Author: Cole, Holly

Release Date: 13-03-2007

Details: Amazon.ca Twenty years into her career, Holly Cole has released a disc that may well have surpassed anything else she has previously recorded. Much of the kudos goes to producer Greg Cohen--famous for working with jazz legends Ornette Coleman and Bill Frisell--who has wisely brought in individual jazz players (rather than a preexisting big band) and let each contribute to the overall sound. The result is an auditory sense of being in an underground New York jazz club, surrounded by world-class instrumentalists and one sultry singer. On past CDs, the Toronto-based Cole often broke up the smoothness by occasionally emitting a Broadway style of singing, taking listeners on a musical ride that was more Liza than lounge. On this self-titled disc, she is unprecendentedly relaxed, her voice languidly drifting along with the musicians rather than trying to sing over them. As a result, tracks such as "You're My Thrill" and "I Will Wait for You" are highlighted by her hushed softness, while "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" showcases Cole's sass, mixing it up between hot clarinet, guitar, and trombone licks. Her song choices are also strong. Cole culls from legendary songwriters (Cole Porter's "It's Alright with Me," Irving Berlin's "Reaching for the Moon," Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Waters of March") and additionally, has contributed his own track "Larger Than Life" which fits perfectly in the smooth, jazzy mix. --Denise Sheppard Product Description This is the 8th studio album from the multi Juno and Gemini award-winning Holly Cole. "Holly Cole" is deemed as the definitive album of Holly's career from both media and the artist herself, who has marked this album as her first self-titled record. Holly teams up with a bigger band than her previous recordings as well as NY-based bassist and producer Greg Cohen (co-produced with Holly) and arranger Gil Goldstein (co-arranged with Holly). Greg is known as the bassist for Tom Waits, Ornette Coleman, and many others. It features Holly's first original song on record - "Larger Than Life" - and as well as it marks her first time acting as co-producer and co-arranger. From the Artist Each of Holly Cole's studio albums has evolved differently. The conception of the new recording began with a meeting Cole had last year with producer/arranger/ bassist Greg Cohen in Toronto. After hearing some of the songs Cole was considering for her eighth studio album, he suggested working with a bigger band than she has traditionally used on recordings. Not an orchestra or a big band with a configuration of horns that might sound brassy, ​​he suggested, but a smaller ensemble with creative improvisers, each speaking a different musical language but who could play and create together. "The idea was to push Holly into a new arena," says Cohen who co-produced with the Toronto-based artist, "To really challenge her". "Holly is one of the great singers we have today," continues Cohen. "When she sings she delivers a song with a sincerity that makes you feel she's written it, from her intonation to her phrasing, her sense of dynamics, her sense of holding onto a line, her sense of surprise. Her singing has all of the things we associate with great jazz soloists and instrumentalists." Based in New York since the early '80s, Los Angeles-born Cohen has written for theater, film and recordings. He has arranged for David Byrne, David Sanborn, and Tom Waits. The latter he performed with for almost 15 years. As an in-demand bassist, his extensive credits include working with Ornette Coleman, Elvis Costello, Laurie Anderson, Bill Frisell, Jewel, Lou Reed and Bob Dylan. "There were so many ways Greg and I connected on this album, both musically and personally," says Cole. "Working with Greg is completely natural." Cohen knew at once the strictly A-list New York-based players he wanted for much of the project. These would include: Matt Munisteri (guitar); Steven Wolf (drums); Marty Ehrlich (alto saxophone);

UPC: 061528104182

EAN: 0061528104182

Languages: English

Binding: Audio CD

Item Condition: New