Customer Reviews

Come Rain Or Come Shine: The Harold Arlen Songbook

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I read the review accusing Sylvia McNair of being tired on this CD, I knew I had to hear it. Upon hearing Miss McNair perform Rachmaninoff's Vocalise with the Baltimore Symphony, the case was closed: her voice simply flew so effortlessly, yet so powerfully, 'way above the orchestra, as if descendant from the heavens, that she won my admiration at once and forever.

On this CD she brings her classical training to music that is already well-sprinkled with emotion of its own as well as whatever we listeners confer upon it. So the purity and sweetness of her voice make for a real treat, a rather more subtle performance that isn't as charged in the manner of Barbra Streisand, to name someone I'm familiar with and also enjoy.

Miss McNair is easier to listen to, and her simple style nonetheless has great warmth, gentility, and-dare I say this in the face of modern culture-a certain diginity that I have to admit I find utterly refreshing. Maybe I'm getting older, but subtle details are beginning to capture me best.

If you tend to find her tired, may I suggest very kindly that your ears need a little rest? There's so much noise in the world today that the simple, quiet beauty of music is all too often masked by the din of artists who simply follow the tides.

Miss McNair is here to stay, at least in my CD player. I'd hop a plane just to hear and see her live. And she's beautiful, too. Tell her Russ sent you...

This album proves McNair's wonderful ability to sing jazz. In fact, it is better than Diana Krall's stuff in many ways surprisingly. Her voice is sweet and rich and lovely and this album proves that she got what it takes to succeed. :o)

Harold Arlen's songs are wonderful and far too little known. Sylvia McNair sings beautifully and shows real understanding of Arlen's jazzy idiom, Andre Previn is superb in support and the whole session is a magical experience. Both are at their best in 'This time the dream's on me', a performance unlikely to be surpassed. Highly recommended to all lovers of quality music.

I have been an Andre Previn fan as long as I have been playing the piano--he is an amazing talent. I have also been a Sylvia McNair fan for years. And after hearing this CD and the "Sure Thing-The Jerome Kern Songbook" CD, I am a David Finck fan, too.

Sylvia has a beautiful voice, but singing for her is not about showing off her range, it's about the words and the mood, and so she sings with amazing feeling. Andre Previn's piano is brilliant, as always, and this album is an inspiration for all of us who accompany other musicians. His style and talent come through while never overshadowing the words from Sylvia.

Some songs I enjoy more than others. For some reason, "Two Ladies In The Shade Of The Banana Tree" just doesn't work for me. But I love "Stormy Weather", "I Wonder What Became Of Me?", "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea", and "This Time The Dream's On Me".

I highly recommend this CD, though my favorite Previn/Finck/McNair collaboration will continue to be "Sure Thing-The Jerome Kern Songbook." I wish there were more albums like this from the three of them.

The work of this cd reveals the true talent of McNair. Her voice is relatively unadorned, pure, full, and listening will charge emotions with electricity. The piano and bass she sings with support her voice well while not overpowering her exceptional talent. I regret she has not continued to produce more as promised in her cd notes. Her instrument should not be soley used in her many classical recordings.

Having enjoyed McNair's light soprano in performance of classical material and being an Arlen fan, I thought this album would be ideal listening. I was sorely dissapointed. McNair sounds exhausted. Not ragged or raw, but tired, completely lacking in energy. On many of the tracks she is barely audible. And if there's any acting going on here, it's not readily apparent. For true cross-over heaven, check out Kiri TeKanawa's Gershwin and Irving Berlin albums, and Dawn Upshaw's Rodgers and Hart tribute and her album entitled "I Wish it So."

Albie Wang wishes he was married to Sylvia McNair

This is the second Sylvia Mcnair cd I have bought. It is a continuation of the Jerone Kern cd that I first bought. What a wonderful voice Sylvia possess. I can't believe anyone can have such a beautiful voice. It must be a God send.

Sylvia sure knows how to sing a love song. Her style is such a relaxed style. She sings with very little effort or so it seems. Her voice is not an over powering voice, but one that will make you think of love and romance. I do wish there were some more of this type of cds with Sylvia's beautiful voice.

The only concern I have for this cd was the repertoire. It could have been better. I was familiar with some of the songs performed here, but there was also some songs performed that I didn't know or particularly like. I know it's hard to please everyone concerning repertoire.

I Would Like To Recommend This CD