Customer Reviews

Between the Sun & The Moon

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This album has two things going for me outside of the glorious music it contains, it features my two of my favorite girl singers Patti Autin and Brenda, and this album features two cuts from prior albums released as compilations. "Tracks Of My Tears" from "A Twist Of Motown," and "It's A Jazz Day" from the Zebra release "A Song A Day," which is really hard to find. I found Brenda late in her career, I heard "Piano In The Dark" on an A/C channel while living in Cincinnati and I had to have the cd. I bought the vinyl version first and the cd much later. After soaking in every note of that album, "Get Here," I had to investigate and have every album Brenda's ever recorded. At that time, much to my dismay, only her debut album from A&M existed and that was because it contained the minor hit "So Good, So Right." I had to wait until "Kiss Me With The Wind" was released to soak in more of her, by this time I had discovered Michael Franks and the sultry duet he and Brenda recorded titled "When I Give My Love To You" which was an A/C hit in it's own right. When Brenda's contract with A&M came to an end they released her "Greatest Hits" album which is a compilation of her 1979 debut, "Get Here," and "Kiss Me With The Wind," all tracks were nicely mastered but that cd really is unnecessary. Brenda has been label hopping ever since and it gets a bit annoying. She was on EMI, Hidden Beach, which is a subsid of Sony so I don't blame her for one-offing that label, now she's on Narada Jazz which is really artist supportive so let's hope she stays for a while and releases more albums of the caliber of the one in which I'm taking the long way around to review. This cd, "Between The Sun And The Moon" is superb, even the tracks lifted from the two previous projects fit here, the end result is a balanced album that experiments in jazz fusion and Afro-rhythms. The title track has a vocal breakdown the would make Paul Simon proud; Brenda's vocals are strong and sure throughout the entire body of work, the engineering is incredible.

This is an excellent cd....I thought it couldnt get any better than ''Paris Rain'' boy was I wrong!! Her voice is sweet,so beautiful and rich....I love the collaboration with Patti Austin ''Between The Sun And The Moon...just perfect....''Make u smile''...''too cool 4 the room''...''i know u by heart''...the remake of the smoky robinson and the miracles hit''The Tracks of My Tears''is perfection....This is the kind of music that intelligent folks with discriminating tastes like.

When Paris Rain was released, 2000, the bar was raised. Russell showed amazing writing skills and her voice could not have been in finer form. 2004, Brenda broke through the roof, with tremendous vigor, life and instrumentation that layers stunning vocals with perfect craftsmanship on piano, horns and other pieces to round out the best album of her career. On "Its a Jazz Day", it is apparent that she has etched a new classic for the halls of fame. Selecting words that conjur deep feelings and emotions, coupled with her amazing vocals, it is a track that you will listen to over and over. "Tracks of My Tears" balances what Motown was and now what Motown should be. One listen and you hear commercial success!
I highly recommend this CD for your collection. It should be one of the only CDS you keep a copy in your car and in your home.

Brenda Russell has always been one of my favorites. She has been one of the few artist who consistently write wonderful, meaningful lyrics. I have every album that she has every breathed on (so I am a diehard fan). I was 13 years old when I first became interested in her and it has been like a infectious disease that can't be cured. I can remember hearing So Good, So Right (which is still one of my favorites today).

Moving forward to this CD release. Well let me say, she has outdone herself. The CD flows smoothly from song to song. If you are a true fan (even if you aren't this is one worth owning). Just in time for the fall/winter months where you can cuddle with that special someone or just simply be carressed by the warmth of her vocal style.

At the moment these are my top pics.
Too Cool For The Room
Ain't No Smoke
I Know You By Heart (wonderfully written)
and the fun quirky It's A Jazz Day.

Overall this album is a must have for the mature crowd, that have tired from the usual sexually themed songs. GO OUT AND BUY IT...

Upon hearing this diva's previous offering, "Paris Rain", I knew we were in for future treats. Well one of those magnificent treats has arrived. "Between The Sun And The Moon" is simply a joy. African nuances both musically and vocally can be found throughout. The music is solid and the vocals are right on point. Highlights include the infectious "You Know Our Day Will Come", "Too Cool For The Room", and the thought-provoking "Let Somebody Know". I can honestly say, I like all the songs on the CD except for two. Ten songs out of twelve aint bad. In a word, MAGNIFICENT!!!

After purchasing and listening to Brenda's "Between the Sun and the Moon" CD, I must say it is one of her masterpieces. The music is simply breath taking. "Brenda" is lyrically and musically at her very best. The music takes the listener on a journey of dance, jazz, and intimacy. Anyone who purchases Brenda's new CD, definitely will not be disappointed. This CD is one that any music lover should have in their musical collection or library. I hope this review was helpful...

Dennis Chavis
Fayetteville, NC

Free from the shackles of a commercial label Brenda's Paris Rain was the start of something amazing and it continues where Rain left off to move us up another notch as only Branda can. So smooth soulful and hauntingly beautiful and lets not for get this amazing lady also writes or co wrties most of her material and does uncluttered arrangements to top it all of.

This has to be the most original soulful heartfelt release of the year...With so many other singers rehasing old tunes to keep them going Brenda is a complete breath of fresh air in that she is a true ORIGNINAL.

Hats of to you Brenda an AMAZING ORIGINAL ARTIST....

WHAT A CD! BRENDA HAS PROVED TO BE AN INCREDIBLE VOCALIST WITH HER LATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT, "BETWEEN THE SUN AND THE MOON". THIS CD IS MAGNIFICENTLY HER BEST EVER, GREAT SOOTHING VOCALS, SULTRY AND GORGEOUS. THE ENGINEERING AND PRODUCTION IS VERY WELL DONE AND BEAUTIFULLY PUT TOGETHER. SHE REALLY DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB DELIVERING THESE SONGS. THE BEST SONGS ARE, I KNOW YOU BY HEART, TOO COOL FOR THE ROOM, THE MESSAGE AND WHEN YOU COMIN" BACK TO ME.
IF YOU ARE A BRENDA FAN, YOU MUST OWN THIS BEAUTIFUL WORK OF ART.

I thought Brenda couldn't top Paris Rain!!! But this is her best effort since her debut cd!!! Every cut is a winner!!! My favorites are "Too Cool for the Room," 'I Know You By Heart" and the title cut!!! If you love Brenda Russell, you can't go wrong!!!

This is the brandnew Brenda Russel album and has its very own flavour. It is very jazzy and soulish - something to relax or to drink cocktails to :) More experimental than her big hits. It's good for soul-lovers but might be disappointing to people who liked her from her "Kiss me with the wind"-area