LEDISI

FOR DINAH

Listen Back Records/Candid

Ledisi has a golden voice that crosses genres smoothly like oil on ice.  Her latest album tribute to Dinah Washington is fire!  She opens with Dinah’s unforgettable hit record “What A difference a Day Makes” featuring an amazing trio; Christian McBride on double bass, McClenty Hunter on drums, and the sensitive piano accompaniment of Michael King.  King offers a dynamic piano solo during this arrangement.

Ledisi follows this with the lowdown blues song “If I Never Get to Heaven”  including her scat singing and a soulful delivery.  Ledisi has made her mark in the Rhythm and Blues market, but I was always sure she had deep roots in jazz. These arrangements put a stamp of approval on her ability to deliver America’s only classical music called jazz. Ledisi is a voice for all seasons.

With the assistance of a Quincy Jones big band arrangement, she puts her own spin on “Caravan.”  All the other arrangements are by great bassist and producer, Christian McBride. One exception is Ledisi’s rendition of “You Go To My Head” featuring the incredible Paul Jackson Jr. on guitar. Their duo production is stunning!

What a wonderful surprise to invite Gregory Porter into the project on a tune that Dinah Washington and Brook Benton made famous back in the 1950s. Their voices blend beautifully. I’m always pleased to hear Porter sing. Pairing him with Ledisi was somebody’s smart idea.

Ledisi is sultry, soulful, sensuous and she swings with pure abandonment.  This R&B treasure is even more impressive as a jazz vocalist.  At times, I recognized some tonality very similar to “the Queens.”  I’m certain Miss Washington would be very pleased with this awesome tribute “For Dinah” by a vocalist who sings from her heart, just the way Dinah Washington used to.

THE BAND: Ledisi, vocals; Michael King & Xavier Davis, piano; Christian McBride, bass/co-producer; McClenty Hunter, drums; Rodney Jones, guitar; Paul Jackson, Jr., electric guitar; TRUMPETS: Frank Green, Freddie Hendrix, Alex Norris, Nebate Isles. SAXOPHONES: Todd Bashore, Ron Blake, Dan Pratt, Steve Wilson; Carl Maraghi, baritone saxophone; Doug Purviance, bass trombone; TROMBONES: James Burton III, Michael Dease & Steve Davis. Sarah Hewitt-Roth; Antoine Silverman, Yuko Naito-Gotay, & Lisa Matricardi, violin/viola. GUEST LEAD VOCALS: Gregory Porter

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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