So In Love

Roberta Gambarini | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 25, 2009)
• Original Release Date: August 25, 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Emarcy / Pgd
• ASIN: B002EE57QM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,550 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From the Artist

Ask Roberta Gambarini who she is, and what she is, and she'll simply answer, "I am a singer."

Product Description

Every once in a while, a truly great singer comes along who possesses the beauty, individuality and talent to remind us of the magic and majesty of the human voice: that singer is Roberta Gambarini, celebrated throughout the world by fans, critics and many of the world's greatest musicians. With the August 25, 2009 release of `SO IN LOVE,' Roberta Gambarini affirms her status as the "true successor to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae" (Boston Globe) and "the best singer to emerge in over 60 years," as declared by 2009 GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Mr. Hank Jones. Mr. Jones, the legendary pianist who accompanied Roberta Gambarini's 2008 major label debut, `You Are There,' a superb follow-up to Gambarini's GRAMMY-nominated debut, `Easy to Love,' knows a thing or two about great vocalists - he has accompanied almost all of the most renowned vocalists of the 2oth century such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Nat "King" Cole, and Billy Eckstine. Roberta didn't set out to call the new album `So In Love,' but looking back at the song list after the recording, she realized that the "album is all about love: the love between a man and a woman, the love of song, children, and most of all, the love of life." As Roberta explains, she rarely goes into the studio with a "concept," instead she says that she tries "to let the songs come out of a balance between life experience and reflection," capturing the music I feel in the moment." Joining her in this adventurous journey is a group of "exceptionally talented, sensitive, and sympathetic musicians," who are long-time supporters, friends, and collaborators of Roberta since her arrival in the States from Torino, Italy: James Moody; Roy Hargrove; Tamir Hendelman; Eric Gunnison; Gerald Clayton; Chuck Berghofer; Neil Swainson; George Mraz; Jake Hanna; Al Foster; Montez Coleman; and Jeff Hamilton. Recorded by Al Schmitt at the legendary Capitol Studios, with Roberta arranging all but two of the tracks, `So In Love' is dedicated to the loving memory of her dear friends, Johnny Griffin, Ronnie Mathews, and David "Fathead" Newman.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This Generation's Ella Fitzgerald September 25, 2009

By Rick Cornell VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

First, allow me to say that I agree with all of the 4-star reviews below (particularly Mr. Chell's). I'm at 4 and 1/2, and I've decided to up my rating to 5 rather than reduce it to 4, for this reason:

Ms. Gambarini's initial release 3 years ago, "Easy to Love," was one of the finest debut recordings in history. In particular, her versions of "Sunny Side of the Street" and "Multi-Colored Blue" were hair-raisingly sensational. I agree that nothing on this c.d. approaches the heights of those two songs.

However, as I have listened to this c.d. repeatedly, I am struck by the conclusion that Roberta Gambarini, with this recording, has firmly secured her status as this generation's answer to Ella Fitzgerald. In fact, the comparison is overt.

Listen to how she whips and scats in "Day In Day Out," "That Old Black Magic," and "From This Moment On," for example. How can you not miss the influence of Ella in these cuts?

Or check out her work on "You Must Believe in Spring" and on the Beatles medley ("Golden Slumbers/Here There and Everywhere," done as a quick-step waltz). The balladization again is stunningly reminiscent of Ella.

And then there's "You Ain't Nothin' But a JAMF." (A Johnny Griffin tune, wherein I assume the "J" stands for Jive and the "M" for Mother, and you can figure out the rest....) Jimmy Witherspoon once said of Ella Fitzgerald, "You can tune a tuning fork by Ella, but she can't sing the blues." Ditto for Roberta Gambarini. Like Ms. Fitzgerald, her intonation and purity of straight-toned sound throughout both of her singing ranges are flawless and non-pareil; but blues or blues-based tunes will never be her signatures.

This c.d., as well as the later-released but in fact first recording with Hank Jones, firmly plants Roberta Gambarini in my mind as this generation's answer to Ella Fitzgerald, more than any other contemporary singer. And for that, I give her 5 stars.

But I promise to be pickier on the next release. No "Songbook" recordings, now, Roberta, you hear?! RC

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars another well-done Gambarini sound show September 6, 2009

By abcde

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Roberta again shines on this CD: her voice is strong, smooth, and dripping with feeling. And, the sterling side-players are equally compelling; indeed, they play with admirable restraint in order to allow Roberta to remain front and center. To my mind, the song selection leaves a bit to be desired: too many of these songs are long-time staples, and it may be that, like me, you are somewhat tired of them. (And, I was disappointed to hear the "I" at the end of "Over the Rainbow" seem to morph into a different sound.) But fans of glorious jazz singing should surely have no hesitation about this CD.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ella and Sarah rolled into one July 13, 2011

By Sebastian Giacco

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

A great recording by an individual who was born fifty years too late. A great voice, great diction, great jazz feel. A beautiful solo by Roy Hargrove on "Crazy".
All in all, a most satisfying listen.