Editorial Review

Recorded at the historic Olympia Theatre in Paris in November 2001, this is Diana Krall's first live album. Backed by her quicksilver comboof bassist John Clayton, drummer Jeff Hamilton, and guitarist JohnPisano (on some tracks), Krall's jazz heritage comes through loud and clear on this programof standards, ballads, and bossa novas. On Peggy Lee's "I Love Being Herewith You," Bob Dorough's "Devil May Care," and Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon," Krall's snappy, postbop piano playing shows off her debt to Nat "King" Cole and Jimmy Rowles. Her cool contralto vocals are illuminated by the Orchestre Symphonique Europeen, under the direction of Alan Broadbent, as well as the London Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Claus Ogerman. Krall's deep take on Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" is a great choice for an encore, and the CD concludes with Billy Joel's "Just theWay You Are" (a studio track from a film called Read more

Features

• Live

Reviews (123)

Thinking about the DVD???
Buy it. Now. Stop reading.
A great CD for testing speakers.
Love it or hate it. If you want to test your speakers for mid range replication. This is the CD to have. Raw vocals with all the flaws and high points. I love it. Mid range is great. If you are evaluating speakers, don't miss this one.

Warning: A review by a non-jazz fan
I should start this review by saying that I am not a jazz fan.I like a little bit every now and then, but I could never build a huge jazz collection.I listen to rock and other popular music-- everything from the Beatles to the Clash to the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Tori Amos.However, I came across this Diana Krall CD when I became interested in jazz music thanks to Joni Mitchell.Joni's albums of the '70s are heavily influenced by jazz.I loved them all, so I began looking for other female vocal jazz performers.It was in this way that I stumbled upon Diana Krall's "Live in Paris."
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Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Jazz Music    3. Pop   

Editorial Review

As one of the prime movers in that select sub-group of white folk-pop singers who have found a home in Brazilian style (Kenny Rankin is a "similar urban AOR rival," to quote a customer review), contemporary jazz artist Michael Franks has aged pretty well--if not all that gracefully. As a guy who resorts to couplets like "The clothes on my back/Are too Pasternak," he probably shouldn't be waxing philosophical about how "feeble" and "pedantic" critics are ("The Critics Are Never Kind," a musical-derived number onwhich Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Degas commiserate). Franks also makes music his subject too often for his own good, celebrating "The Cool School" in self-congratulatory fashion and the first time he heard "Take Five"--he says Dave Brubeck's beloved version, though his use of bleating smooth jazz saxist Eric Marienthal to evoke the great Paul Desmond makes you wonder. But his vocals are breezy and intimate, and the instrumental settings provided by a cast including guitarist Chuck Loeb and keyboardist David Sancious are attractive without being too slick. Fans whose "inner harmony always turns blue in the end" won't be able to resist the wistful pull of the songs. Read more

Reviews (20)

Musical poetry in motion.
My love of Michael Franks and Brazilian rhythms has never been in jeopardy. The thought of Michael merging his sublime style with this beautiful bossa sound was something that I was seriously looking forward to hearing. This is indeed a marriage made in heaven, and a pairing that I hope will be showcased more often than not in the future. His admiration for the late, great Antonio Carlos Jobim, and his touching 1995 album, "Abandoned Garden" flirted with all things Latin, and it is here where he has definitively rendezvoused in Rio.
I really wanted to like this
I've long been a Franks fan, owning pretty much all of his work, but the last few CDs have been profoundly mediocre.Rendezvous in Rio feels like a downhill slide to me with its cliched Braziliana and uninspired lyrics ("Me, I'm a child of the cool school"??).To me, "Songbird" redeems the CD.Sadly, Franks seems best at eulogies of late.
Michael Franks ROCKS!!
When I first bought this cd it took me awhile to warm up to it.But now after a week of listening to it I can say I love it... Michael Franks is always full of surprises.He and his band is EXTREMLY gifted... Somewhere I read once someone quoted Michael's music as like being on a magic carpet ride.In this case, it really is... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crossover Jazz    2. Jazz    3. Jazz Vocals    4. Pop    5. Smooth Jazz    6. United States of America   

