Bewitching
H. J. Sandford | Yorkshire, England | 06/30/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Its not often American Artists take the shores of England so to heart let alone marry a native but fate blessed us twice and we are blessed with the warm glow of Stacey's voice. As a popular British radio producer once said "I could listen to Stacey Kent sing morning, noon and night, from now to eternity" and boy did he capture her essence so beautifully.Stacey has grown and developed as an artist and her voice is compelling. This her latest release is a tender captivating performance dedicated to the work of Richard Rodgers, an album following her predictable pattern. Those familiar with Ms Kent will know that from the moment her works hit the player there's no shadow of a doubt about the quality of the songs she sings. And to sing tunes and words of those all time greats is a daunting task. It takes real talent to capture their essence, essentially repackage them and sell them to a discerning audience. It requires a strong confidence in one's art, a confidence in one's uniqueness. Her polish is unwavering and I'm still bewitched from experiencing one of her live performances recently. Stacey Kent has a distinctive voice, superb pitch and an alluring style which is hard to resist. This album doesn't have a single disappointing moment and oozes perfection throughout. I particularly enjoyed her interpretation of "Shall We Dance" and " Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered."
Quality stuff
bossa_nova | Kent | 06/18/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The subtitle `music of Richard Rogers' guarantees the high musical quality of the songs on this album, and Stacey's interpretations are as beguiling as ever. Besides the standards, she tackles a couple of songs not usually given jazz treatments, with a delightful version of `Shall We Dance' from The King and I. Stacey is my favorite of the young jazz vocalists around today. Being based in the UK, she isn't as well known in the States as she should be. If you like Diana Krall and Jane Monheit, you should check her out. Her husband Jim Tomlinson on tenor sax contributes a beautiful lyrical version of `It Never Entered My Mind', and her regular band wraps her voice in a warm backing sound, Colin Oxley's discreet guitar work being notable."
Absolutely sublime
Robert A. Shubert | IN, USA | 12/18/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Once again, Stacey Kent has defied the odds and come out with an album that is better than all her previous ones. Featuring the great music of Richard Rodgers, Stacey and her band bring fresh interpretations such as a gentle bossa beat (courtesy of Colin Oxley's elegant guitar) to "It Might As Well Be Spring" or a very fun, feminist reading of "I'm Going To Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair." Stacey's voice is in great form, and hubby Jim Tomlinson's tenor sax is as intimate as ever (and check out his lovely flute work on "Bali Hai") Too bad we are limited to only five stars..."Dreamsville" was at least six, and this one should be seven. The only complaint is we have to get the imports from either Japan or the UK."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
