Excellent is the word for "Midnight Sun"
Review by Paula Edlestein (Sounds of Timesless Jazz)
Midnight Sun is an elegant compilation of love songs that the incomparable Dee Dee Bridgewater covers to perfection. The multiple-award winning vocalist/composer and three-time GRAMMY Award winner selected and oversaw re-mastering of the eleven compositions on Midnight Sun which were culled from several of her previous recordings including Dear Ella, Keeping Tradition, This Is New, J’ai Deux Amours, Love & Peace: A Tribute To Horace Silver, and Eleanora Fagan: To Billie With Love From Dee Dee.
While creating a song cycle that traces the many stages of love, Bridgewater’s Midnight Sun repertoire, which she sings in English and French, takes the listener from the cafes of France (Trenet’s “Que reste-t-il?” and Edith Piaf/Marguerite Monnot gem titled “L’Hymne á l’Amour”) to the unhappy depth of love’s heartache as sung on Horace Silver’s “Lonely Woman,” and Billie Holiday’s “Good Morning Heartache.” The compilation opens with “Midnight Sun” a captivating ballad that Ms. Bridgewater sings with the kind of passion and finesse that keeps your interest from the intro to the very last note.
Originally released on Dear Ella, and backed by the conducting and orchestral arrangement of John Clayton, Bridgewater gives this gem the kind of memorable interpretation that comes straight from the heart. “Angel Eyes” features her expressive elongated phrasing and nuance that literally makes this song a remarkable one-act play. Amazing! Dee Dee Bridgewater’s endearing story-telling art reaches new heights on “My Ship” while “Speak Low,” and “The Island” are smooth showcases for her rich multi-octave range that is even more impressive as a result of their breezy bossa nova backbeats.
Listeners will be more than enamored with Ms. Bridgewater’s mastery of these great love songs as well as with her tonal quality and natural ease in delivering their heartfelt messages. Overall, all of the songs on the recording are excellent and Midnight Sun ranks high among Dee Bridgewater’s stellar recordings and deserves to be in your collection. Buy it now. (07/20/2011)
Dee Dee Bridgewater Artist Page
