Salt Lake a magical place for jazz singer, band

During 2008, jazz singer Stacey Kent added the stamps of 27 countries to her passport.

But she's been off tour since December, and after the grind of the road, she values her time off.

Only two things are bringing her out of performance-hibernation: the Grammy Awards, where her album, "Breakfast on the Morning Train," is up for Best Vocal Album and Monday's performance as part of the Jazz at the Sheraton series.

"We tour a lot, but there are some places that stick out in your mind as being very special and magical, its impossible to say why," she said about her upcoming Utah gig during a phone conversation.

Kent said she made deliberate choice to be part of the 2009 Sheraton series because she considers the producer, Gordon Hanks, a friend.

"There is an incredible warmth and an incredible welcome by the people that run that series. I think the whole audience feels it," she said.

The show is a reunion of sorts for Kent, who is in huge demand in Europe. During shows there, she is joined by a different band, with the exception of her husband — Saxophonist Jim Tomlinson.

During the Salt Lake show, Kent and Tomlinson will be joined by New York pianist Art Hirahara, Gordy Johnson on bass and Phil Hey on drums, the latter two from Minnesota.

They last played together in June. So will there be any rust?

"Its a band that clicks so well, it just falls into place. We don't worry about, well, anything," Kent said.

The group has a "pad" of songs to choose from and will run through a sound check on the day of the show and see what they are in the mood to play. They'll also play a few requests that have come their way by way of MySpace.com, Facebook.com or Kent's Web site — www.staceykent.com.

"We met (all the band members) years and years ago before I was very well known. We hit it off so great. It's not explainable, you know how it is, when you get together you feel something."

Fans and Grammy voters have been feeling something, too. Kent's album and tour have been commercial hits and she feels proud about the effort.

"We were so proud of the album long before we handed over the masters to the record company. Jim and I were striving for certain things on this record. We had grown up and matured."

She wouldn't mind winning the Grammy, of course, but it will not change things for the singer.

"You don't make records thinking about that sort of thing. I am on the planet to make music. That is my life."

If you go

What: Stacey Kent

Where: Sheraton City Center, 150 W. 500 South

When: Monday, 7:30 p.m.

How much: $25

Web: www.24tix.com

E-mail: lc@desnews.com