heart into every recording she releases. Her voice is impossibly beautiful, gliding effortlessly through the upper and lower registers with ease. As a lyricist, she is grand. Her words are sophisticated and smart, and ride Alan's melodies and piano with sincerity and balance. And she's as sweet as can be. For more on Georgia, see my interview here.
The tracks:
- Then and Now
- In the Afternoon
- From Me to You
- The Love I Left Behind
- When the Time Has Come to Part
- A Lark's Lament
- Same Old Moon
- Still We All Can Dream
- Heart of Hearts
- A Story Left Untold
On the last track above, the group was backed by FAME's Skopje Studio Orchestra. The FAME Institute is based in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, and was launched in 2022 via the first Pan-European Cultural Entities Program.
When Georgia and Alan wrap up Heart of Hearts at the end of the album's trio portion, you'll want to leap up and applaud, shouting for an encore. I did. The Mancio-Broadbent songbook should be given serious consideration by all jazz artists. A Story Left Untold is perfect on every level and worthy of a Grammy. Alan and Georgia have created songs that will be around forever. An album that knows where all the tender places are in one’s heart.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find A Story Left Untold (Room Spin) here and eventually on all major streaming platforms. My recommendation is to buy it along with their two other. All three albums are sensitive and fantastic listening. As with the others, their new one finds its way into your soul.
JazzWax clips: Here's From Me to You...
Here's When the Time Has Come to Part...
When the Time Has Come to Part
And here's Heart of Hearts...
Bonus: Here's Georgia, Alan, Andrew and Dave in a clip promoting their current U.K. tour. A shame they're not coming to New York and other major U.S. cities...
