Cassandra Wilson - Loverly
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Free Music Notes for Loverly
Free Music Review: I Wanted to Love it to Epic Proportions . . .
Hit: 4 Stars
. . . but it just didn't rise to that level. I have every one of her CDs and am a huge fan, but this doesn't work to the level of _Blue Light 'Til Dawn_, _New Moon Daughter_, or even _Traveling Miles_. It is in her same vein of work, though: the gorgeous, husky vocals, somewhat creative takes on those standards, and impeccable arrangements and support from other players.
That makes it a very comfortable addition to her library, but not a standout. It's better that what most everybody is putting out there, but I hold her to a much higher standard, fair or not. I expect spectacular. This just isn't quite.
As much as I love some of the songs, none of them really stands out in particular, which is very unusual for her. I usually want to hear a track or two (or three) immediately after that first listen through the CD. That didn't happen this time, which was a downer.
The most disappointing track for me was "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," in which I wanted to hear her do that very final run sooo badly. She took a less conventional take, though, which I would usually applaud, but in this case was disappointing. If that's her worst sin, though, she's doing pretty well.
Free Music Review: Not groundbreaking, but GREAT covers
Hit: 4 Stars
There are moments listening to "Til there was You" when I asked myself why she didn't do this song before? But perhaps, knowing her voice and how tight her backup musicians are with her, they would ALL need to arrive under the flow of the same confluence -- like all good musicians do who know each other well, all need to arrive on time. And on time they do, particularly with "Black Orpheus", and her version of "The Very Thought of You", which is for me, the epitome of a soul's voice singing the deepest and most complete song of yearning ever written. A close second was "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most", which was richest in Wilson's famous vocal irony. This album is more than enough to get you through a lazy Sunday afternoon, or, if you're lucky, a turn on the dance floor of your own kitchen or apartment, dancing slow and close with someone you adore.Free Music Review: not your standard dusty "standards" album
Hit: 4 Stars
After the miserably over-produced "Thunderbird," this record has a spontaneity that's really refreshing. I must say that when I first heard that Cassandra Wilson was going to do an entire album of standards, I was a bit concerned that she would try to reinvent "Blue Skies." But this album feels a lot edgier to me than "Blue Skies," imbuing even the most traditional tracks with an in-the-moment vibrancy that makes them very modern. Other reviewers have already enthused about "Caravan" and "St. James Infirmary" - and I agree that these are both terrific, maybe the best tracks on the CD - but I also felt great joy at hearing Cassandra's rendition of "'Til There Was You," a track I wouldn't have seen myself intuitively connecting with. It's too soon for me to know how "Loverly" compares with my favorite CDs from this artist, but I'm pleased so far.Free Music Review: Loverly indeed!
Hit: 4 Stars
On first thought, I didn't think Cassandra was up to the task of covering such songs as "Lover Come Back to Me" and "Loverly," but she made a fool out of me by giving these vintage pieces nice new turns with her distinctive voice. Still, she seems more at home on such songs as "St. James Infirmary" and "Dust My Broom," recalling her earlier forays into the Blues on Blue Light Til Dawn and New Moon Daughter. All in all, this is a very good album with excellent accompaniment by Jason Moran and Lonnie Plaxico.Free Music Review: Always
Hit: 4 Stars
You can not go wrong with Cassandra Wilson. Though this album does not reach -- in my humble estimation -- the depths nor heights of Blue Light 'Til Dawn, there is always a place for her comtemplative and purely communicative expression in whatever time you devote to listening, really listening, to music. SHe is a jazz staple, and much deserves to be revered along with Billie, Ella and Sarah.