GALE CRUZ - CD HELLO, IT'S ME

Popis - HELLO, IT'S ME:
Gale Cruz Hello, It’s Me Gale Cruz is a technically gifted singer with wide musical interests. She can sing with the power of the best Broadway singers but fortunately is much more soulful and a fine improviser who always swings. She loves and excels at jazz, r&b, funk and fusion, all of which are heard on Hello, It’s Me. This wide-ranging set features Gale Cruz in several different settings with the arrangements provided by the two main instrumental soloists: saxophonist Mario Cruz and keyboardist Addison Frei. Throughout the program, the singer displays the rare ability of being able to make the most complex runs sound accessible and effortless. The set begins with some tricky unisons by Ms. Cruz and tenorsaxophonist Mario Cruz that becomes a modernized version of “On A Clear Day.” “Think Of Me” has Gale Cruz and singer Jeremy Smith forming a choir via overdubs which leads into “Hello It’s Me,” an attractive number with a subtle Latin feel. The next two songs feature Gale Cruz joined by the American Jazz Composer’s Orchestra. She performs one of the most swinging versions ever of “You Don’t Know Me” (Chris Milyo takes a heated tenor solo) plus the relatively obscure but rewarding Bacharach/David song “One Less Bell To Answer,” not being shy to display her love of classic r&b. The soulful and high-powered love song “Two People” has some hot soprano by Mario Cruz while the Brazilian “Velas Icadas” features some nice singing in Portuguese. “Chemistry,” a soulful “People Make The World Go Round”, and an uptempo rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Too High” feature Gale Cruz singing fusion with joy, intensity and also sensitivity. She flies over the funky electric rhythm section, making everything sound easy including on the potentially difficult “Too High.” Hello, It’s Me concludes with a fine version of Thad Jones’ “A Child Is Born.” Gale Cruz is very impressive throughout Hello, It’s Me. She is a talent well worth discovering. Scott Yanow, author of 11 books including The Jazz Singers and Jazz On Record 1917-76