Stevie Holland - More Than Words Can Say (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

5 Stars for the Singer

Rick Cornell | Reno, Nv USA | 07/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If memory serves, Christopher Loudon of "Jazz Times" said very nice things about Stevie Holland and this c.d. last year. I can't get to them all on time; but a friend recently advised that I really needed to get to this one.

What can I say, but thank you, compadre!

Stevie Holland is a terrific singer. She reminds me a lot of Ann Hampton Callaway and Jackie Ryan, both for the richness of her singing voice and for her range of styles. Whether a growling, shouting blues ("Only You"), standards jazz ("Day By Day" and "Desafinado"), cabaret ("If Ever I Would Leave You") or some killer originals ("Firefly" and "Evening Song"--both my favorites on this disc), Ms. Holland shines impressively.

The backup musicians are equally great. I'm not familiar with any of them, but everything sounds appropriate and accomplished. And Danny Lawrence and Sarah Register have done terrific jobs in recording, mixing, engineering and mastering this c.d. This is one that sounds great on a killer sound system!

When a c.d. sounds this good, though, the producer usually deserves the most kudos, and this disc is no exception. The producers here are Gary William Friedman and Tim Peierls, and Mr. Friedman did quintuple duty as arranger, orchestrator, conductor and on "Lovingly", "Evening Song" and the title track, songwriter. In many ways, this c.d. belongs as much to him as to Ms. Holland.

Nonetheless, there's a reason for the title of this review: it is Ms. Holland's voice, first and foremost, that distinguishes this album. My only critique of this c.d. is that it's another "here's 12 songs that I like" disc. I.e., what's it really all about? I've downgraded other discs for this reason. Not this time, though. Stevie Holland is too good, and this disc sounds too good, to downgrade for that reason.

I suspect that Stevie Holland--even though she's been around for awhile--has only scratched the surface. And this is a surface worth exploring. Highly recommended. RC

"

A Whole Lot More Stevie Holland This Time!

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 05/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stevie Holland is such a rewarding artist, a singer with smarts who believes in her lyrics, the owner of a voice capable both of the softest caress of sadness or reverie and the joyous brassiness of sass! She is simply wonderful - by anyone's standards.

For those fortunate enough to own her other fine CDs this new release will not come as a shock: we have all been well prepared for Stevie's intuitive approach to songs both new and old and have a firm hold on her 'style'...or do we? On this collection of both known and not so well known selections she is again abetted by the fine work of Gary William Friedman who has arranged, orchestrated (yes, folks, full orchestra this time around!) and conducted the ensemble. Not that all of the tracks are luxuriously big orchestra: she still respects her jazz musicians who back her - no, collaborate with her - with polished élan.

Everyone will have particular favorites (if you can actually separate them into an order...), but for this listener it's hard to better her rendition of Antonio Carlos Jobim's 'Desafinado', sung in English with a flair that will make you forget the original. But then there is also Jerome Kern's haunting 'Yesterdays', and a really fine take on Lerner and Lowe's 'If ever I would leave you', a song written for a man, but Stevie now owns it.

This is a first class CD with a terrific body of music sung by one sophisticated lady! The title of the album really tells the truth about what awaits you inside. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, May 06

"

Smoothjazz.com Review

Sandy Shore | Monterey, CA | 06/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A colorful career of cabaret and theater leads Stevie to jazz... MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY is a solid, swinging, soulful collection of songs offering a diverse variety. Ms. Holland's latest release was arranged and orchestrated by award winning composer Gary William Friedman. This 12-song collection delves into classic jazz standards from the 1950's and 1970's, sprinkled with original compositions all handled with innovation and confidence. Strings enhance the artist's effortless vocals... A stylish, expressive singer; you might hear essences of Diana Krall and Marilyn Scott... We're buying what she's selling here with her creative and powerful attack on hits like "Only You," the iconic 50's smash and the opening track on MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY. Stevie lays it down in a big way capturing the "Wow Factor." I enjoy this project... It commandingly meanders through the floral memories of the past including the show stopping, "If Ever I Would Leave You," never would I have imagined a jazz-fringed arrangement of this one, but it's stunning. The Smoothjazz.com Hot Pick is Stevie's stellar version of Kenny Loggin's "This Is It." The minute I heard it I thought to myself that it was curious that no one else considered covering this one... 'Til now. Stevie does it great justice and owns it. Contemporary, cool and classic. Truly, more than words can say, but I did my best to describe this unique and jazzy collection of songs and I hope enough to inspire you to listen for yourself. ~SANDY SHORE"

