Album Review: Taking A Chance On Love from Linda Purl

-
Album:  Taking A Chance On Love
Artist:  Linda Purl
Label:  Reaching Records
Website:  https://www.lindapurl.com/product/taking-a-chance-on-love/

Night club singers have a long history of singing the blues, and just as equally for singing about romance, Linda Purl indulges in the latter theme on her latest release Taking A Chance On Love from Reaching Records.  From the swing-infused "Pure Imagination" to the bossa nova swells of "Wave" to the consoling atmosphere portrayed by the piano ballad driving "Too Late Now," Purl charms her audience with caressing vocal strokes and a delicate touch in her delivery of the lyrics.
Channeling the penetrative voicing of a magnetic narrator, Purl's treatment of Billy Joel's mollifying sonnet "Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel)" projects a loving sentiment that is palpable as she soothes, "Goodnight my angel / time to close your eyes / and save these questions for another day / I think I now what you've been asking me / I think you know what I've been trying to say / I promised I would never leave you / And you should always know / Wherever you may go / No matter where you are / I will never be far away."  Written in the style of a Gregorian chant, the gentle whirls of Tedd Firth's piano keys permeate a lofty sonorous that acts as a springboard for Purl's vocals.

Switching to the shuffling grooves of "Lucky Day," Purl demonstrates her versatility as a cabaret singer, stewarding the upswinging beats with aplomb and ease.   The nuances in her vocals punctuate poignant moments in the lyrics of the title track that plant sprigs of hope and joy along the melody as she inscribes a cheerful ring, "Here I go again / I hear the trumpets blow again / I'm all aglow again / Taking a chance on love."  The melody has a tap dancing pulse that entices the listener to come along on the ride.  Moving into the moonlit glow of "Too Late Now," the pearlescent sheen of Purl's vocals are enshrouded in the wistful bristles of Firth's keys, whose soft twinkles in Abbey Lincoln's timeless gem "Throw It Away" tenderly highlight Purl's loving phrasing, of the lyrics, "Let the sun shine through / 'cause you can never lose a thing / if it belongs to you."

Purl is mainly known by millions of people for her recurring roles on multiple television series including Happy Days, Matlock, The Office, and Homeland.   Supported by pianist Tedd Firth, bassist David Finck, drummer Ray Marchina, and reed player Nelson Rangel, Purl's latest recording displays her love for these songs, treating each one with a tender touch and loving sentiment.

Musicians:
Linda Purl - vocals
David Finck - bass
Tedd Firth - piano
Ray Marchica - drums
Nelson Rangell - reeds

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Album Review: This Could Be The Start from Linda Purl

-
Image
Album: This Could Be The Start Artist:  Linda Purl Label: Reaching Records Website:  https://www.lindapurl.com Vocalist Linda Purl and her music director Tedd Firth come together for their fourth album, This Could Be the Start .  The collection contains Purl's reimagination of a handful of jazz standards, tailored to her vocal specifications.  Supported by an intimate cadre of musicians that include bassist David Finck, drummer Ray Marchica and reed player Nelson Rangell, Purl finesses a selection of Great American Songbook jewels with a contemporary sheen. The playful merengue rhythm driving "Blue Moon," a swinging romp written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, is trussed in Ray Marchica's percolating percussion and a profusion of jutting keys performed by Ted Firth.  The track steps out of the customary schematics of swing jazz bolstered by blues vocals and articulates a Latin-imbued tremor.  The bossa nova curves shaping one of Cole Porter's signature pieces,
Read more

Album Review: The Ways In from James Zollar

-
Image
Album:  The Ways In Artist:  James Zollar Label:  Label: JZAZ Records Websites:  https://www.rsberkeley.com/james-zollar https://www.discogs.com/artist/954763-James-Zollar https://wyntonmarsalis.org/personnel/detail/james-zollar A straight-ahead jazz oeuvre, The Ways In from bandleader and trumpet player James Zollar resumes a quest where pioneers of the trumpet's sympathetic vibrations like Clifford Brown and Bill Coleman left off.  Zollar shows audiences the delightful, melodious tone of the trumpet, moving in harmony with an array of brass, woodwinds, and rhythm instruments. The robust wails of Zollar's trumpet strutting languidly along "Do Nothing 'till You Hear From Me" emotes an enduring personable trait, unwavering persistence in the face of being dejected.  The recording switches to a joyful atmosphere in "Swing Spring" with jangly beats from percussionist Chembo Corniel, interfacing with the buoyant ripples generated by Michael Rorby's trom
Read more

Album Review: Globetrotter from Luca di Luzio

-
Image
Album:  Globetrotter Artist:  Luca di Luzio Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.lucadiluzio.it   Guitarist Luca di Luzio's upcoming CD, Globetrotter  is an assortment of contemporary jazz tunes bridging funk, blues, soul, and Latin music.  Comprised of a few jazz standards and a handful of original works written by Luca di Luzio, a prolific guitar player who studied different styles of music, the recording expresses his personal vision of jazz guitar based on melody and groove.  Joining Di Luzio in his vision are bass guitarist Jimmy Haslip, drummer Dave Wecki, keyboardist George Whitty, and saxophonists Max Ionata and Alessandro Fariselli. From dance-funk numbers like "Jazzlife" and "Elisir" to the soft billows and reflective moods projected in "Smile" and " Buena Suerte," Di Luzio's artistry stems from his vision to make music that is aesthetically pleasing.  "Sunshower," a tune written by Kenny Barron, is a pr
Read more