Etta James - Blue Gardenia
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CD Details
Artist: Etta JamesEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2001-08-21
Music Label: RCA Victor
Soundtracks:
- This Bitter Earth
- He's Funny That Way
- In My Solitude
- There Is No Greater Love
- Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying
- Love Letters
- These Foolish Things
- Come Rain Or Shine
- Don't Worry 'Bout Me
- Cry Me A River
- Don't Blame Me
- My Man
- Blue Gardenia
Music reviews of Blue Gardenia
Music Review: the slings and arrows in song
Rating: 5 Stars
This disc gives us a mature, world-weary Etta, who sings her heart out in this fabulous jazz album, mostly about the slings and arrows of love, obsession, and in "He's Funny That Way", a recognition of one's own character failures. One of the main strengths of the CD is the choice of material, which consists of some of the best melodies and strongest lyrics ever written, and Etta wrings every ounce of soul out of them.
Outstanding are "Love Letters", "Cry Me a River", and the one that sticks with me long after the CD is over is "My Man".
This is music that will be appreciated by those who have been through the mill and come out a little bruised; those unscathed by life and love might not appreciate this recording, which may be one of Etta's finest, in the same way.
The musicians are superb, and echo the vocals in feeling. Cedar Walton on piano, Ronnie Buttacavoli on trumpet, Josh Sklair on guitar, and Red Holloway on tenor sax are stellar, as well as Tony Dumas, bass / Ralph Pendland, drums / George Bohannon, trumpet, and on "Love Letters", Rick Baptist, flugelhorn and Ron Powell on percussion.
The final track is sung by Etta's mother, Dorothy Leatherwood, and she'll bring a tear to your eye with her rendition of "Blue Gardenia".
Recorded between November of 2000 and March of 2001, the sound is terrific, and has a very intimate sound, as if one were front row and center in a small club.
The fold-out insert has a song list, recording info and liner notes: no lyrics, but one of the beauties of Etta's singing is her diction, and she makes every word understandable; there are no "misheard lyrics" on this CD.
Total playing time is 61'20.
Description of Blue Gardenia
Putting her age-deepened voice to another set of small-group versions of jazz and pop standards, Etta James makes Blue Gardenia a personal statement of mellow truth. Again in the company of pianist Cedar Walton, James inhabits "These Foolish Things," "Cry Me a River," and nearly a dozen others with her blues-drenched, hard-lived sensibility. Ever hopeful and apparently still a deep-dish romantic, James comfortably yet intently engages with the classic material--right down to her occasionally punctuating a lyric or a lick with a knowing "yeah." While most of the album has the feel of a last set in a dark club, she acquits herself well with the single left-field entry, growling her way through a samba arrangement of the '60s soul hit "Love Letters" with aplomb. Other than that, there are few surprises here. The feeling is the point, though, and it's fine. --Rickey WrightGeneral CDs
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