Why do jazz singers want to record songs from the American Songbook over and over again? Admittedly, they are beautiful compositions, but few know how to give them their own twist. Cassandra Wilson is a favorable exception to this rule. In a genre where the urge for copying largely predominates, Wilson knows how to give a completely unique sound to a dozen old-fashioned standards. Wilson doesn't
… just sing a song, no, she becomes one with the composition. Her warm, hoarse, velvety voice finds its way like a thin wind through the restrained but full accompaniment of guitarist Marvin Sewell, pianist Jason Moran, bassist Lonnie Plaxico and percussionist Lekan Babalola. The arrangements also provide the necessary surprises. For example, Lover Come Back To Me is arranged in a Django Reinhart-like way, and Caravan's Latin sounds almost spooky to Wilson. If everyone would treat the American Songbook like this, there is still a lot of future in this genre. (AD)more
