Stevie Holland's Talent Knows no Bounds!
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 02/10/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Stevie Holland is one of the most consistently satisfying jazz singers before the public today. Tough words? Not really for those who have seen and heard Holland live or even just fallen in love with her through her many CDs. She is a vocal stylist par excellence, a voice that can make the stars dance or lovers weep. Equally at home with upbeat tunes as she is with ballads, Stevie Holland knows how to get to the heart of the musical line as well as the lyrics. And now she unveils yet another aspect of her talent: this CD is the 'Original Cast Album' of a show she co-wrote with the equally gifted arranger and orchestrator Gary William Friedman and served as the one woman musical LOVE, LINDA. And it is a terrific cabaret sized show that should travel well!
Stevie Holland becomes Linda Lee Thomas, the understanding wife of Cole Porter, telling biographical bits about Cole Porter and the odd couple arrangement of their courtship and life together. This musical review has just enough spoken dialogue to let us in on the story of their lives, but the heady bulk of the show is simply one of the best collections of Cole Porter songs to appear anywhere. Holland really understands Cole Porter's sophisticated, at times slightly naughty songs and her delivery (with GW Friedman's arrangements) is aided by the graceful piano of Landon Knoblock, bass player Peter Brendler, and Jeff David on drums. She gives special meaning to 'So In Love' by coupling it with 'What is this Thing called Love?', and pauses for Porter favorites 'In the Still of the Night', 'Miss Otis Regrets', 'Night and Day' while including little known goodies like 'The Scampi', 'Let's Be Buddies' and 'Ours'. In all of the 15 selections on this well balanced and well produced CD Stevie Holland sings with crystal clarity, luxurious velvety tone and yet is able to add pizzazz with scat (as in 'Miss Otis Regrets') and approaching some of the songs as pure spontaneous jazz.
This is one of those CDs that will appeal to the widest possible audience - those who love Cole Porter's music, already established fans of Stevie Holland (and they are legion!), those who love musical theater, and those who simply appreciate a great artist sharing a tribute to a famous American composer. This album is one that every music lover should own. Grady Harp, February 10"
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1