Regina Belle - Lazy Afternoon
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Regina BelleEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2004-07-13
Music Label: Peak Records
Soundtracks:
- Lazy Afternoon
- Fly Me To The Moon
- What Are You Afraid Of
- If I Ruled The World
- Corcovado
- There's A Love
- Why Do People Fall In Love
- For The Love Of You
- If I Should Lose You
- Moanin'
- The Man I Love
- Try A Little Tenderness
Free Music Notes for Lazy Afternoon
Free Music Review: Exquisite Audio Delivery!
Hit: 5 Stars
The music business is a strange wonderland where luck is sometimes more important than talent.Here I don't want to demean any of the artists who have made it big because of this luck factor but I am sure we can think of several ( Celine,Mariah,Nathalie..just to name a few).Then,there's the other folks : the musicians who aren't that well known although they are loaded with musical talent.
Regina Belle is on this list !!
And ,let me tell you,this is a shame. Because this sophisticated, reclusive and reluctant Lady has one hell of a lot of talent.
You may not agree,but Jazz and R&B are closely related musical genres. Ray Charles,Nancy Wilson,Aretha Franklin,and the same Anita Baker,among several others, have 'crossed over' from one genre to the other. But it seems that some 'jazz' fans don't give R&B artists the credit they are due.
I am not sure why that is. Great music,with strong melodies and powerful rhythms,is worth listening to no matter what the genre.
With this digression aside,'LAZY AFTERNOON' is an album that should appeal to both jazz purists and R&B purists.
The songs are as diverse a group of tunes as we can find : from Broadway to torch songs,from
jazz to popular Sinatra, Bennett,Gershwin standards.
However,on each of these songs,Regina performs in her own unique style,mixing R&B and Jazz with passion and love.
Joining the lady on the album are a number of tremendous musicians including George Duke who has produced the album,arranged all the songs and plays keyboards or piano on every cut.
1) Lazy Afternoon.
'It's a lazy afternoon
and the beetle bugs are zooming
and the tulip trees are blooming
and there's not another human in view
but us two'...
George Duke starts off with speaking-skipping keyboards before the rest of the ensemble joins in and Regina sings the opening lyrics (after a little soft scatting). This song came from a Broadway play but, as sung and arranged,this is a beautiful jazz ballad. Regina sings with authority with hints of Billie Holiday and Dianne Reeves in her voice. As with most excellent singers,she gives her musicians a chance to strutt their stuff.
The tune is a perfect motif for this relaxed,passionate trip for two lovers.
2) Fly me to the moon.
As with the first track, I'm impressed by the length of the cut.No three minute wonders here.It allows both singer and musicians a chance to stretch out.
I am astounded by the rendition of one of Sinatra's standards.She starts off with the seldom heard,but quite beautiful verse, in which she leads perfectly into the well-known melody and lyrics. And,my oh my,is this the goosebump rendition with Regina's powerful vocal and sensuous scatting and 'get down and growl' moaning. Everette Harp has a fine tenor solo and Duke is at his best on piano,but Regina is the true STAR
.
3) What are you afraid of?
Jeez ,this one knocks me off the chair.The opening lyrics are performed in the best Pointer Sisters R&B fashion and then Regina brings the fire down a notch with a voice that can modulate in the middle of notes or be straight-forward. Ray Fuller plays some great guitar licks and Regina refers to someone else who is the great singer Nancy Wilson. And,there are hints of that great lady too. But,once again,Regina is sensational in her own right
The song rocks out with amazing harmonies between musicians,background vocals( the fab Perri sisters) and Regina's scatting.This is what great music is all about !
4) If I ruled the world
Man,why isn't this lady famous ? Or have we just been living in a cave ?
From the wild ,hot ending on the previous song,Regina brings forth a marvelous feeling through her inspiring interpretation of this beautiful ballad,and,at times,she has a Sarah Vaughn element in her voice.It's a laid-back performance that is full of soulful,joyful sound.
5) Corcovado
To show off Regina's versatility and range,George Duke has arranged this classic Bossa Nova tune from the greatest of all bossa nova composers,Antonio Carlos Jobim. Shivers slide down my spine as Regina and George open the song with a R&B flavour over the bossa rhythm.Regina shows her lower range throughout the first part of the song and Everette Harp is back with a big Coleman Hawkins-like tenor sax solo.
6) There's a love
Regina and George Duke wrote this catchy tune that again combines elements of Latin jazz with R&B pure jazz .Belle sings the solos but there are great group vocal ensemble performances and fine music from Duke (vibes via a keyboard) and Everette Harp.
7) Why do people fall in love
Another gorgeous ballad performed with quiet perfection.The song asks the eternal question in the title and includes some truly poetic lyrics :
'Where do we get this sensation?
Who designed the combination?
Desire when he's near,the everlasting fear
That one day he would say goodbye'...
Regina Belle really shows her R&B training with a growling strenght and passionate feelings as the song progresses.
8) For the love of you
With some funny spoken words,this old Isley Brothers' classic is recreated by Regina and her back-up singers(the Perri sisters).George is the only musician who plays an instrument on the cut.Soulful,sensual,sensational singing.
9) If I should lose you
Duke on acoustic piano.Regina Belle on vocals.That's it.
If this song doesn't move you,you're six feet under.
"If I should lose you
the stars would fall from the sky
If I should lose you
the leaves would wither and die"
While these sentiments have been spoken and sung many times,seldom have I heard them performed with such a moving,heartbreaking passion. Duke proves here that he is not only a tremendous arranger but also a fantastic pianist.
And,Regina? Listen, please,if you want to hear beauty !
10) Moanin'
Lord,have mercy on me ! I love this song written by Timmons and Jon Hendricks.
Jon Hendricks is one of the "inventors" of vocalese,which is putting lyrics to instrumental songs,and I bet he would love this re-issue of this classic blues/jazz number.
11) The man I love
From "Moanin'" to this tune is one hell of musical leap.
But,true greatness is shown in the performer who can bridge those leaps with a seeming ease.And,Regina is such a vocalist and song-stylist.Words are always inadequate to describe the beauty of a musical masterpiece...
12) Try a little tenderness
Regina sings this old classic with a full gospel feeling and has tremendous interaction with the musicians,entreating them to 'talk' to her more tenderly with their instruments.Ray Fuller does so on guitar and George Duke and Belle carry on a...conversation !
If you like Jazz,if you like Rhythm and Blues,if you like Music,you should buy this album.FIVE GREAT BIG STARS !
Great music to play while : romancing.
Lazy Afternoon Poster
Japanese pressing of the soul-jazz vocalist's 2004 album includes one bonus track 'Lazy Afternoon' (Remix). JVC.Pop Music CDs
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