Search - Wesla Whitfield :: In My Life

San Francisco Chronicle CD Reviews

Wilmington | San Francisco, Ca USA | 01/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Singing and gently swinging at the top of her already lofty form,

Wesla Whitfield has made herself musically indispensable. Those who

missed her recent glowing evening at the Empire Plush Room can now

catch up with the latest marvels from San Francisco's hometown

cabaret heroine. Whitfield spins out 15 suave, richly felt

interpretations here on a ribbon of amber sound, undulant phrasing

and shimmering, clear lyrics. She can turn from sassy to seductive to

wistful in a moment, but nothing ever feels hurried or forced.

Everything flows with a natural inner pulse, whether it's Rodgers and

Hammerstein ("When the Children Are Asleep"), Lennon and McCartney

("In My Life") or Harburg and Schwartz ("I'll Be Tired of You"). The

opening cut, a luxuriant amble through "Tea for Two," of all things,

signals what's to come -- the unexpected pacing of a familiar song,

the discovery of fresh wonder and pain, the illumination of a song's

inner space. "Where Is Love?"(from "Oliver! ") comes across as

murmurous introspection. "Some Other Time" is philosophy set to

Leonard Bernstein's ruefully resigned melody. When Whitfield turns

her thoughts to "The Wee Small Hours of the Morning," you can hear

that she's been there and found her way to memory's mixed

consolations. Her husband, Mike Greensill, supports her, as ever,

with his perfectly judged musical direction and faultless piano

settings.

by Steven Winn

San Francisco Chronicle, January 30, 2005"

Another great, romantic album

Rick Cornell | Reno, Nv USA | 04/23/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you hear the first 32 bars of this album, you're liable to ask, "Who or what is that??"



You soon discover that that was the rarely-sung intro to the old chestnut, "Tea for Two." And then, rather than the soft-shoe shuffle, tap dancing arrangement that you invariably hear with this song, you hear an intimate, beautiful piano arrangement by Mike Greensill, while Ms. Whitfield vocally caresses the song.



The feeling of "wow!" is subsequently dimmed somewhat by the fact that every one of the 15 tunes on this album is basically more of the same.



But only slightly. This is the most exquisite piano-voice duet album since Tony Bennett and Bill Evans. (Well, there is a bassist here; but the arrangements make him superfloss. This might as well be a voice-piano duet album.) Mr. Greensill in particular is sensational throughout. And, if you're like me, this album will be the first time you have heard the intros to such songs as "Autumn in New York", "Street of Dreams" and "Some Other Time." Ms. Whitfield believes in complete interpretations, and that's a good thing.



The only non-Great American Songbook-standard on this set is the title track, the famous Lennon-McCartney tune of the same name. I love Ms. Whitfield's description of this Beatles' chestnut from her liner notes: "This is the story of everyone's life; ordinary and extraordinary at the same time, with value beyond price."



Touche. And with that sentiment, she really summarizes everything meaningful to be said about this entire c.d.



If you like splashy arrangements with oodles of musical coloration, and finger-popping uptunes, you'll want to skip this one. But if you're looking for the perfect c.d. to put on the changer, with the intent to seduce some beautiful, intelligent person late at night over some 10-year-old chardonnay, you've found it here. RC"

'In My Life'...Wesla in top form

R. Lawlor | Monterey, California | 02/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a fan of Wesla's you will definitely want to own her latest recording. If you haven't had the pleasure of hearing her previously then buy this album and prepare for a wonderful treat!

On this outing she favors the listener with a

whole collection of beautiful ballads. While I have always enjoyed Wesla's versions of up tempo and even novelty songs, it is in her lovely rendering of ballads that her voice is at its most sublime.

She manages to transform the usually schmaltzy 'Tea for Two' into an absolute valentine and her wistful take on 'I Have Dreamed' with Mike Greensill's brilliant

lilting bossanova-like arrangement is nothing short of superb!

She sang the title cut 'In My Life' in her show at the Plush Room in San Francisco. I was in tears within three bars, and was not alone. The intimacy she brings to this song, the sense of loss and love and recognition seems to speak to each listener on a very personal level. Wesla recorded 'But Beautiful' and 'In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning' on her 1988 album "Nobody Else But Me", but both are great songs perfectly suited to Wesla's voice and certainly worthy of being included again this time around.

'Autumn in New York' makes you want to seek out a cozy fireside and the languid, measured pace of 'Young and Foolish' make it a stand out as well. The final song, 'Some Other Time' gives Barbara Cook's previously definitive version a run for its money. It is an achingly pogniant and fitting conclusion to a collection of ballads.

Mike Greensill is amazingly talented at creating the perfect arrangements for Wesla. His always stellar piano acompaniment, along with that of John Wittala on bass offer up the ideal compliment Wesla's singing. I have all of Wesla's CD's and somehow I think this one comes the closest to capturing the sound, feeling and intimacy of her live performances. Highly recommended!"