Make Someone Happy

Sophie Milman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 28, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B000QUU6A8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,244 in Music (See Top 100 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

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice easy listening, jazzy vocal with nice style and delivery, October 6, 2007

By 

Susanna Hutcheson "Copywriting for the Discri... (Midwest U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Make Someone Happy (Audio CD)

We used to call them touch songs. Maybe they still do. In fact some of the songs are the old Marlyn Maye songs, such as "People Will Say We're in Love." But each song is unique, with different styling.

The rhythm is superb. Sophie's voice is mellow and lucious. The instrumental great.

Her voice has a nice range in the lower vocal range. But she reaches some of the higher notes easily too. She is a very versatile singer.

This is a great, easy listening album.

Highly recommended.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She Shines Again On This Gorgeous Sophomore Album, October 9, 2008

By 

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* (CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Make Someone Happy (Audio CD)

"I have to admit that when I made my first record, I knew very little about music. It was a hobby, a passion. But since the release of that record almost three years ago, music has become so much than a hobby and a passion. It has evolved into the best reflection of my experiences, emotions, and life. The last three years have been the most intense, stressful, difficult, turbulent, exciting, rewarding, and successful years of my life so far, and 'Make Someone Happy' is the product of all that. Making this record was a sort of a therapy." ~ Sophie Milman ~

That being said, Sophie Milman has truly developed into a fine jazz singer in such a short period of time and has earned her first major award at the 2008 Juno Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album of the Year for this album. Recorded and released in 2007, "Make Someone Happy" is a follow-up to her successful debut self-titled album, Sophie Milman [IMPORT DIGIPAK]. With the influx of contemporary female jazz vocalists singing the Great American Songbook, Ms. Milman, a fairly-new singer, is ahead of the game considering her impressive musical qualities. She has a crystal-clear and powerful voice. Her phrasing is impeccable and her singing is effortless. I believe these are the same qualities to be a great and remarkable jazz singer.

The repertoire is pretty eclectic - contemporary songs mixed with some of the finest standards ever written from the Great American Songbook. Most of the brilliant songwriters and composers in the Tin Pan Alley are represented in this wonderful album, the likes of Rodgers, Hammerstein, Styne, Van Heusen and Burke, to mention but a few.

"People Will Say We're In Love" is the perfect opener for this beautiful presentation where Milman shows off her knack for a light swing number, she also sings "Like Someone In Love" in the same swingy fashion. She then takes the listeners to a warm and cozy ambiance as she sings one of my favorites from this collection, "Something In The Air Between Us" richly flavored with Bossa Nova rhythm and heavily infused with lush string arrangement resulting in a lovely interpretation making it one of the best tracks. Another favorite track with a charming Bossa Nova beat is "Reste" (Stay) sung in French. "Make Someone Happy" and "Fever" are two of the highlights showcasing Milman's clarity of vocals and effortless singing. I love the way she reinvented a famous song from the Guess Who, "Undun" which takes me back in time when it was one of my very favorite songs. She surely gives "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" from the musical "Fiddler on the Roof" a new flair and style that makes it a welcome revival.

My choicest cut is Rodgers and Hart's "It Might As Well Be Spring," which is given the most effervescent treatment that will engage the listeners into the jazziest side of Milman and her band of fine musicians such as Cameron Wallis (tenor sax), Paul Shrofel (piano), Kieren Overs (bass), John Fraboni (drums) and Alan Hetherrington (percussion) who play their respective instruments with so much flair and verve.

My rule of thumb is try not to compare singers with one another, but I believe there's an exception to every rule ... I think there's a bit of Ella Fitzgerald, a twist of Julie London, and a touch of Jane Monheit in her. Moreover, she's one versatile and talented jazz singer, and fabulous at that! What's not to love about this album?

Wholeheartedly recommended.

8 of 9 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)   

This review is from: Make Someone Happy (Audio CD)

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.