Search - Cleo Laine :: Woman to Woman

ADVENTURESOME VOCAL MASTERPIECE~BRAVO CLEO!!!

Bradly Briggs | TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA | 09/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cleo Laine is one of the finest ever of the great singers from England as well as one of the most versatile and this marvelous collection of all women composers over the past hundred years is her glorious masterpiece that is an awesome achievement that I love to experience frequently since its release in the late eighties!!! From a treasure chest of classic songs by women composers, Cleo starts with one of the finest and Melissa Manchester's classic "Come In From The Rain" is thrilling as Cleo turns this song inside out and creates a stunning listening experience that is memorable. Mellow Brazilian rhythm frames a gorgeous "Inside A Silent Tear" which flows with a masterful silky vocal and soulful sax while a hauntingly beautiful vocal make "My Favorite Year" a wonderous listening experience. Magnificent vocal beauty is devastating in the magical "I Love You Truly" that has an arrangement that is full of tempo changes and wonderful surprises. At this point it is apparent that the musicians are equal to the great singing and the arrangements by John Danksworth (Cleo's husband) are all masterful and perfectly frame Cleo's amazing vocals and what a winning musical team these two are!! A classical arrangement frames an exquisite "Since You've Asked" while the sentimental evergreen "I'll Never Smile Again" has never been sung with such emotional depth and extraordinary vocal beauty. A sensitive and brilliant take on "Both Sides Now" and masterful on a haunting "In The Days Of Our Love", Cleo shows what a great JAZZ DIVA she is on the divine Billie Holiday "Fine And Mellow" that will make your head spin as this wild and bluesy cooker is a great ride that you will want to repeat numerous times!! A classic definitive "Willow Weep For Me" is followed by a mesmerizing and sulty vocal on the beautiful "Close Your Eyes" which flows into the elegant and richly sung "Grand Reunion". "Secret Feeling" is a enchanting Cleo Laine original which is on the same extraordinary level set in this wonderful collection of great songs. An exquisite and magnificent vocal make for a fascinating "Your Eyes Speak To Me" which features a beautiful violin solo that compliments Cleo's sublime vocal. As with all truly great artists the best is saved for last and the exotic Brazilian masterpiece "It's All In My Hands" is an extraordinary song in every way imaginable with a wildly stirring arrangement that swirls around an intoxicating vocal that is a revalation and get ready to use the repeat mode...Cleo is incredible throughout this classic collection giving great soul-deep performance's that will make a fan of anyone who loves great singers...DO NOT MISS THIS MASTERPIECE as sadly this brilliant collection is OUT OF PRINT!! Bravo to Cleo Laine AND John Dankworth for this a brilliant musical journey..."