‘The Voice’ recap: Adam Levine brags, Pharrell Williams begs

Time is flying on “The Voice” this season. At the outset of Tuesday’s round of blind auditions, the coaches’ teams of 12 were around, or just over, half full: Pharrell Williams had eight singers, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton each had seven, and Adam Levine had just six. By the end of the evening, each coach had only two seats remaining.

As the night wore on and the teams filled, the coaches got a little more picky, letting a few worthy contenders slide by.

“Your voice is amazing. It’s hard to say why I didn’t press my button,” Stefani told one talented singer, Tini Grey, who’d failed to turn any chairs, despite having an appealing crushed-velvety tone.

Oh, well. There’s always next year.

Here’s who did make it through:

Katriz Trinidad
This San Diego 15-year-old, whose parents moved to the U.S. from the Philippines and who has already won 14 competitions in her short life, spun Shelton, Stefani and Williams with her classic, satin-smooth performance of “At Last.” Shelton told her she was “just born to be star” and “deserved to win,” reminding her that he’d had “a lot of luck with teenagers” on the show. Stefani said Trinidad was “almost like a perfect singer,” admiring the way she’d begun with soft control and then ramped up until she “hit a note that was so mind-blowing.” But Williams seemed to want the singer most. “I’ve been dreaming for an artist like you all my career,” he told the teen. “I want you on my team so bad -- and I’ve never done this -- I’m on my knees.” He even held up a sign that said “please.” It worked. Pharrell it was.

Ethan Butler
A 25-year-old pastor’s son, raised on gospel in Chicago, sang “Beneath Your Beautiful,” dedicating it to his sister, who has cerebral palsy and autism and who, he said, inspires him. Levine and Shelton spun right away, and then held the others off by not displaying emotion after they turned. Levine complimented Butler on getting lost in the music and told him that he could grow by losing a little bit of control. Shelton said he was a real musician and was “more than ready” for the competition; he promised to help him discover who he was as an artist. Although Butler had initially thought he’d go with Shelton, in the end, Levine proved more persuasive. “I can’t believe I let him get away,” Shelton later lamented.

Tanner Linford
This 17-year-old returnee, who had failed to turn any chairs in Season 6 with his shaky version of Rihanna’s “Stay” and been encouraged then to come back and give it another try, looked like he was headed for a similar fate with his somewhat less shaky version of Alison Krauss’ “When You Say Nothing At All.” At the last minute, though, Shelton saved him with a button push. The coaches complimented Linford on his emotion and potential. Shelton declared Linford to be just hitting his stride and predicted big changes ahead.

Jean Kelley
After sharing the very sad story of her mother’s sudden death the summer before Kelley started middle school, this 29-year-old Nashville singer sang an emotional rendition of “Already Gone,” spinning Stefani and Shelton at the very last minute. Shelton told her she’d held a long note that made him realize she was “a for-real singer -- not a Pharrell singer” and that he needed someone like her on his team. Stefani said they had similar tones and hairdos, but admired the singer’s range, vibe and style. Kelley had apparently come in a big Stefani fan. “I pick Gwen,” she said.

Chris Jamison
All four coaches spun their chairs for this disarmingly charming 20-year-old college student (and triplet!) from Pittsburgh. Shelton and Williams even gave his mellifluous rendition of “Gravity” a standing ovation. Stefani couldn’t believe how cute he was and promised to help him bring out “more of a signature sound.” Williams complimented him on the way he “got lost in the moment” and “let it go,” comparing him to a race-car driver who knew when it was “time to put the pedal to the metal.” Shelton promised to shine a spotlight on Jamison’s talent. But Levine took a more critical approach, saying he thought Jamison should scale back a bit for greater impact and promised to help him do it. “I think you can improve,” Levine told him. “I want to help you take it to the next level.” Jamison took in the critique and chose Levine.

Craig Wayne Boyd
A single dad and 35-year-old working musician from Nashville, Boyd has put in his time, but his big break has eluded him. His arresting, classic-country take on Travis Tritt’s “The Whiskey Ain’t Working” appealed to both Shelton and Williams. Williams complimented Boyd’s growls, runs and ad-libs, but Shelton seemed a foregone conclusion. The country coach cemented his standing by inviting Boyd to join with him to “teach America some country music” and “turn ‘The Voice’ into a honkeytonk.’” Team Blake it was.

Toia Jones
Raised in Montgomery, Ala., on both church music and old-school blues, this 29-year-old singer sang a soulful rendition of “One and Only” that prompted both Williams and then, later, Levine to push their buttons. After Levine complimented Jones’ lipstick, she said she’d worn it for him. Levine also told her that he had no one like her on his team – but that Williams had a lot of singers singing in her “particular style” on his. Things weren’t looking good for Williams, but he told Jones that, if she chose Team Adam, Levine would “lift” her, whereas if she chose his team, he would help her lift herself. “I felt your spirit, and I felt someone who was singing for their life with their life,” he told the singer. “We will build what you want to build.” Though she’d come in, she said, “leaning toward Adam,” Jones chose Team Pharrell, explaining that he “spoke to my spirit.”

Amanda Lee Peers
Stefani ended up having no competition for this 29-year-old singer from Rochester, N.Y., who grew up in a family of born-again Christians, but left the church because she felt unwelcome as a gay woman. With her girlfriend’s encouragement, she followed her dreams to “The Voice” stage, sang a rousing “Put the Gun Down,” and ended up on Team Gwen. “You guys are made for each other,” Levine said. Williams, meanwhile, expressed regret for not having turned around.

After a quick series of fast-forward pick-ups -- Gianna Salvato went to Team Gwen, Rebekah Samarin joined Team Adam, Grant Ganzer landed on Team Blake – that left all the coaches with two spots remaining on their teams, save for Levine, who had three, we heard from the final singer of the night.

Jonathan Wyndham
This handsome 22-year-old from South Carolina was billed as “eccentric,” but only, it seems, because, as a kid, he was into Tolkien and Star Wars action figures and, as a grownup, he’s trying to hit every Cracker Barrel in the country as he travels playing music. (Really, producers? That’s “eccentric”?) He spun all four coaches with his take on “Say Something,” and was hailed for his cuteness, strength and sincerity. Shelton seemed like he had a shot, given, as he noted, their shared fondness for “plaid and leather and blue jeans” and, oh yes, Cracker Barrel. “OMG, we were meant to be,” Shelton said. But no, Wyndham had been a big Maroon 5 fan since he was “like, 12,” he said, and he went with Levine. “Oh, it feels good to be the king [of the four-chair turn] again,” Levine gloated.

Indeed, it must. Let’s see if Levine can keep it up next Monday, on the last night – yes, already – of the Season 7 blind auditions.