Editorial Review

While Sinatra,Martin, and the Rat Pack were busy sacrificing a good measure of their vocal talents in the sordid business of fame and fortune,Tony Bennett was quietly, stubbornly, burnishing his vocal gifts into High, if seemingly effortless, Art. How good is Bennett? Just ask the Chairman of the Board and Head Rat: "The best goddamned pop singer I've ever heard." While a single disc can't offer much more than a sketchy outline of Bennett's rich, seven-decade career, this one offers the commercial peaks--and some telling hints at the restless artistic instinct that produced them. From the pure, nearly operatic power and perfect vibrato he displays on early hits such as "Rags to Riches," "Stranger in Paradise" and the overly theatrical, borderline kitsch of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" through his signature "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" to his gratifying if unlikely '90s resurgence, you can literally hear Bennett's voice tempering like the wood of a Stradivarius, his phrasing taking on a deceptively loose, jazz-fueled languor that tells you where his musical heart really lies. The singer, not the song; damn straight advice--take it from a master. Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (16)

Just a start for lots more to discover
In my opinion, Tony Bennett made a lot of "definite" versions of standards. A truly high accomplishment.
Great CD
Really enjoy this CD.I'm on chemotherapy and take a CD player to treatment and this is one of the ones I take with me.As I'm "older", I truly enjoy listening to songs I loved as a much younger person.Anyone who likes Tony Bennett should enjoy the Ultimate Tony Bennett.

Great Singer & Great Music
A friend of mine introduced me to the music of Tony Bennett.I was not alive when these tunes were first recorded.Now I listen to Tony Bennett all the time and this is my favorite CD.His music is great.I have over 11,000 songs and I can honestly say I like this CD the best! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Jazz-Pop    3. Pop    4. Pop Vocals    5. Popular Music    6. Traditional Pop    7. United States of America    8. Vocal    9. Vocal Jazz    10. Vocal Pop    11. Vocal/Standards   

Editorial Review

For anyone who suspects that record companies will soon be releasing EvaCassidy's voice mail messages, it's extraordinarily pleasing to note thatRead more

Reviews (76)

Majestic
Ms. Cassidy's death at such a young age left a large gap in American Music.Gifted with a pure, clear voice (which she could dirty up when the song called for it), perfect intonation, and a feel for lyrics, she was a singer's singer.She rarely fails to disappoint.On this album, check out her version of Danny Boy.Danny Boy is one of the most beautiful ballads in the Western canon.Of course, Danny Boy has been sung umpteen times, some excellent, some not so excellent, but I think Ms. Cassidy's version is one of the most touching I have ever heard. She stays very close to the melody, her guitar playing is simple yet effective, and her tone is suitably plaintive and mournful.If you don't have a tear in your eye at the end of the song, Irish or not, you must have a heart of stone.
Imagine What Could Have Been
My second foray into the remarkable world of Eva Cassidy was as good as my first, "Live at Blues Alley."This young lady had an incredible vocal talent, both in terms of ability and interpretation.Where a woman this young obtained all the vocal talent contained in this CD is a mystery only God can answer, but at least we get to hear her legacy.
You Can't Imagine
I love music - have been playing all my life and have a collection of CDs that number in the thousands. I listen to everything from Patti Austin to Frank Zappa. Eva Cassidy is on a very short list of absolute favorites. Eva's voice simply has to be heard. Eva blends the sweet sincerity of a folk singer with the power and bluesy feel of an R & B or Jazz singer. The songs on Imagine are a collection that showcases her folksier side. Just beautiful! If you don't have any Eva, you should. Once you do, you'll want everything. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Contemporary Singer/Songwriter    3. Folk    4. Folk & Traditional    5. Pop    6. Singer/Songwriter   

Features

• Deluxe Edition

Reviews (42)

Jamie Rocks the House!
Jamie is an incredible artist! I first heard about him promoting "Twentysomething" on NPR and am now hooked. After seeing him live at Chastain Park in Atlanta, there's no other word for him than BRILLIANT! The album is fantastic and definitely worth the $$$.

Pop and Chet Baker mixed.. Nah, it's Jaime just trying to be...
cool, seductive, and bring a fresh vibe to jazz.It's caught on, and he knows it.Dance music, with a smooth classic beat.I can get into that. I have to admit, I love getting My way, even if that's not the game we're playing, but the tone of this one album, just makes me say YES!

