Customer Reviews

How Can I Keep From Singing?

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard Rene'Marie when she performed at the emerging artist stage at the Atlanta Jazz festival in May 2001. Sometimes life offers us the most pleasant surprises,and this was one. I had decided even before Rene' had finished singing that if her CD was available,I had to get it. For her closing number Rene' did a medley that started off with "Dixie",and my first impression was, "What is this woman from Virginia doing?". Then she started singing "Strange Fruit". She Turned It Out! I ran and got the CD right after the show, and from that day to this my ears are full of bright moments. The MaxxJazz CD "How can I Keep From Singing ?" is a masterful effort from Rene' Marie. As I listened, I was in awe,with the thoughtfullnes of her repertoir and arrangements. It would be totally unfair to compare Rene' with any other jazz singers. For when you include new arrangements on "traditional" jazz standards (What A Difference A Day Makes and The Very Thought of You) with her arrangements of songs like "Tennesee Walts" now a nice blues tune, and a medley of Motherless Child-Four Women", plus the songs "I Like You" and "Hurry Sundown" (which she wrote) and "Take My Breath Away"(which she co-wrote)there is no comparison. Rene' is quite accommodating to the musicians, and frequently provides an interlude to showcase their talents.Also included in this CD is a bonus video track "Thanks But I Don't Dance" which will you an idea of what here live performance is like. How can I keep from listening? I can't.

I first heard René Marie (formerly René Croan) singing "Comes Love" (from her 1998 album "Renaissance," now out of print) from my car stereo while on the road in Los Angeles. I literally pulled off the freeway to let her magnificent voice warm me all over.

So, of course, I rushed to put my ear to her new CD "How Can I Keep from Singing," and I am hooked. Not only does René Marie have the chops, but she is so inventive and entrancing it sends chills down the spine. Don't believe me? Then listen to her yodel midway through her bluesy take on "Tennessee Waltz" -- it's perfect!

And grab a look at the CD-ROM video clip of "Thanks, But I Can't Dance" included on the disc. You'll be watching a marvelous vocalist not just singing a song, but playfully discovering it, freshly savoring it. She simply radiates talent. It's truly hypnotic.

To absorb René Marie's artistry is to bear witness to the rising of a new star. Get this disc so you can say you knew her back when...

I first heard Rene Marie sing 'I Like You' on a local Jazz station. I was hooked! Rene could sing the alphabet song and make it sound great. Her style and tone are smooth and delightful to listen to. The instrumentation backup supports her and holds its own level of quality. My favorite tracks are the classic 'What a difference a day makes,' 'The very thought of you,' the soulful 'Four Women', and a stimulating 'How can I keep from singing?' How can I stop from complimenting?? The entire disc is fantastic. Rene's solid voice will remind you of Ella and Sarah, but she stands on her own with this disc.

Every now and then a new artist comes along who seems destined to become a classic - someone we will remember long after the last note fades away.

Rene Marie seems to be just that kind of artist - someone who sings as though every note breathes and moves and sways with new life, re-defining the meaning of the word "singer".

Aside from the richness of her voice, one of the things that sets this disk apart from the usual "female jazz singer" fare is the choice of songs offered up on this CD. By taking Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart's classic country song "Tennessee Waltz" and re-inventing it as as a blusey soulful ballad, Marie stretches the idea of "Jazz as Improvisation" to the max. She also proves herself as a songwriter as well by writing or co-writing three songs on the CD that stand up as well as other classics on the disk such as "What a Difference a Day Makes" and "God Bless the Child". One stand out is the soft romanticism of "Take My Breath Away", which Marie co-wrote with Bob Hallahan.

The disk ends on a joyful note with a Jamacian inspired version of "How Can I Keep From Singing" that leaves you wanting more and wishing the disk was twice as long.

The CD's liner note says that her name means "re-born" and she breathes new life into the meaning of the word Jazz. This is a disk that will be enjoyed by all who love music.

Rene Marie's CD rewards the listener (whether a jazz lover or not) with her compellingly unique style. Marie's voice range is as remarkably different as fire and water, vibrating similar properties to the hearts of listeners. Often times you will need to remind yourself that it is not Ella or Nancy or some other splendid jazz diva you're listening to...It is the previously obscure (but never to be again) Rene Marie...filling your soul with her own poignant interpretations of some well known classics, along with the refreshingly new (yet oddly familiar). There is no doubt the legendary and astute musical accompaniment on this CD only adds to Marie's delightful performance. How nice to be introduced to a sure-fire DIVA for the 21st Century! Prepare to be thoroughlly and deliciously immersed in Marie's vocal genius! Finally for those who've witnessed Marie's live performances, you already know that the very best is yet to come...for those who have not, you have a rare treat in store!

Rene' Marie is awesome. I love this CD...every song. Rene writes 2 songs; "I like you",and "Hurry Sundown" and co- writes "Take My Breath Away"

That voice, that music, those arrangements. She swings, and can be so laid back. She has a sincerity in her singing, and her writing, so natural.

