The Tender Trap

Janis Siegel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 22, 1999)
• Original Release Date: June 22, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sugo Music/Monarch Records
• ASIN: B00000J7ZD
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,174 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. That Old Black Magic

2. My Ship

3. The Tender Trap

4. Change Partners

5. I Just Want to Make Love to You

6. Too Darn Hot

7. How Deep Is the Ocean?

8. Dreamsville

9. Touch of Your Lips

10. You Bring Out the Lover in Me

11. How Long Has This Been Going On?

12. Tulip or Turnip

13. All Roads Lead Back to You/I Thought About You

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Manhattan Transfer's Janis Siegel swings both blues and ballads on this, her first album for Monarch. What the songs have in common is that they all dwell on the proposition of love, a universal theme that unites material by artists as disparate as Fred Astaire ("Change Partners") and Muddy Waters ("I Just Want to Make Love to You"). Siegel proves herself an adequate interpreter, despite sometimes falling into that tradition that mistakenly thinks Ethel Merman is as important as Billie Holiday. That is, sometimes the whole routine is a little stiff (especially Hank Crawford's alto solo on "The Tender Trap"). However, for the most part, Siegel has assembled a fairly good band here, featuring Crawford, Michael Brecker, Victor Lewis, and Fred Hersch (who plays nice understated piano on the album's opener, "That Old Black Magic," as well as "How Deep Is the Ocean" and a score of others). While Siegel is no Dinah Washington, she holds her own with most of the material, despite sometimes going off the deep end into swing revival fakery. But as she's been at it a long while, there's no need to doubt her authenticity. --Joe S. Harrington

Product Description

The powerhouse Manhattan Transfer doesn't want us to think this is just another album of brilliantly arranged standards, sung to perfection. Just hearing one of pop and jazz's most remarkable singers strut her stuff to renditions arranged by her longtime partner and pianist Fred Hersch is enticing enough. Her liner notes humorously chronicle her choice of tunes, which ranges from an elegant trio reading of "That Old Black Magic" to a simmering and swaying twist on the title track. Her urgent voice is also perfectly suited for a bluesy rendition of "I Just Want To Make Love To You," which features the two pronged instrumental attack of David Tronzo's slide guitar and Hank Crawford's alto sax. The great thing about Siegel is how she moves so effortlessly from that sort of barnburning torchiness to the floating, ethereal vibe of "How Deep Is The Ocean?" She also fashions "How Long Has This Been Going On" as a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and performs a never before recorded lyric to Billy Stryhorn's familiar "Lotus Blossom" called "All Roads Lead Back to You".

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Manhattan Transfer's Siegel Hits A High Note, June 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tender Trap (Audio CD)

Fans of Manhattan Transfer's lead singer won't be disappointed with this nearly flawless collection of standards. Fred Hersch produced and played on the record, and guests include Hank Crawford, Michael Brecker and Russell Malone. Diana Krall only wishes she could sound like this!!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is 'pure' music. no tricky studio-work. very cozy!, August 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tender Trap (Audio CD)

I admire Janis since she masters almost any style of music with her voice; from Be-Bop to Brazilian, from Rock 'n' Roll to shoo-bi-doo-waps, and from pop to jazz... On this CD she limits herself to (mainly) jazz ballads, but soo pure, soo honest, soo straight from the heart... As if she stands next to you when singing it. I haven't played anything else over the past 1,5 months. And I know what I'm talking about; I am a singer/arranger/composer... And her talent makes me feel soo small. But it gives me much inspiration, I can tell you!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, June 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tender Trap (Audio CD)

I've been a big Manhattan Transfer fan for as many years as they have been around,and one of the main reasons for that has been the fabulous Janis Siegel. Her newest album is just fantastic. I've waited years for her to release a new solo album and finally she has and it is great. A must buy for anyone who loves good music.