He should be prohibited -by law- from singing.
This guy stinks in a serious way. His voice is absolutely horrible, he cannot sing at all. He's twenty something years old and tries to sing some old classics, it is pathetic. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Ballads    3. Contemporary Jazz    4. Crossover Jazz    5. Jazz    6. Jazz Vocals    7. Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Vocal Jazz   

Editorial Review

Just as irony is being pronounced dead, along comes this boozy holiday compilation to suggest that rumors of its demise may be premature. Given the culture's simmering lounge mania, this collection (with its cheesy homage/rip-off Read more

Reviews (37)

Barely 5 stars
This was a tough one to rate as you have 3 legendary entertainers here who sang similiar songs but yet in completely different styles - if they all would have been the same, that'd be boring now....rite?.
warm up any season
the rat pack...what else do y'all need to know?Clasic, Classic, Classic.especially love Dean Martin's voice at Christmas time, he even sounds warm and cozy.

The best, romantic, greatest ever Christmas CD
I am very picky with my Christmas music! This is the best Christmas CD I own. It is classic and romantic. You feel like you are in a 1940's Christmas movie or sitting in a trendy coffee house in the falling snow. Buy this CD! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Popular Song    2. Ballads    3. Big Band    4. Christmas    5. Christmas / Chanukkah    6. Christmas Music    7. Holiday    8. Pop    9. Traditional Pop    10. V/a Compilations    11. Vocal Jazz    12. Vocal Pop    13. Xmas Vocal Collections   

Reviews (23)

The Best Singer in the world!!!!
This woman is the Best singer I've ever heard.I'm only 20 years old and I just looooove her music so much.

The Best.
Ella is without question the greatest American singer of all time. Buy this one, buy any of them, buy them all. She never made a bad album. She opens her mouth and heaven flows. I would also suggest any of the biographies, including some on dvd with performances. This diva was, IS, the real thing - with a heart to match the voice.

This Fella Loves Ella
Ella is an extraordinary and refreshing exception to most Jazz vocalists.Many Jazz singers have a very bad technique, producing their sound from their throats in an unhealthy manner.Ella, however, has the technique and stamina of a classical singer.This why her career peaked in her 40's and was able to sing until very late in her life.Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Jazz    3. Jazz Music    4. Jazz Vocals    5. Pop    6. Standards    7. Swing    8. Traditional Pop    9. Vocal Jazz   

Editorial Review

With a series of terrific albums, Cassandra Wilson has established herself as one of the day's great vocalists and, in branching out from jazz into blues and folk and pop, paved the way for genre-crossing stars including Norah Jones. But the Mississippi native has rarely sounded as relaxed or winning as she does on "Thunderbird," which teams her with the stalwart Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Contemporary Jazz    3. Electric Blues    4. Jazz    5. Modern Delta Blues    6. Modern Electric Blues    7. Modern Electric Chicago Blues    8. Pop    9. Soul-Blues    10. United States of America    11. Urban    12. Vocal Jazz   

Editorial Review

It seems an easy task to put together a CD for a series about a funeral home...pick some songs about death and make people smirk on topic for a moment before they toss it into the soundtrack graveyard. But this is not a disc to be tossed away. Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (42)

Even better than Vol. 1
Volume 2 of the Soundtrack for "Six Feet Under" simply blows Volume 1 out by going a step beyond what its predecessor did. Incorporating a balanced combination of the best of the indie world at the time of its release (Death Cab for Cutie, The Arcade Fire, Interpol, etc.) with a handful of recent classics (Radiohead's "Lucky" and Coldplay's "Rush of Blood to the Head") and an opening track by Nina Simone from 1965, the album brings great memories from an even greater TV show that we will miss sorely.
A Solid Soundtrack
Nice CD. I always liked the effort the producers upt into choosing music for the show, as music helps immensely in creating emotions. All of the other reviewers' comments were right on the money with regards to this album, and I am happy I own both volumes of this soundtrack (Wish each season would have released a collection, but I guess that hardline aficionados can piece together their own favorites...) Sorry to see the show end, but alas, Everything Does.

i wish it weren't the end
lots of songs are good in this soundtrack. i wish there could be another one following this one. because it's been better then the first soundtrack. all the music in this one is so pure and eager to tell people how good it is to be alive. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Pop    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Soundtrack    6. Soundtracks    7. Soundtracks & Film Scores    8. TV Soundtracks    9. Television Music    10. Vocal Jazz   

Editorial Review

Tony Bennett has a typical lack of effusiveness about the kudos of his seven-decade career, but he does reportedly display an inscribed picture from a longtime colleague and fellow saloon singer in his Manhattan apartment. It reads: "To the best goddamned pop singer I've ever heard." It's signed "Frank Sinatra." But don't take the Chairman's word for it. Just listen as these two discs bound from one masterly performance to the next, documenting a career whose ups and downs--Bennett actually went long years Read more

