|
a
side of jazz...and a little
romance
COMING APRIL
2006
Hi William,
After having received your CD
'A Side of Jazz' on the eve of Thanksgiving I found
something else to be thankful for - your music! With the
passing of Sinatra and the
aging of Bennett I thought,
(mistakenly), that there are no more male vocalists on the
horizon that actually appreciate a
lyric and can tell a story with it. To say nothing of the
willingness to wear their heart on their sleeve and put themselves
out on a limb and give it their all for a great song, (how wrong was
I?).
I listened to all thirteen
tracks, from 'Speak low', ' Time after time', (your great
version of) 'Beyond the sea', to 'So
many stars' and the show stopper 'Somewhere'. I
was reassured that you are carrying
on the tradition of those great singers that came
before. You are bringing the art of the song into the twenty-first
century with a style all your own and when we most need it.
Adding your unique style to these great songs with a depth and a
sensitivity that makes the words and the stories believable.
I had a sense, when I first
heard you sing that you had the talent and the ability to touch
audiences hearts and souls and move them. With your latest work the
depth
and maturity of your vocals shine
through in songs like 'Here's to life', and (my personal favorite),
'After the rain'. William, it's your ability to tell us these
stories through the lyrics and the melodies and then make them
believable, all the while
connecting with your audience, that
sets you apart. It's a rare talent, combined
with the ability to choose a great
song and then utilize top-flite musicians that will
ensure a vocalists longevity
while garnering new listeners and fans along the
way.
I felt the ensemble
was 'tight' and 'right there' musically speaking. Your
performance
of 'Siboney' spoke of the passion and
love for the Latin ballad. Your poignant renditions
of 'Here's to life' and 'After the
rain' moved me. I hope you keep these songs in your
repertoire!, (please?) 'First
time ever I saw your face' was a fresh and stirring rendition with
an uplifting feel to
it. Closing with 'Somewhere' was daring!... an over-sung
song, but with your style and sensitivity, you presented it
with a sharpness and freshness most renditions sadly lack. (Oh,
by the way, I loved track 12 'Look at that face' wonderful!!!)
William , I guess you can tell
I enjoyed your latest work. I really got the sense that you enjoyed
singing these songs and that came through clearly. I wish you all
the success in the world with this CD. Someday, I hope to hear you
with an orchestra
behind you... I know that will
happen, I believe that! Thank you for sharing your
latest
work with me before releasing it to
the public. I was very touched and honored.
My best to you always,
Ken | 
