Blossom Dearie had such a unique and original voice that to attempt to duplicate it would have been like asking Sinatra to sing Elvis or vice versa. Donnay is savvy enough to realise that so, rather than attempt the impossible, she takes the material associated with Blossom and puts her own stamp on it without taking the listener away from the ball park she's working in.
That this is the singer's tenth album speaks volumes for the esteem she's held in by those who know about these things i.e. DownBeat and JazzTimes. You can now add Bebop Spoken Here to that list.
The 18 tracks are a varied mix, opening with Roberta's Blues which was adapted by Blossom from a Billie Holiday recording and, here, further adapted by Roberta. Several number are sung à la chanteuse - Blossom lived in France for some years - and Roberta's voice could have made her the toast of present day Pigalle had she chosen to relocate to Paris.
If you loved Blossom you'll love this and, if you also love Roberta you'll love it even more!
A gem - Lance
Roberta's Blues; Peel
me a Grape; Just One of Those Things; Inside a Silent Tear; Plus je t'embrasse;
Someone to Watch Over me; Moonlight Saving Time; À Paris; The Party's Over; If I Were a Bell; Spring in
Manhattan; Unless it's You; You Fascinate me; I Wish You Love; It Amazes me; Put on a Happy Face.
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