Helen Merrill - Lilac Wine

Artist:

Merrill, Helen

Description:

Personnel: Helen Merrill (vocals); Alan Merrill (vocals, guitar, double bass); Lew Soloff (trumpet); Torrie Zito (piano, electric piano, keyboards); George Mraz (double bass).
On LILAC WINE, the eminent jazz singer Helen Merrill (whose fans have included everyone from great jazz arranger Gil Evans to Radiohead`s Jonny Greenwood) applies her magnificent voice to an inspired selection of standards, forgoing any hackneyed old warhorses. Merrill`s mellow tones weave their way through a moody setting reminiscent of Frank Sinatra albums like IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE MORNING. Swelling strings, muted trumpet, and exquisitely spare arrangements frame pensive lyrics embraced by a masterful singer with a gentle, seen-it-all tone.
Arrangements and piano by Torrie Zito (he`s also worked with Tony Bennett and Sinead O`Connor) underscore the reflective temperament of the songs and Merrill`s gentle, worldly wise vocals perfectly. Not for Merrill are showy displays of "technique"--her sublime singing draws attention to the song rather than the singer. If you savor the classic ballad style of Chris Connor, Nat "King" Cole, and Peggy Lee, you`ll find LILAC WINE intoxicating.

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Lilac Wine
2. Wild Is the Wind
3. Pierre
4. Something I Dreamed Last Night
5. Love Me Tender / How Sweet You Are
6. Island, The
7. One More Walk Around the Garden
8. Portrait of Helen Merrill
9. You

Album Information

Release Date:

05/11/2004

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Pop Vocal

Label:

Sunnyside

Producer:

Helen Merrill; Daniel Richard

Catalog Number:

3020

Original Release Year:

2004

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Guest Artist:

Lew Soloff; George Mraz; Alan Merrill; Torrie Zito

Portions copyright 2005 Muze Inc. All rights reserved.

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