Brazilian Breezes: Mostly Jobim专辑介绍
by Steve Loewy
Considering that her mother is the gifted swing singer Betty Johnson, it is perhaps not entirely surprising that Lydia Gray displays the extraordinary talent she demonstrates here. Most of the songs are popular melodies penned by Antonio Carlos Jobim, arranged beautifully by guitarist Ed Eastridge and sung by Gray in a distinctly dry voice with a slightly behind-the-beat delivery. She sings most of the pieces in English, with little if any improvisation, but she infuses almost every tune with bittersweet inflections that make her interpretations quite engaging. Her voice is clearly influenced by Susannah McCorkle, and Gray's rendition of "Chega de Saudade (No More Blues)" compares favorably to McCorkle's spectacular recorded version, though Gray sings it differently, with an attractive, somewhat unemotional tinge, reminiscent of Chet Baker at his best. When Gray sings in Portuguese on "Voce Vai Ver," her sensuous, … » Read more
Considering that her mother is the gifted swing singer Betty Johnson, it is perhaps not entirely surprising that Lydia Gray displays the extraordinary talent she demonstrates here. Most of the songs are popular melodies penned by Antonio Carlos Jobim, arranged beautifully by guitarist Ed Eastridge and sung by Gray in a distinctly dry voice with a slightly behind-the-beat delivery. She sings most of the pieces in English, with little if any improvisation, but she infuses almost every tune with bittersweet inflections that make her interpretations quite engaging. Her voice is clearly influenced by Susannah McCorkle, and Gray's rendition of "Chega de Saudade (No More Blues)" compares favorably to McCorkle's spectacular recorded version, though Gray sings it differently, with an attractive, somewhat unemotional tinge, reminiscent of Chet Baker at his best. When Gray sings in Portuguese on "Voce Vai Ver," her sensuous, … » Read more