Search - Eva Cassidy :: Eva By Heart

The greatest female voice you will ever hear.

Christopher Norbury | Owatonna, MN United States | 03/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Barbra Streisand? No. Mahalia Jackson? Uh-uh. Joan Baez? No way. Aretha Franklin? Nope. Bessie Smith? Billie Holiday? Sorry. Ella Fitzgerald?... that's a tough one. I humbly submit that the greatest female voice of the pop, jazz, blues, gospel, soul/R&B and/or folk genres belongs to Eva Cassidy. Her range of expression, style and tone quality are second to none and must be heard to be believed. "How Can I Keep From Singing?" and "Wade In The Water" showcase Eva's gospel talents. Her vocal talents produce a truly astounding gospel choir in "How Can I Keep from Singing?" along with lead vocals that will send chills down your spine."I Know You By Heart" is as poignant a ballad as you will ever hear. "Songbird" and "Nightbird" show you the absolute clarity of tone and purity of emotion that her voice had. "Waly Waly" lifts you above the clouds and takes you away to a most ethereal world.But her best effort on this disk, in my opinion, is "Blues In The Night". WOW! The incredible power that she shows on this track will nail you to the wall. And her styling should be the textbook definition of "blues"- alternately smoldering and shouting, wailing, bending notes, sultry and seductive- the entire range of emotions in about 4 minutes. If there is a better recording of this tune anywhere, I have not heard it and I don't think I will in my lifetime.The bottom line here is that this is music of the highest order- technically stunning, emotionally searing, every song made hers personally so you really feel the communication between performer and listener. She achieves the highest goal of a performer- making the listener feel what she is feeling on every song. Music does not get any better than this."

This CD will break your heart and lift your spirits

Christopher Norbury | 09/02/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Eva By Heart" was released less than a year after Eva Cassidy's death. Other listeners have described Eva's once-in-a-lifetime voice in reviews here (see "Songbird"); I thought people might be interested in hearing a little background to this particular CD, which I learned about from local radio interviews when it was first released in the Washington DC area. Its production was an remarkable labor of love by her producer, Chris Biondo, and the other musicians involved. You would never know to listen to the album, but some of the songs started out with only Eva's voice on tape, and the accompaniment was added in the studio later. For example, Eva's violinist brother recorded the fiddle parts to "I Know You By Heart" and "How Can I Keep From Singing" when he was home visiting Eva in the hospital. The big band musicians in "Blues in the Night" never met in person; they recorded their various parts in the recording studio at different times. The duet with Chuck Brown, "Need Your Love So Bad," sounds as seductive and responsive as can be, but in fact Chuck added his voice after Eva's death, and it took him months because every time he tried, he started to cry. If all this sounds terribly phony and depressing, let me assure you that "Eva By Heart" is actually an uplifting experience, showcasing great songwriting and some of the best vocals you'll ever hear. "I Know You By Heart," the opening song, is a valentine for anyone who has ever loved and lost. Some of Eva's best singing is heard in the gospel numbers "Love Heals the Wound It Makes" and "How Can I Keep from Singing," and Eva's arrangement of the traditional Celtic song "Waly Waly" has a haunting beauty that is enhanced by the imaginative accompaniment of Lenny Williams.The CD comes with an attractive booklet of photos and other artwork, and notes by Grammmy-winning critic Joel E. Siegel.The collection "Songbird" has received considerable national attention, but this album has much to offer even if you already have some of the songs on the other CD."

A Masterpiece -- this record made my year.

Dean K. Brenneman | Washington, DC USA | 12/12/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard this record in a stereo store where the salesmen were using it to demonstrate thier equipment. The voice was truly haunting and the recording quality phenomenal. Imagine my surprise when I looked at the cover and found that it was recorded by local Washington, D.C. hip-hop producer, Chris Biondo, in his home studio. Clearly a labor of love, this was the rarest of finds: a no-budget recording of a local "undiscovered" performer that overcomes the odds and delivers worldclass production and reveals one of the greatest voices of our time. And once you learn the tragic story of Eva's premature death of cancer, the music becomes all the more bittersweet for the realization of the enormity of what is lost to us.But try to put that aside and listen to the entire range of emotions conveyed in this record. One of the many remarkable things about Eva Cassidy was her refusal to be pigeonholed into any one particular musical genre. For this album, Eva's eclectic song selections ranged from gospel and blues to folk and traditional; each delivered with a depth of feeling and vocal technique that is startling. Add to this Eva's unusual arrangements and Biondo's incredible studio technique and you'll find one of 1998's most satisfying performances. Give a copy to a friend."