Laura Dickinson (vocals/arrangements) + big band including Steve Trapani (bass trombone); Kye Palmer (trumpet); Andrew Synowiec (guitar) with other arrangements by James A. Mcmillen, Johnny Mandel, Brent Fischer, Larry Blank, Bill Liston, Alan Steinberger, Andrew Synowiec.
(Review by Lance)
Normally, Ann Alex would have been delegated for this Yuletide offering but Ann's already had one seasonal album so, as I don't think this is Russell's glass of mulled wine, I'll decide for myself as to whether it's a turkey or not.
Firstly, I do like Christmas, despite the false bonhomie and the dreadful sweaters, it's a time when you can get drunk without being treat as a social outcast and eat as much as you like without counting the calories. And, of course, there are the CDs such as this one...
The numbers here: Happy Holiday/The Holliday Season; I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm; Christmas is Starting Now; Peace and Joy; The Man With the Bag (Kay Starr laid down the benchmark for this one); Love You Didn't Do Right by Me (Rosie Clooney, wearing a figure-hugging black dress, sang it to Bing Crosby in White Christmas); A Marshmallow World (Bing sang this one on a Christmas album); Miss You Most; Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!; Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (JudyGarland sang it in Meet me in St. Louis) and Auld Lang Syne (everyone has sung this one!). A good choice and not too lachrymose. The arrangements could almost stand alone without the vocals and the solos are excellent.
Laura Dickinson is what Barbra Streisand might have been if she'd listened to Ella Fitzgerald instead of Ethel Merman. A wide range, a good sense of timing and some imaginative interpretations suggest that this lady from Orange County, CA is on her way.
Lance.
1 comment :
Woooo, thank you so much Holly and Lance! Very grateful!
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