"Hurry Sundown" will be a jazz standard.

Kenneth Burton

I wasn't aware of who René Marie was. When I saw the cover of "How Can I Keep From Singing?" at Virgin on Sunset, first of all, the nice, tasteful artwork and the digipack cover captured my attention. Then I realized that I may have actually heard her on KLON, but couldn't recall her singing or voice, but the name sounded familiar. I think I heard her name mentioned on KLON. Then I turned the CD over and that was the crucial moment. Not only I found my MOST, MOST FAVORITE tune of all time, "Afro Blue" on it, but other favorites, like "The Very Thought Of You" and "Motherless Child". I needed no more convincing to buy it. I try to collect everything that "Afro Blue" is on. Then I also saw a couple familiar names amongst the players (Miller, Sewell) that assured me in my decision.

I love the album a lot. I've listened to it already 6 times in 2 days. She's definitely ahead of Diana Krall with me. I don't like Diana. I don't know why's the big hype around her. Give me Dee Dee Bridgewater, Claudia Acuna or Shirley Horn anytime, or my great favorites, the late Betty Carter and Teri Thornton and now the newly discoverd René Marie before I even consider Diana Krall.

I do love her rendition of my favorite songs a lot. They're a bit different from the usual versions I've heard. Her singing on "Afro Blue" is a bit similar to Dianne Reeves', but I don't mind that, as I like that version a lot too. The soprano sax makes it different, though. She's very delicate and reserved. The accompaniment is superb, well-balanced and intelligent.

I will definitely check her out if she performs in LA.

I found this CD on a "So You'd Like to.." list from someone whose reviews I typically enjoy and was flabbergasted that I'd never heard of Ms. Marie before. She uses her supple voice to assay classics in startingly fresh ways, such as the bluesy "Tennessee Waltz", which includes a brief yodel section (stop cringing, the way she does it it's AMAZING...) or the zippy take on the Billie Holiday chestnut "God Bless the Child".

Marie is helped along here by pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Ugonna Okegwo, guitarist Marvin Sewell, Sam Newsome on soprano sax, and Gerald Cleaver behind the kit with Jeffrey Haynes assisting on percussion.

When I got here there were only 18 reviews, leading me to believe she's still fairly unknown. I borrowed this CD at our local library (God bless 'em) and here's my take:

HIGHLIGHTS:
Marie turns in a buoyant "What a Difference a Day Makes". The bridge alone (featuring Marie's "Harlem yodel" [she blends the blues into it rather than a pure country yodel] and a soaring wordless moan that stretches throughout her range and incorporates vocal trills at times) demonstrates the control Rene has over her voice and the lengths to which old songs may be stretched and remolded into something new. A barebones rendition of "Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child" deftly segues into her take on Nina Simone's "Four Women", makes it a laidback "coffeehouse" arrangement complete with bongo.The desire in her voice is palpable as she begs "Hurry sundown/bring him to my side..". A caffeine spiked version of "God Bless the Child" soars into the ether with a nice solo from Miller and some inspired scatting by Marie. The title hymn is a dancing ode to the power of the current breath...a celebration of life itself. ("No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I'm clinging/Since love is lord of heaven and earth/how can I keep from singing?") A delicate whisper of a vocal does "The Very Thought of You" proud.

LOWS:
"I Like You" sounds like an attempt at the whimsical imagery of "My Favourite Things" but it's not up to the task. It's not awful...just far from being one of the better moments here. Likewise, I didn't find myself going back to "A Sleepin' Bee".

BOTTOM LINE:
Where have I been that I've been missing out on this woman? Where have YOU been? Recommended.

In reverse it was. I got "Vertigo" first, because that was the only one the store had. I was so in love with Rene's voice and vision that I just had to get her previous album. "How can I..." is almost better than the follow-up. They are similar in their greatness: Great musicians, innovative arrangements ("Afro Blue" and "God Bless the child"), and superb compositions by Rene, such as "I like you" and "Hurry Sundown." Rene has got to be one of the best jazz talents around today. Her improvisations are quite original and surprising, her vocal control is simply breathtaking, her compositions and arrangements of trad Jazz tunes is highly creative. Who would have taken "God bless..." at such a fast-paced tempo, when it always has been a ballad? Or, "Afro Blue" given a world-music dress? Her voice itself is also a wonder to behold. She can blare out like a perfectly controlled wind instrument at full volume, or she can whisper you into ecstasy with perfect timing and elastic phrasing on the ballads.Thank goodness she came out of her musical retirement. The music world is better thanks to her.

Rene Marie has it. She makes it seem so easy. As a musician, I know it is not. She also knows how to pick her band. I find it amazing that this is her first cd. I can not wait for her second. Her scat singing would make Mr. Louis Armstrong smile. I would have loved for her to have been able to pair up with Mary Lou Williams the great jazz pianist.