Vocalist, Composer and Producer, Roberta Donnay celebrates Blossom Dearie on her 10th album,"Blossom-ing!". Donnay has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in the music industry and has toured through the US and Internationally. She has received many awards including the ASCAP composer award for her song "One World".
Donnay became a Blossom Dearie fan many years ago for Dearie's ability to produce simple but swinging storytelling. Roberta Donnay has exhibited the same musical characteristicss in her large body of work but adds her own sassy, bluesy interpretations that her audiences love. She has created a wonderful sound and when combined with her superb phrasing makes anything she sings perfect for the listener.
Donnay has selected 16 songs associated with Dearie for this album that our perfect. The song written by of the greatest and most honored composers and lyricists in America. Some of the songs will be familiar to you and others will quickly become new favorites for you. I honestly enjoyed every minute listening to this Album and its wonderful playlist of songs.
The musicians that Donnay selected for this Album also greatly contributed to the high level of this musical product. Great vocalist, great songs and great musicians is always a winning combination for any album.
Picking two songs out of the 16 classic songs on this CD was difficult. The songs on this album will satisfy even the most selective Jazz vocalist fans. Want-to-be Jazz vocalists should use Roberta Donnay's "Blossom-ing!" as one of their learning master classes. The quality of Donnay's voice is amazing and her phrasing is Sinatra-like. The song I have attached is titled "Roberta's Blues" was written by Billie Holiday and later adapted by Blossom Dearie. The second song, "Unless It's You" was written by Johnny Mandel and Morgan Ames. I was not familar with this Mandel song but after hearing it the first time, it has become one of my favorite songs. Johnny Mandel is a giant talent and yet, in my opinion, never gets the attention and adoration of the general public he truly deserves. The music and lyric for this song is superb and Donnay's storytelling phrasing is perfect!
PLAYLIST:
1. Roberta's Blues
2. Peel Me A Grape
3. Just One Of Those Things
4. Inside A Silent Tear
5. Plus Je T'Embrasse
6. Someone To Watch Over Me
7. Moonlight Savings Time
8. A Paris
9. The Party's Over
10. If I Were A Bell
11. Spring In Manhattan
12. Unless It's You
13. You Fascinate Me
14. I Wish You Love
15. It Amazes Me
16. Put On A Happy Face
PLAYERS:
Roberta Donnay- Vocals, Producer, Co-Arranger
Mike Greensill- Piano, Arranger
Ruth Davies- Bass
Mark Lee- Drums
Jose Neto- Guitar
David Sturdevant- Harmonica on "Spring In Manhattan"
MB Gordy- Percussion on "Inside A Silent Tear"
"Unless It's You"
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