More Than Words Can Say

Lois Qualben | Austin, Texas United States | 11/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stevie Holland is a superb artist with a gift for a moving interpretation of each song she renders. Her voice is without a doubt one of finest out there. The songs she writes along with the arrangements by Gary Friedman are perfection. Each number is sung with deep feeling and with perfect pitch. This woman's recordings should be at the top of the charts."

"Soon Comes Goodbye, With No Reason Why, And Yesterdays Can'

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 10/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Stevie Holland just tears through with her crystalline voice, which impressively has the precision of a diamond cutter." ~ George Harris, All About Jazz - West Coast Edition ~

Not knowing what to expect how she delivers since this is my very first Stevie Holland CD, I was so eager to listen to this collection, which offers an impressive combination of classic standards, Bossa Nova, some songs from the Fifties and Seventies and some of her original songs. For an opener, Ms. Holland takes us back in time when "Only You" was the number one hit and she gives this song a whole new charm with that notable sax solo by Ole Mathisen. After listening to it and a swingy yet samba-ish version of Jerome Kern/Otto Harbach's chestnut "Yesterdays," I was hooked and couldn't wait to savor the rest of the tracks. Lerner & Loewe's "If Ever I Would Leave You" simply blew me away from the very first bar to the last! It's so breathtakingly beautiful. Her voice glows all throughout the song. Its arrangement is flawless and Martin Bejerano shines on the piano solo.

My ears perked up listening to her dazzling take on "Day By Day," the jazziest track with mambo-ish cadence. She's so at-ease interpreting songs with Latin-flavored-arrangements like my number one choice, "Desafinado." She gave this charming Bossa Nova gem the retire-the-trophy treatment and made it her own. Sean Harkness' stellar guitar solo reminds me of guitar virtuoso Wes Montgomery.

Adding to the sheer beauty of these recordings are the talents and efforts of a bevy of fine musicians: award winning and a brilliant composer/arranger/conductor Gary William Friedman, Martin Bejerano and Kris Davis (piano), Hans Glawischnig and Rob Jost (bass), Einar Scheving and Jeff Davis (drums), Sean Harkness (guitar), Ole Mathisen (saxophone) and Lauren Riley (cello) and the Strings Orchestra.

I can say that Ms. Holland's musicality is deeply rooted, which is an important factor in attaining stardom in the music world. And she doesn't only have that exquisite voice but also an incredible talent in songwriting. Some of her original songs are highlighted in this CD, "Firefly" and a sweet song with intelligent lyrics that she co-wrote with Gary William Friedman, "Evening Song."

"Warm summers in the garden

Music would fill the air

There was a time of beauty and rhyme

When magic was ours to share

Life moves along too quickly

When will we ever learn

Soon comes goodbye, with no reason why

And yesterdays can't return."

The title track and also one that she co-wrote with Mr. Friedman, "More Than Words Can Say," is a song with a strong melody that caught my ears and I've been singing it in my heart and one of my favorites now. Her rich tonal quality and unflawed phrasing can't go unnoticed.

"You know just where my heart is

You carry it from day to day

You know what I feel is

More than words can say . . .

I'll tell you every morning

Tell you every evening

Tell you that I love you more than words can say

I love you more than words can ever say

I love you more than words can say."

To sum it up, this CD is a keeper and I've enjoyed every minute of my listening session. Who wouldn't be enthralled by her voice? She sings with finesse and a style that caresses the melodies and gives the lyrics justice with her perfect phrasing and colorful renditions. Hers is the kind of voice that has the power to move the listeners to mixed emotions - that of pure joy or certain sadness.

I'll certainly check her other CDs out - "Restless Willow," "Almost Like Being In Love" and "Do You Ever Dream?"

With my heartfelt recommendation for your listening pleasure forever and a day.

"

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