Paula Lammers – A
Blanket Of Blue (CD)
Sound: B Music:
B
So many name singers have been doing entire cover albums
of standards that it becomes tired and annoying very quickly. A few, like Cyndi Lauper, have at least
tried something different, while Linda Ronstadt proved this was viable over two
decades ago. In most cases, it is
admission of boredom, desperation and the like for artists who hare not having
hits anymore. Paula Lammers is an
unknown and her A Blanket Of Blue is the opposite of most of those star
projects. She loves the music, is a
fresh name and voice, and what a nice voice it is. On this CD album, she gives us:
1) I
Thought About You
2) Isn’t It
Romantic?
3) The Moon
& I
4) Honeysuckle
Rose
5) Gentle
Rain
6) In The
Wee Hours Of The Morning
7) Too Close
For Comfort
8) Mediation
9) Goodbye…
again
10) More
11) Under A Blanket Of Blue
Like the few female vocalists who know how to make this
work, but part of anyone singing these songs is not to lean on them as if you
are bored or act like you are above such work.
We won’t name names (as that could go on for a while), but Miss Lammers
could teach most of these big names a thing or two. The vocals are full, consistent and (especially important to work
like this) warm. These songs are about
classiness and a finer school of thought, emotional depth and wit. They are not just something to cover to
cover up shortcomings or boredom. When
done right, they are great entertainment and A Blanket Of Blue gets it.
The PCM 2.0 Stereo is as full and warm as the
performances, from the vocalist to the musicians. As often is the case in the Jazz Vocal genre, recording fidelity
still means something and you certainly get that here, arranged by Billy
Peterson and producer by Darren Rust and Mr. Peterson. That makes the album a winner for those who
like this kind of music. Quality is its
own distinction.
- Nicholas Sheffo
