Customer Reviews

When Lights are Low

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

 

 

Every other song is destroyed by some over-the-hill guy whose voice is way, way past its prime, if it ever had one. Just dreadful. I am really disappointed to have spent so much money on a CD and less than half the songs are worth listening to. The songs are also only accompanied by a sole piano, which only accentuates all the flat, tuneless notes by Bennett. He should have kept his mouth shut and just let her sing. Claire Martin's other CDs are all fabulous, but this is definitely not one to include in your collection.

I love Claire. I would have preferred a
little more of Claire and less of the accompanist singing.

This is not the best CD that Claire has recorded. It is bland and offputtingly low-key, no thanks to the ill-conceived concept of a collaboration with the gravelly-voiced Bennett. Claire would have been better off doing with duets with other more exciting British jazz performers, many of whom abound and many of whom would have been more exciting than Bennett.

Over the years I have collected Claire's recordings and have generally been very satisfied with her work. I find Claire to be a vibrant, lively, provocative singer who takes wondrous musical risks. Her CDs are generally appealing. This is not one of them.

I have to agree with many of the reviews of this CD on this site. I was quite upset that less than half of the tracks feature Claire and of these few tracks, she sings duets with someone whose voice does not work well with Claire's. Although the CD credits both parties, the album cover is deceiving. It is not a Claire Martin CD. I would have preferred to have downloaded only the tracks with Claire's vocals. It would have cost me less money.

I'm a big Claire Martin fan but this recording did not do much for me upon first listening. After a few more times, it began to really grow on me. While I bought it because it's Claire, I now really enjoy listening to Richard Rodney Bennett sing as much as Claire.

I still prefer Claire as part of a small jazz combo. She shines as part of a group. Still, this is not a bad recording--just one that is different for her. I like it but I don't love it.

This vocal collaboration between sultry jazz singer Claire Martin and the singer/pianist/composer Richard Rodney
Bennett is a winner! The two Britons have performed live together in clubs in New York and in the
U.K.: now everyone can hear their intergenerational magic. Bennett's piano and husky, knowing vocals are the
perfect mate to Claire's sly, sexy style. My top tracks would be Bennett's solos on "World Weary" and "I Was a Little
Too Lonely", Claire's solos on "My Mood is You" and "Fools Fall in Love", plus the pair's duets on "When Lights are
Low" and "Anyplace I Hang My Hat..." Light the candles and pour the wine--this one's for you
and your "special someone" to enjoy together.