Search - Maria Muldaur :: Love Wants to Dance

Muldaur Delivers Another Winner!

Thomas H. Moody | Nobleboro, ME United States | 09/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Maria Muldaur's latest offering, "Love Wants Dance," follows in the footsteps of her wonderful Peggy Lee tribute "A Woman Alone With The Blues." Here we find Muldaur as seductive and sultry as ever. She sings with an ease and carefree quality that reminds one of her earlier works, in particular "Sweet and Slow." Here we find the artist moving in a territory where at this point in her career she excels and cannot be mimicked or really outdone by any other singer.



There is particular care taken in the choice of material and its unified presentation. Muldaur and company move easily from the works of Harold Arlen and Blossom Dearie to songs of Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal and Brenda Burns as if they were all writing with the same pen. It's a great achievement to coherently put together such material without a seam! But then again, Muldaur's been doing such seamless work for years.



It's hard to pick a favorite here since every cut is exquisite, but I would single out " The Lies Of Handsome Men," "Isn't That The Thing To Do?" and "I've Got A Right To Sing The Blues" as particularly special. But it's also hard to not note Mahal's "Baby You're My Destiny," Burn's "The Strong Stand Alone," and Sheila Smith's "Every Day's A New Day."



Muldaur's band here is right in touch with the singer. Danny Caron's guitar work is splendid, and it weaves in and out in a languid style that suits Muldaur's voice and temperament perfectly. Jim Rothermel is also to be commended for some fine clarinet and sax work, especially on "I've Got A Right..."



"Love Wants To Dance" is as fine a recording as Muldaur has ever put out. While its not "Sweet Harmony" or "Richland Woman Blues," it is every bit as good as those recordings. One just has to remember that Maria Muldaur comes in many styles and colors and that from recording to recording she'll throw you a curve ball every time!

"

In the Mood

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 10/05/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Maria Muldaur's creative streak continues with "Love Wants to Dance." The incredible thing that Muldaur makes seem so effortless is making this diverse set of songs sound like they belong together. She sets the mood and draws us into the mood with her. From the opener, "The Lies of Handsome Men," her sultry wistful vocals pulse the emotions out of the lyric, "Somewhere in the corner of my mind, I'm not a fool completely blind. Even though he's hooked me on his line, I find the pleasure's been mine." Benny Goodman's "If Dreams Come True" begins to sound bluegrass with Joe Craven's violin before its uptempo swing gets our feet to tapping. The 7-minute "Love Dance" is as soft and swaying as any torch song that has been lit in the last century. "Come share your secret dreams with me," Muldaur invites on the sparse "Isn't That the Thing to Do?" Bob Dylan's "Moonlight" is remade so completely that one could swear he must have been one of the 1940's best composers. Taj Mahal's "Baby You're My Destiny" is an upbeat thrill as Muldaur croons, "You really mess with me." Harold Arlen's "I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues" is drenched with Jim Rothermel's sexy sax swagger as Muldaur's vocal interplays with the sax in a flirtatious sadness. "I found a shirt you left behind, hidden between some clothes of mine," she again croons with more sad sax weeping gently on "The Strong Stand Alone." Sheila Smith's bright upbeat "Everyday's A New Day" concludes the set. Muldaur continues to push the boundaries by discovering and reinventing excellent material that is enhanced by the singer's vocal embrace. Enjoy!"