Features

• Limited Edition
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (13)

Poorly engineered and unworthy of this great artist.
This two CD set is a disappointment.Yes, all the great Tony Bennett songs are here and there are many glimpses of his timeless artistry. But before you buy you need to know:
Spanning The Decades With Finesse
Tony Bennett's vocals are timeless.Just listen to his early works as he began developing his own special style.And whether Tony sang grand ballads or cool jazz, he brought his unique essence to his music.
The essential tony bennet provides you with beautiful music,and sound.This double cd is sure to please.
The essential tony bennett,contains,most of tonys best music...I have always been a fan of the old standards...Why today,there are so many of todays singers singing the timeless standards.Tony bennett represents class,and a stanard of musical integrety,that is rarly,captured in todays music...This is a great album to relax with. 5 star rated,and good deal.thank you!! "enjoy" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Pop Vocals    3. Popular Music    4. Vocal   

Editorial Review

Like a mink draped over mahogany, Diana Krall's luxuriously supple alto adorns the vintage songs of romance and longing found on Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (155)

Great Krall Interpretations of Love Songs
Diana Krall proves why she's such a phenomenal jazz singer on this CD.
Love Scenes by Diana Krall
Diana Krall's voice is very relaxing. When you listen to this CD, have a drink in your hand, sit back and just breathe. It's even better if you have someone you love to lean against on when you're listening to this. But either way, it's a great CD that I think any jazz or adult contemporary listener would love.

A great CD
A great voice, well mastered. When you hear Diana Krall's voice in this CD, you can find something wrong in a lot of great jazz vocalists. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Bop    3. Contemporary Jazz    4. Jazz    5. Jazz Music    6. Pop    7. Standards    8. Swing    9. Torch Songs    10. Traditional Pop    11. Vocal Jazz   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (134)

TIME REMEMBERED
This wonderful collection of standards, given superb treatment by Steve Tyrell and his A1 musicians, takes me back to the time when music and lyrics had class.A CD to add to my top-drawer collection.

Mister Smooth!
This collection of songs has to be one of the best collection of renditions I have ever heard.
Wow--One of the Finest Albums in the Last Decade
The title may seem overstated by some of you, but honestly this is such a terrific CD.Steve Tyrell was an A&R man in the record business for decades, and always had the dream of producing a record of standards.This is it, and a more delightful blend of jazz, vocals and arrangement you will not find.Steve's voice is certainly not the crooner type a'la Frank Sinatra, but has a gravely tone that quickly grows on you.Of all his CD's this one is the best.If you come out to LA, check the Catalina Bar and Grill because he performs there quite frequently and I have seen Burt Bacharach and Rod Stewart in the audience. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Jazz Music    3. Jazz-Pop    4. Pop    5. Standards    6. Vocal    7. Vocal Jazz    8. Vocal Pop   

Editorial Review

As you may already know from seeing it hawked incessantly on late-night TV by Jerry Vale, Read more

Reviews (50)

What a rip...
Yeah, the music is good (excepting the crappy "Godfather" remake), but this is a little over 60 minutes of music released on two CDs, for no good reason other than to charge the unwitting consumer more money. You could fit the entire collection on one disc, and have room for 8 more songs (they're saving those for "Mob Hits 2", ripping you off at store near you!). There are better compilations out there... and better deals.

Fun listening...
This is the second set I have purchased....I wore the other set out.My cousin in Italy laughed for an hour after hearing it.We call it our happy music.It tugs at my Italian heart.

"Blast From The Past"
Wow...Good Old Dago Songs...Feel like I'm back in old Atlantic City...You know - Steel Pier...500 Club etc. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Brill Building Pop    3. Pop    4. Soundtrack    5. Soundtracks & Film Scores    6. Swing    7. Traditional Pop    8. Vocal    9. Vocal Collections    10. Vocal Jazz    11. Vocal Pop   

