Customer Reviews

I Wish You Love

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Janis Siegel has delivered her best solo album to date. It is a synthesis of everything she has learned as a solo singer, and as a member of The Manhattan Transfer. Here she shines with her own identity as never before. Whether playful or sardonic or sensual or heartbreaking, her singing and interpretations are always emotionally connected with the material, and the stellar musical accompaniment is a nearly perfect compliment. The material, which ranges from the familiar to the unexpected, is always sublime with highlights being a stunning reading of "Go Away Little Boy," the wistful ballad rendition of "Mr. Sandman" interpolated with "Dream a Little Dream of Me," the swinging "I Want You To Be My Baby" and an ironic "The Big Hurt." If one needs proof of Siegel's growth as a singer, just listen to her revisiting of "Guess Who I Saw Today?" which she initially recorded on her first solo album "Experiment in White" back in 1981, produced then and now by Joel Dorn. What was then a fine version sung by a singer with great musical instinct, has now turned into an intimate character monologue sung by a great singer who is also an actress. Accompanied just by Cedar Walton on piano, she nails the song as you've never heard it, and it is possibly the definitive version by any artist. Siegel has delivered terrific albums in the past, but this heralds the promise of even greater things to come. In the meantime, savor this album which is certain to rank as one of the best female jazz/pop vocal records of the year.

This is an excellent album by a singer who only gets better with time. Her last solo album, "The Tender Trap," was good, but this effort sounds much more spontaneous - even with the frequent and well-choreographed use of overdubbed backup vocals (which only seem to necessary on "I Want You To Be My Baby") Top cuts are the aforementioned tune, "Just A Little Lovin'" (excellent scatting), a lovely "Go Away Little Boy" and the title tune.
Siegel's next solo effort "Friday Night Special", due out on April 22, 2003, again teams her with producer, Joel Dorn, and given their track record, promises to be another winner.

SIDE NOTE: Janis isn't the only member of THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER, flying solo these days. The group's cool soprano, Cheryl Bentyne, also has an excellent album on the market. Entitled, TALK OF THE TOWN, this CD can currently be purchased as a Japanese import here on Amazon.com. However, it will be released in the US (at a cheaper price) sometime later this year. Check it out.

What can you say about Janis Siegel...her style plops right down in between Jazz and Cabaret. What I like so much on this disc is that she has discovered several songs that are not well known...and have introduced them in her usual classy way. Her re-recording of "Guess Who I Saw Today" (Originally recorded on the out-of-print title "Experiment in White")is beautiful. Janis has jumped from label to label to label...but is always worth listening to at any time.

Many many years ago, I heard Janis perform Guess Who I Saw today as part of a solo performance within a Manhattan Transfer concert. The song has haunted me for years and I have longed to find it on one of Janis' solo works. Along comes the incredible I Wish You Love and with it, the dramatic and poignant Guess Who I Saw Today.

This gem is part of a box of precious performances by one of the classiest and most gifted female vocalists ever. Janis' versatility, expansive musical exploration and rich talent carry this new CD to the highest of heights. The new flavour given to these classic delicacies is rich and rewarding with every play - and you'll be playing it over and over - just hit the repeat button.

Thank you Janis for decades of incredible music. Thank you too for re-kindling the joy of hearing such wonderful musical treasures as I Wish You Love, Just a Little Lovin and Go Away Little Boy. Thank you for always reminding us of the best of our musical history. You, and this new CD, are in a class all alone.

Simply put this is another great cd by Janis Siegel. I am a big fan of Manhattan Transfer and always felt that Janis was the major vocal force behind the group. This cd proves my point. Her voice is in perfect form. This is a great cd for a quiet night of music during dinner or relaxing with friends or someone very special. Buy it now you will not be dissapointed.

