Make Someone Happy

Sophie Milman

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 28, 2007)
• Original Release Date: August 28, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B000QUU6A8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,719 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.ca

Toronto's Sophie Milman has that rare ability to appeal to two often deeply separated worlds: those who like their jazz light and those purists who want their jazz heavy and nothing short of it. By having a more-than-capable traditional jazz band and challenging herself vocally to bring the swing, she has commanded respect from both camps. Milman's delivery is silky smooth, a gorgeous voice with a low register reminiscent of Fiona Apple and an upper register that brings Ella Fitzgerald's bounce and playfulness to mind. Like many jazz vocal discs, her sophomore release Make Someone Happy contains an abundance of covers, but some rather surprising in style. The often-done "Fever"’s arrangement is nothing like the original, containing more of an unnerving musical undercurrent than the traditional sultry one. Milman--who recorded this disc in her early 20s--covers a number of underdone melodies, from Stevie Wonder's "Rocket Love" to the Guess Who's "Undun" with composer/original band guitarist Randy Bachman offering his sonic inflections to the song. Disc high points include the smokin' jam "It Might As Well Be Spring," the sexy bossa nova of original track "Something in the Air Between Us" and the beautiful cover of "Eli, Eli" by Second World War Holocaust hero and poet Hannah Senesh. It is a brave and haunting number that Milman does great justice to. --Denise Sheppard

Review

With her sophomore recording, vocalist Milman trumps her triumphant self-titled debut disc that's already sold almost 100,000 copies. This time on 13 songs, her already confident delivery is even more assured, her new maturity underscored in a well-chosen, eclectic program that finds space for covers of Stevie Wonder's "Rocket Love," the Guess Who's "Undun" and "Matchmaker, Maker" from Fiddler On The Roof. Her delicate title tune work is a delight, as is her cool take on "Fever," and while they hint at youthful innocence there are new reserves of understanding in her fresh interpretations. Top track: It's the unlikely lament of Kermit the Frog, yes, "It's Not Easy Being Green," that's an ever-so-subtle commentary on her life so far. Her future's full of promise she'll prove it again when she guests with barefoot diva Cesaria Evora at Roy Thomson Hall June 28. The record's in stores June 19. --Geoff Chapman - The Toronto Star

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A star in the making., October 15, 2007

By	Mr.Style Joe "music connoisseur" (Boston,MA) - See all my reviews

Discovered at an amateur jazz outing in Toronto when she was 20, Sophie Milman is now 24 and a hot ticket with a new album, "Make Someone Happy".
Having been born in Russia, Sophie spent most of her early years living in Israel, moving at the age of 16 to Canada, which is now her "home", and where she made the unlikely transition from bookish teenager to glamorous jazz ingénue.
She still has an aunt and uncle, and some more distant family living in Israel, whilst the rest of her close family are in Moscow.
Since the release of her debut album Sophie Milman [IMPORT DIGIPAK], Milman has matured somewhat.
"Make Someone Happy" was recorded in Toronto with producer Steve MacKinnon (Molly Johnson, Serena Ryder), and features a very eclectic mix of songs, ranging from classic jazz standards such as Van Heusen and Burke's "Like Someone in Love", Rodgers and Hammerstein's ""t Might as Well Be Spring" to contemporary covers such as Stevie Wonder's "Rocket Love" and the Guess Who's covers of the Guess Who's "Undun" featuring Randy Bachman on guitar, and the classic "(It's Not Easy) Bein' Green", recorded by Ray Charles.
"It's a lot more retrospective and personal," she says. "I was satisfied with the first album because I hadn't been in a studio before, or had any kind of experience. But this album is all about my life and feelings, and every song has a personal connotation to me".
Sophie has a very pleasing low, bassy, and sultry voice - very suitable for singing jazz - and a confident manner in which she approaches each song. However, she does have a tendency to end her phrases with an overused playful vibrato which is somewhat anti-jazz in style but still very effective in a Marilyn Monroe-esque manner.
With this CD she continues her whirlwind and lucky career as one of the music industry's young jazz vocalists.
One of my favourite tracks is her version of "Undone" .
Interestingly, the legendary Randy Bachman of the Guess Who was invited and accepted to play on this song for Sophie.
Her take of "Fever" doesn't hold up to the original recording by Peggy Lee. Sophie's version has a sense of being over-arranged with too many tempo changes which in effect results in a loss of the bluesy grit which is so satisfying on the original version.
Another highlight is "It Might as Well Be Spring", where Sophie swings joyously with nice, very pleasing effect.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as her first album., July 21, 2007

By	Andrew Vincent Grimes (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I saw Sophie Milman at "Jazz Alley", in Seattle a few months ago and loved her. I had to buy her first album, when I was there. I was that impressed. She played a lot of songs from that album and a few songs from this one (which I enjoyed), but I think, as a whole, this album is slightly less impressive.

I was a little disappointed with her rendition of "Fever". My favorite version is Peggy Lee's, so that's a little tough to match.

This is a fine album, though and I recomend buying it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new young jazz diva, January 28, 2008

By	William S. Mccullough "music lover" (valparaiso, in United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've been in the music biz for a long time in many different areas. I love all types of music but especially jazz. When you've listened to music for as long as I have you kinda get bored by the same old uninspired fluff that is around today. Enter Sophie Milman! This gorgeous young lady is the real deal! I love her smokey voice and her phrasing is beyond words. The arrangements could be a bit better. Each song had the lovely Sophie, bridge, then the lovely Sophie. More adventure, guys. That said, this is a cd I'll be listening to for a long long time!