Editorial Review

As its title indicate, this CD sees popular vocalist Steve Tyrell pay tribute to the Sinatra songbook, and pretty much every track is a famous nugget closely identified with the Chairman of the Board. That Tyrell is no Sinatra is a given, but the combination of his slightly hammy delivery and old-school arrangements makes this perfect bourbon and leather-armchair music--familiar and comfortable. Three of the songs ("Fly Me to the Moon," "The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else" and "Something Stupid") reproduce the original orchestrations--and really, how can you go wrong with those?--while the others boast cushy new ones by Bob Mann, Alan Broadbent or Count Basie arranger Sammy Nestico.In his press notes, Tyrell remarks that "Nice and Easy" features "the most modern of all the arrangements on the album," but fear not: It sounds exactly like the others, and modernity here only means extra-velvety strings and super-relaxed horns. Echoing the pairing of Frank and Nancy Sinatra on the original, Tyrell sings "Something Stupid" with his daughter Lauryn, though she seems to be pushed behind in the mix and is barely audible. But hey, Frank didn't like sharing the spotlight either! Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (33)

Great unforgettable Sinatra songs
Anazon makes the old, hard to find songs easy to find and order.I was delighted to find the Sinatra CDs to give to my husband for his birthday, and he was thrilled to get them.The CDs have better sound than the originals.

A BIG FRANK FAN
A GOOD SINATRA TRIBUTE CD, BUT SUFFERS LIKE ALL THE REST.I HAVE SINTRA SINGING SINATRA.WHY WOULD I WANT OR NEED ANY ONE ELSE SINGING SINATRA?

Fantastic
We just continue to play the cd over and over.We love Steve Tyrell and the arrangements are wonderful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Pop    3. Standards    4. Traditional Pop    5. Vocal    6. Vocal Jazz    7. Vocal Pop   

Editorial Review

A year after his slickly produced recording debut launched him on a meteoric course to stardom, this combo CD/DVD set chronicles Michael Buble's crowd-pleasing live performances before amphitheater-sized crowds on a triumphant national tour. The audio portion kicks off with pair of new studio recordings again reinforce the 20-something Canadian heartthrob's 1950s-something artistic tack with mixed results: "Nice 'n' Easy" has a Sinatra-faithful jazzy swing; the overproduced, somnambulistic "Can't Help Falling in Love" evokes Perry Como more than Elvis. The remainder of the audio CD is comprised mostly of live versions of songs from Buble's debut, with his takes of "My Funny Valentine," "Fever," Van Morrison's "Moondance" and "Mack the Knife" again suggesting that Buble has an ear cocked wisely towards the Bobby Darin oeuvre. But with the notable exception of three elegant live-in-studio performances culled from Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Live

Reviews (101)

Come Fly With Me
This is awesome great to chill out with.Even the kids love it!!!!

Great CD
Michael Buble is the greatest male artist since Frank Sinatra. I absolutely love this CD and DVD. He is super personable and very entertaining!

GLAD I DECIDED YES
I ALMOST DID NOT BUY THIS DVD/CD BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS I READ ON AMAZON, HOWEVER AFTER SEEING MICHAEL BUBLE IN CONCERT , AND SEEING WHAT HE GIVES OF HIMSELF TO HIS AUDIENCE , I WANTED TO SEE ALL THERE WAS TO SEE AND BOUGHT IT, HOW BAD COULD IT BE? IT IS WONDERFUL , BESIDES HIS AMAZING TALENT , THIS DVD IS FUN, FUNKY , AND SO ENTERTAINING, YES THERE IS LOTS OF CAMERA MOVEMENT , WITH OFF STAGE ANTICS INTERSPURSED WITH ON STAGE MUSIC, NOT THE TYPICAL CONCERT DVD, FOR THAT GET THE WONDERFUL "CAUGHT IN THE ACT" BUT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SEE ANOTHER SIDE OF THIS YOUNG, TALENTED, HUMBLE, GIVING, ENTERTAINER SEE THIS AND ENJOY !!! GLAD I DECIDED YES!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Big Band    3. Canada    4. Pop    5. Pop Vocals    6. Rock/Pop    7. Standards    8. Swing    9. Traditional Pop    10. Vocal Jazz    11. Vocal Pop   

Editorial Review

A romantic's collection if ever there was one, this cachet of songs graced the equally heart-tugging film. King of the Croon and Swoon, Nat King Cole's "Stardust" is probably the most obvious of the young lovers' themes here. Louis Armstrong and Jimmy Durante, ordinarily not the most romantic of sorts, prove themselves worthy contenders with "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" and "As Time Goes By," respectively. "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" gets an elegantly simple treatment from Carly Simon, and Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man" confirms her status as the late, great Queen of Country. The only disappointments with this collection are the absence of heart-wrenching numbers by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, or even Johnny Mathis; and the inclusion of the horrendous rendition of "When I Fall in Love" by the over-rated Celine Dion with Clive Griffin. --Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (31)

