With her fifth album,
Nanette Natal
continues to explore the myriad possibilities of the voice as a
jazz
instrument and how it can be used to express human emotions and feelings through song. She does this by placing familiar material into a much different environment than it is usually presented, and through her compositions, which create imaginative and challenging settings for her vocals. The resourceful use of instruments is an important adjunct to
Natal
's objective of concocting new and different listening sensations.
turns
Irving Berlin
's light
romantic
fluff
"I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"
into an intense, dramatic tableau, complete with pulsating bongos and inventive wordless vocalizing. Intensity is also in the forefront for her on
"Is Love Enough?,"
whose somber background is created with the help of
Melanie Yarger
's cello. Her approach to
"Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean"
combines the theatrics of
Sarah Vaughan
and the sassiness of a
Ruth Brown
piece. Facile instrumentation once more comes into play when
Tim Ferguson
repeats the same bassline held on by
Jeff McErlain
's twanging
Delta blues
-like guitar rests, all embossed by whoops and hollers from
. This one is quite breathtaking. The medley from
West Side Story
has
swinging backed solely by bass and brushes.
"Moon River"
is sung like a
gospel hymn
, with
Gary Schreiner
accorded solo space for his plaintive harmonica.
continues to demonstrate her ability to arrange familiar material altogether differently without it sounding contrived or forced. She makes her artistic point without having to rely solely on her own work. Her interpretations of standard material are legitimate and thoroughly engrossing. Pianist
Richard Wyands
' sympathetic piano makes a major contribution to the success of this recommended album. ~ Dave Nathan