American singer, composer and producer Roberta Donnay has been present on the jazz and blues scene for over 30 years. She has performed and recorded with some of the music industry's biggest names and has toured both domestically and internationally, hitting clubs, theatres, concerts and jazz festivals. For her song 'One World' she received a prestigious ASCAP Composers Award, which was selected as the world peace song for the 50th anniversary of the UN. You can also listen to her music in film and on TV. Her previous albums with her band The Prohibition Mob Band contain swinging, danceable jazz from the 1920s and 1930s. She grew up with jazz in the sixties, but only discovered Blossom Dearie after a performance. In 2011, she recorded 5 songs with Bob Dorough, a friend who worked with Dearie. Several duets followed, and Roberta's appreciation for Dearie grew. All that led to this tenth album, which has actually become a project of love. Roberta captures Dearie's minimalist voice and playful style on this tribute, but adds her own bluesy interpretations. She chose 16 tracks, written by different composers, and hired pianist Mike Greensill, bassist Ruth Davies, drummer Mark Lee, guitarist José Neto, harmonica player David Sturdevant and percussionist MB Gordy. She opens with "Roberta's Blues," her version of Dearie's "Blossom's Blues," and continues with the flirty "Peel Me a Grape." Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things" starts off slow, but then turns into a fast swinger. She performs 'Inside a Silent Tear' as a beautiful, slightly hip-swaying bossa nova, after which 'Plus je t'embrasse' highlights Dearie's French period. And you are certainly familiar with the intimate 'Someone to Watch Over Me'. Humor is then discussed with 'Moonlight Savings Time', followed by the French-language, romantic atmosphere of 'A Paris'. 'The Party's Over' brings swinging blues, followed by 'If I Were a Bell'. On 'Spring in Manhattan' she sings of lonely hearts, and 'Unless It's You' sounds just as introverted. Then she comes up with the hip-swaying 'You Fascinate Me So', while the sensitive 'I Wish You Love' touches me. 'It Amazes Me' is also intimiste and the closing track 'Put on a Happy Face' swings through the roof. This is clearly a perfect way to commemorate Blossom Dearie with a light approach. A tribute that captures Dearie's essence in 16 songs!
		Website Roberta Donnay Tracks: IRoberta’s Blues Peel Me a Grape Just One of Those Things Inside a Silent Tear Plus je t’embrasse Someone to Watch Over Me Moonlight Savings Time A Paris The Party’s Over If I Were a Bell Spring in Manhattan Unless It’s You You Fascinate Me So I Wish You Love It Amazes Me Put on a Happy Face Copied with the permission of the author from culturmania.