Possibly the best movie soundtrack of all time.
I absolutely love this soundtrack. My parents and I watched "Sleepless in Seattle" as the in-flight movie on the way to America and the movie always congures up such warm memories for me. We bought the soundtrack after coming back home and it has become almost like a lullaby to me. We have played the CD so often it actually wore out. Such timeless, soothing music. I think it is one of the best movie soundtracks of all movie. All other versions of any of the songs on the soundtrack just don't compare. I definately recommend this soundtrack to all.

A classic soundtrack for a classic romance.
This is one of the few album/soundtracks, in which I never skip a song, because each one is good and perfect. Each song's lyrics describes the relantionship perfect, about two people who don't meet intill the very end. Each song talk about the longing of each other and love. " As time goes by" by Jimmy Durante is pretty good and he puts his print on the famous song. " Stardust" by Nat King Cole is very romantic, and tells of two people who long to be together. " A wink and a smile" by Harry Conick Jr. tells of two people are meant for each other ( just like the main characters of the movie ). The theme to " An affair to remeber" is here, and is of course what the movie ( sleepless in seattle ) makes reference to! It's a gem of an album, and is romantic as the movie.

"Moonlight And Love Songs Are Never Out Of Date"
"You must remember this
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Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Soundtrack    3. Soundtracks    4. Soundtracks & Film Scores    5. Torch Songs    6. Traditional Pop    7. Vocal Jazz    8. Vocal Pop   

Reviews (11)

What a voice!!!! She knows how to use it too.
At last, a singer to become excited about. With a voice with the clarity and range of Sarah Vaughan, Roberta tackles a series of well known and not so well known standards.The girl can swing, scat and capture your heart with her interpretations.She takes her time and makes use of her impressive voice and makes great use of space and pacing.
Needs more than 5 stars!
Dark, bright, swinging, thoughtful, tasteful ... this CD has a touch of it all.Roberta is clearly a talent worthy of a wider audience.I heard her originally on the well known Jonathan Schwartz radio show here in the NYC area (on XM now as well), and could hardly wait to purchase this release.Fans of jazz vocals can only hope more will be forthcoming.Great arrangements, great recording, great musicians - but mostly the great talent of Roberta Gambarini.

AS GOOD AS IT GETS! ! ! ! !
FINALLY ! ! ! A femalel vocalist who REALLY is in the same league as Ella, Sarah and the few other greats who ever walked the earth. Not only is she the BEST female vocalist to come along in DECADES, this album is PERFECT. Besides her absolutely perfect singing, phrasing, intonation and style etc., you also get a group of SUPERB musicians backing her up and playing exactly what is called for. You ALSO get JAMES MOODY on tenor sax and vocals on two of the tracks. ALSO, for you out there who want to know how good that high end equiptment you might own can sound, the recording quality of this CD is absolutely perfect. Recorded and mixed by Al Schmitt. This guy should get an award. Every time I play this CD it's hard to convince myself that it isn't live in my living room. So many great CD's suffer from really lousy recording quality. This is a great CD to see how good vocals sound on that high end gear. All I can say is, being a jazz and female vocalist fanatic, FINALLY someone up there in the ranks with Ella and all the other greats finally appears. And on her DEBUT CD ! ! ! I can't wait for Roberta Gambarini to do another CD. I've never been this excited about a new artist. This is a MUST HAVE ! ! ! I never had much faith in the Grammy Awards, we all know they go to those who sell the most CD's, but if SHE doesn't get a Grammy for this CD, then that is PROOF that the Grammy's are a farce. BUY IT. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Jazz Vocals    3. Pop   

Reviews (11)

Billie's Best - Accept No Substitutes
Billie Holiday is the quintessential jazz singer; despite a limited vocal range she set the standard by which all others are measured.It's all about the quality of her voice, the lush tone, and her marvelously idiosyncratic phrasing.Though her career was short and troubled, she recorded a lot, which means novice collectors must avoid innumerable bear traps.In general, her later work should be ignored, by then she was wearing her emotional problems like an ugly hat, despair manifested itself in performances so lackluster they're depressing at best, frequently downright tragic.