Donna's Feeling The Jazz

Bruce Von Stiers

I've reviewed a few albums by Donna Singer. Each time I have really enjoyed her music. Donna had a new album that was released last summer. The title definitely reflects the tone of the album. The album is Feeling The Jazz.

Donna is a great jazz vocalist. She often has a few people helping her out on an album. For this one, Donna recruited the Doug Richards Trio to play for her. The trio features Mike Cervone on drums, Billy Alfred on piano and Doug Richards on bass.

In addition to the trio, there were special guests on certain songs. There is William Fleck on trombone, Karen Macklin and Saivani Bacani on violin, Jeff Otis on guitar and Ysauro Hernandez on percussion.

Getting things right into the toe-tapping jazz mode is Lover Come Back To Me. This is an often recorded Hammerstien song. Donna does a great job with the song and there is a great guitar solo in the middle.

The second song is one that was penned by Karen Macklin. Titled Have You Ever Had The Feeling, it is a soft and gentle song. It kind of made me think of something that Dionne Warwick might have done with a Burt Bacharach song.

Donna often reaches into the Great American Songbook for songs. One such song is I Thought About You. This Mercer / Van Huesen song is very well done here. Not only are Donna's vocals nice, there is some excellent piano and trombone in the song. And the bass isn't too bad either.

Wave, a classic Jobim, tune, is very well done. Did

Then there is a terrific, smile effecting rendition of the Gershwin tune, S'Wonderful. There is a awesome trombone solo in the song.

There is a really great strictly instrumental rendition of the Billy Strayhorn song, Take The “A” Train.

Although it is soft and gentle, Guess Who I Saw Today is a sad song about catching her loved one cheating on her. Donna treats this song with a light and lyrical touch.

Donna also does a nice job with the classic tune, Alone Together. This song has some great bass and piano.

Sometimes the song For Once In My Life is done big and brassy. Donna treats her rendition with a subtle and melodious touch.

Another melodic song is They Didn't Believe Me.

The album concludes with a fantastic rendition of the Lerner / Loewe song, Almost Like Being In Love.

Like I wrote at the first of this review, I have really enjoyed Donna Singer's music in the past. This new album continues my appreciation of Donna's talent. She always seems to bring a certain melodic style to her music. As with her previous albums, I really enjoyed Feeling The Jazz.

Feeling the Jazz can be found at most major music retailers.

You can find Donna at www.donna-singer.com

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© 2018 Bruce E Von Stiers