Carol Welsman - Carol Welsman

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Free Music Notes for Carol Welsman

Free Music Review: IF THERE'S A HEAVEN...
Hit: 5 Stars

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Welsman has chosen material which showcases her myriad talents to great effect. Fluent in several languages, Welsman literally crosses the globe on this engaging recording, from Brazil to Cuba, and from Spain to Canada, America and beyond, without ever once losing sight of her own voice. Without exaggeration, every track exudes confidence and the pure joy of making music with the ideal group of musicians.

Welsman's seemingly effortless command of the material is clear from the first track, "Brazasia," a paean to an exotic locale and to a lover. Cuban-born drummer Jimmy Branly propels the song into an irresistible groove that never lets up. "Hold Me", a song co-written by Welsman and John Acosta, is heard next in a completely new version, with a tempo that lets Carol deliver a heartfelt vocal that serves the song beautifully, and is complemented by some gorgeous alto sax courtesy of Eric Marienthal. "Dans Cette Chambre" marks the first time a French language adaptation has been created and recorded of Gordon Lightfoot's classic "Beautiful," a song steeped in Canadian history.

"What A Fool Believes" is a fresh take on the Doobie Brothers' 1978 #1 hit song, and features saxophonist Vern Dorge on soprano. This leads beautifully into Gilberto Gil's classic "Eu Vim De Bahia," whose lyrics perfectly reflect the album's tone.

"Caf??" is an original track that lets Branly, Haslip and Welsman stretch out and groove. It features wordless vocals and Branly on at least eight different percussion tracks. "Live to Tell" is, of course written by Madonna, with Patrick Leonard. Not many would dare attempt to cover this song, but Welsman pulls it off with aplomb. The song builds beautifully to its emotional summit, with Carol's rich contralto tapping into the gorgeous chord changes, altering the original vocal just enough to give it a new twist. Carol subtly makes the song her own, with her voice up front, undisguised.

"Nosotros" is a standard that will be familiar to fans of Latin music, especially those who prefer ballads. It also demonstrates yet another language with which Carol is completely at ease, whether singing or speaking. Next up is one of the album's strongest tracks. "Too Close For Comfort" features not only Branly's expert chops, but also the rock-steady bass work of Jimmy Haslip and the awesome guitar work of Pierre C??t??, who can do virtually anything with a guitar.

"With Me" is a captivating ballad written by Carol's good friend Jeremy Lubbock, the multiple Grammy-winning producer, arranger, songwriter and Oscar nominee whose credits include tracks for Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston and Quincy Jones. This sensuous track showcases Carol alone, just voice and keyboards.

"Dans Mon ?Žle" is of course the classic by Henri Salvador, the legendary singer/songwriter from French Guiana. Carol's version is beguiling, and shows how at ease she is with the French language and the song's intoxicating melody.

The album features two bonus tracks: "Beautiful" is the Gordon Lightfoot song, this time in its original language; and "Ora" is "Hold Me" in Italian - yet another language with which Welsman is completely at ease.

"Carol Welsman" is a powerful yet accessible work by a much-admired musician whose time has come. It features thoughtfully chosen material, beautifully recorded and lovingly mixed (by Joe Vannelli, who also mastered), performed by a small core group of professionals. The result is an honest statement from an artist who is as strong in a live setting as she is on record. That artist - and that recording - is CAROL WELSMAN.

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