Dorothy Doring (voice);
Phil Mattson (piano)
(Review by Ann Alex).
This CD does just what is says on the tin, or
rather the CD insert, and does it really well. I’d recommend this if you're feeling depressed, as the general effect is cheering despite some sad love
songs, and if it’s nostalgia you're after, there’s lots of that from these
mainly 1930’s and 40’s numbers.
Dorothy Doring is an experienced singer of country,
rock and blues, as well as jazz, and has a rich, cool vocal tone with a
vulnerable edge. Phil Mattson, twice
nominated for a Grammy award, is a skilled arranger for bands such as Manhattan Transfer, and has accompanied
such artists as Bobby McFerrin. His
piano is well matched to the songs, with short solos and a variety of styles,
including hints of rags and American musicals.
The 11 tracks are: Day Dream;
Everything But You; Something To Live For; Love You Madly; I Got It Bad And
That Ain't Good; In A Mellow Tone; Lush Life; I'm Just A Lucky So And So; I Didn't Know About You; I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart; Heaven.
I liked especially Everything But You, which lists everything the singer possesses,
including ‘a knife and a fork to spoon with’.
Clever lyrics abound in these songs with lots of witty rhymes. In A Mellow Tone is a lively swing with
rag elements from the piano; Lush Life
(most readers will know that Strayhorn did both words and music) is sung in a
halting, intimate, sensitive voice, and the lyrics give us lots of internal
rhymes such as ‘where one relaxes on the axis of the wheel of life’. The final number, Heaven, (Ellington, later, from 1967) is a wonderful ethereal tune
with an airy feel which suits the subject, but what a difficult song to
sing. I tried, and just couldn't grasp
the tune. Well done, Ms Doring!
The CD is available on the Artist Records label, with a street date of March 26, 2013, and can
also be obtained via iTunes; CDbaby.com; and Amazon.com.
Ann Alex
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