Customer Reviews

Teach Me Tonight

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I admit that I first bought Weslia Whitfield's CD's when I read in "People" magazine the horrific details of the shooting by children that has crippled her. I went to hear and see her at the Algonquin Hotel where she was literally carried onto the stage by her husband/arranger/pianist, Mike Greensill. I knew from friends who heard her in her home town of San Francisco that she sang well and that Greensill played wonderfully. What I had not counted on was the total joy they bring into a room from the moment they begin to perform. She is completely sophisticated & urban and completely unpretentious--not a bad combination. Her voice is a mellow, sweet alto which a friend described as liquid jewels. She takes a familiar song and makes it new and her own. Greensill's arrangements are charming & witty and complement Whitfield perfectly. This couple is obviously in tune with one another in more ways than one. They also have exquisite taste in material which they cull from a wide variety of sources: for example, on this album they go from the opera "Porgy and Bess" to the Disney film, "Pinocchio" to the Broadway musical, "Bells Are Ringing" to the Jule Styne torch song "I Fall In Love Too Easily." Each song is done to perfection. I recommend each and every one of Whitfield's CD's (esp. this one and another called "Nice Work If You Can Get It") and I hope you can hear her live-in person.

For this set of superior standards "jazz diva", Wesla Whitfield delivers all of her songs(which are jazz standards), with thier original verses. She always is backed by tasteful small jazz combos(in this case Mike Grinsell's), and she improvises lightly(on thsi set she improvises a little more than usuaul), and has a bell like clarity to her singing, and perfect disction. She has a style all her own, those who appriciate good caberet singer, or jazz singers will enjoy this fine set.

While Weslia Whitfield has won many fans (including me) for her ability to get inside a song you've heard a hundred times before and make you see it in a new light, with this album she really matures as a jazz vocalist. Her phrasing has become more unpredictable and interesting, and she has learned to sing around the music instead of just with it. I especially recommend her version of "I've Heard That Song Before", as well as her covers of two Sinatra ballads, "I Should Care" and "I Fall In Love Too Easily". This album reprises two songs from previous albums, and her new rendition of "Until The Real Thing Comes Along" showcases this musical growth when compared with the earlier version. If you have not heard Weslia Whitfield before, this is a great place to start.

I may be old fashioned but I like it when singers sing the entire song. Please allow me to explain my last coment. Most singers today leave out an important part of the song, the itroduction, the verse. Miss Wesla Whitfield sings verses to songs, the way thay would have been sung in the shows they were introduced in. Wesla is not a strict caberet singer, meaning that she takes liberties with songs, bending melodies, and reshaping songs, all very tastefully. With the help of her lovely husband Mr. Mike Grinsell, her pianist and arranger, wesla is able to express her jazz filled smooth and silky voice. her style is charming and old fasion yet modern and jazzy. Her small band is very jazz oriented as are the arrangemets. This will be a great stocking stuffer for any jazz fan!

Once Wesla Whitfield insinuates herself into your consciousness, she won't let go. The phrase--"As long as I have arms at all, it's you'll they'll be clinging to"--is from Jimmy Van Heusen's "All My Tomorrows," and Wesla nails the tune as decisively as Ole Blue, for whom it was written. In part, the effectiveness of the phrase can be traced to her mode of elocution, which tends to soften and shorten the first syllable in an iamb so that the second receives unusual emphasis. She's not going through life "with you" by her side but "wYUU" by her side. As a result, the "you" in "it's you" beomes "s'YUU," reaching out and grabbing "you" the listener with unexpected force.

The field of talented female jazz singers is hardly lacking, including some (Ann Hampton Callaway, Roberta Gambarini, Cheryl Bentyne, Karin Allyson) whose formidable chops are sufficient to put a minimalist like Billie or Peggy to shame. But Wesla shows that there's still room for story-tellers who, while lacking the coloratura technique or vocalese/scat capabilities of the aforementioned, communicate through uncommonly good taste and intelligent programming.

This album deserves a place in the collection of any jazz vocal fan, just as Wesla Whitfield's story deserves to be told via a theatrical film release (which would bring needed attention to the whole field of wonderful jazz divas whose only deficiency is the absence of larger audiences. "Lady Sings the Blues" was the last such project, and it wasn't enough).

I'm listening to this CD right now. "Teach Me Tonight" was a birthday gift from my best friend, who knows how much I love GOOD music. Her selection was right-on!

In the liner notes for "Teach Me Tonight," Wesla Whitfield says this is a group of favorite songs for her and pianist/arranger/husband Mike Greensill. Their affinity shines in some wonderful performances. My own favorite is the title track. One word: WOW! Whitfield and reed player Noel Jewkes both give it all they've got from their toes on up.

"Almost Like Being In Love" gives Whitfield a chance to swing, which isn't really her usual style. But it's fun, it's well-done, and the instrumental solos are the perfect finish to a delicious interpretation. Wesla and bassist Michael Moore (who seems to show up on all the best jazz recordings) perform a duet, arranged by Moore, on "Just in Time." Sweet and light.

"I Double Dare You" begins with a verse guaranteed to make you smile. The rest of the tune is just as enjoyable.

Get this one. It's a keeper!

this is very best of all wesla. I like much, in fact all family enjoy this, wesla good jazz singer, you like her too.

Phillips' latest 5 star review of this cd mad em buy this, and it is Wesla's best cd, she really knows how to sell a song!!! Her voice is chrystal clear and liek a bell! The songs are incredible and the backup band is exellent, and she sings verses to these songs that I have never ever heard. She knows how to bring new life to old standards ina jazz based way. GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT!!!

There are so many pop singers like Rod Stewart, Linda Ronstadt, Natalie Cole & Carly Simon, who's careers were dying so as a last resort to revive thier sinking careers they turn to the great American songboks, because those songs practicly sing themselves, right? No, that's not right, it just shows what horrible singers they were to begin with and that they should stick to the "commercial" stuff they normally do. Standrds must be sung by individuals who understand them and treat them with respect yet take some liberty with them. Wesla Whitfield has been singing standards all her life, and sings them with her jazz pianist virtiouso husbands jazz combo The Mike Grinell Trio or Quartet(a fine jazz combo). Grinsell writes all of her arrangements making them sound classic and modern all at the same time, and very jazz based. Whitfield is respectful to the composers by always singing the little known verses, and by singing fogotten gems like I Double Dare You and All my tomorrows. However Whitfield never sings things straight, she uses subtle improvisations and almost reshapes songs by just bringing out thier inner beauty and adding the verse, she brings standards alive like nobody else(only Banu Gibson, can give her some competition). This cd is well worth picking up for fans of jazz vocals as well as those who just like standards, or for those who have HIGH STANARDS.

This si one of those late nite romantic cd's... so Teach Me Tonight is a great title and a great song. Where do I begin well starting with the abs of it... there's no need to solve the mystery of it it "Teach Me tonight" is an instant classic not only beacause Scott Yanow the jazz critic gave it a rave review, just listen to the samples, Wesla's voice is sultry and smooth like SILK, her arragements are hip and cool! This cd has everything going for it, it's roamntic jazz at it's best... buy one today, put it on, dim the lights, and seduce that special someone, ending with the xyz of it...