I remember the days when Down Beat rated the best woman singer in the business as Annie Ross--who was an ensemble singer (Lambert, Hendricks & Ross). Now, along comes Janis Siegel, taking a solo break from the Manhattan Transfer, who can't even make it into the "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" category. What's up with that? Professional critics, listen to this one and explain yourselves! Ms. Siegel concentrates on the era of the '50's and 60's where jazz met rock (Etta Jones and Nancy Wilson meets "The Chordettes"), and the results are marvelous. Highlights: "Don't Go to Strangers",a rendition that proves Ms. Siegel among the preeminent modern American torch singers (as does "Go Away Little Boy"); "I Want You to Be My Baby" (which, along with the title track, shows she can still swing); and a most worthy set-ender, "The Big Hurt", a wonderful recreation of Miss Toni Fisher's big 1959 hit with a "tango against swing" beat. I have "The Tender Trap" and "Friday Night Special", but I'm partial to this one in part because of its consistency and in part because of an outstanding choice of sidemen: Cedar Walton, Tom Harrell, and Fathead Newman. What a trio for a singer to sing with! Buy it; you won't be disappointed.

What a lovely recording this is, and yet another triumph for Ms. Siegel, whose solo career has almost overshadowed her outstanding work with the Manhattan Transfer. She has a beautiful instrument, capable of some dusky low notes and yet fully able to rise into a powerful upper register that never goes shrill. Couple this with very keen musical instincts and you have one hell of a singer.

A highlight is "Go Away Little Boy," with its alluring mock-protest, and Siegel sounding as sexy as anyone around. Listen how she purrs at the beginning of "Guess Who I Saw Today," before erupting into a wail at the song's climax. This is one strong vocalist, completely in control of her material.

Siegel's band is made up of some of the most stellar jazz musicians available such as Cedar Walton and David "Fathead" Newman, and this recording would almost be worth it for their contributions alone. Telarc's sound is marvelous: crystal clear, with an intimacy that is wonderful for a project like this. If you close your eyes you could be sitting ten feet away from her in some tiny downtown jazz club.

I used to switch the channel everytime a highly-improvised jazz tune would be played over the radio. Obviously I had never been an avid listener of jazz, nor had known of Janis Siegel, up until Siegel's "I Wish You Love" cuts over the inflight radio caught my attention on a long flight... Today I still consider that trip a personal historic moment, for since then not only have I become accustomed to jazz music, but have become Siegel's most avid hard-sell fan as well. The talent is pure gift, and her emotions just set fire in your belly. Janis' voice is a jealous one; even while I'm on the road her singing possesses me and distracts me from good driving. "Don't Talk to Strangers," "Guess Who I Saw Today?" and "The Big Hurt" are personal favorites. Janis made me realize that even if jazz is a venue for showcasing scatting and improvisational talent, the essence of jazz lies in accuracy and precision---nailing down the right notes at the right time, without sacrificing the emotions and total ambience of the song. This separates the true artists from those who produce contrived and pretentious "jazz" albums. But I won't be specific about that...Anyway, I say every singer who's out to be an artist--big or small--ought to order this CD. It's worth every shipping cost, really, and this is coming from someone who lives all the way across the Pacific. My only problem now is perpetually allotting a part of my budget acquiring ALL of Janis' old albums, including that of Manhattan's.

I have been always impressed with Ms. Siegel's vocal talents with the Manhattan Transfer, one of my all top favorite vocal groups, but I never purchased a solo album of her's. Now that I have, WOW. What a group she has behind her!! The talents of Cedar Walton, David Williams, Windard Harper, David "Fathead" Newman, producer Joel Dorn and others, how can you go wrong? Ms. Siegel is blessed with the tightest and brightest talents in the jazz business. Very creative in the interweaving of Mr. Sandman and Dream a Little Dream. The tune that really stands out for me is "(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade is Over." Taking a bossa nova / samba beat, Newman rips a fantastic sax. solo in the middle. Totally unbelievable!! Then switches to flute at the end. I can't stop repeating this tune. Ms. Siegel's voice is fantastic and her unique interpretations of the songs are her own and worth the money. Buy the cd - it's a classic.

I have always enjoyed Janis's solo work, but this is without doubt her best recording to date. A series of clever arrangements pefectly highlight one of the greatest voices in Jazz, a voice which is now showing a greater emotional depth than ever before (check out particularly the title track and Guess Who I saw Today ?)If you like great Jazz vocals then buy this Album !!