Review by Brad Walseth
Vocalist Linda Ciofalo has graced us with her second album featuring her lovely and warmly balanced voice. This time out, the songs are mostly all ones with a theme of "sunshine" or "summer," making this a true "Sun Set." Back by Marcus McLaurine on bass, John di Martino on piano, John Hart of guitar and the ubiquitous Matt Wilson on drums, the album also features the talents of Joel Frahm on saxes.
Songs on this release range from the Rogers and Hammerstein tune "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" (from "Oklahoma"), to Beatles songs like "Here Comes the Sun,"and "I'll Follow the Sun," Stevie Wonder's "Blame it on the Sun," Madonna's "La Isla Bonita," and the Mercer/Hampton standard "Midnight Sun."Relying mostly on pop songs, Ciofalo and band manage to give them enough of a jazz feel to keep most listeners happy. Certainly, her smooth and subtle vocals are attraction enough most of the time.
All the players play supportively, with Hart's guitar and Wilson's drums quite appealing, while Frahm adds most of the musical fireworks. Ciofalo herself brings back memories of the great female singers of the golden age on songs like "Orange Blossoms in Summertime, "Comes Love" and "Love is Stronger Far Than We," where her vocals shine like a pair of sparkling eyes across a crowded room, but she isn't afraid to take chances either, like on the Rodgers/Hart tune "You Took Advantage of Me," where she performs as a duet with drummer Wilson.
Great music to put on to relax in a pleasant sunset, Linda Ciofalo's "Sun Set" will surely please lovers of sweetly romantic female singers with its addictive blend of pop and jazz.
|
