Album review: DAZ NUANCE - Divaria

Seratone, SERA001

Review copy supplied by Abels Music, Canberra ACT

Reviewed by Tony Magee

This is the sort of CD that many guests will inquire about during the course of dining.

Divaria is an intriguing collection of originals and famous operatic arias arranged in a kind of jazz / funk / pop meld by Australian composer Andrew Thomas Wilson.

This CD would suit many different kinds of restaurants I feel, from trendy cafes to funky eateries, certainly alternative establishments and even quite up-market places.

Some purists will say that they prefer the original versions of the opera selections, which is perfectly valid, however Wilson’s treatment of them and the sparkling performances given by him and his chosen players and singers are a treat and certainly not offered as “improvements” – just an alternative approach.

Included are: Massenet’s Le Poeme De La Mer, Caccini’s Ave Maria, Puccini’s Nessum Dorma as well as five Wilson originals, which are all notable and one track by contralto Justine Bradley. Karen Cummings supplies the soaring soprano realisations on many of the tracks.

Do have a listen. Fabulous stuff.

First published in Restaurant and Catering magazine, January 2001

Album Review: COMME CI, COMME CA - Janet Seidel, La Brava Music LB 0033, reviewed by Tony Magee

On this gorgeous CD, Janet Seidel sings a beautiful collection of songs with a French influence, including a good dose of Michel Legrand, Johnny Mercer and many others. An almost Doris Day touch to her vocal delivery sets this album up as superb lounge style listening and definitely an excellent choice for cocktails, dinner, or late night romance.

Nice to hear familiar, but now rarely performed, movie theme classics such as A Man and A Woman, The Summer of 42, Windmills of your Mind, I Will Wait for You and others. In fact some of these tunes are not usually heard with the lyric at all, and when Seidel sings them in her sensuous French they come to life again in an even more delectable way.

Other songs are sung in English or sometimes both languages and include C’est si Bon, And the Angels Sing, I Wish You Love, These Foolish Things and lots more.

Backing is provided tastefully by a small band headed up by Kevin Hunt on piano, harking back to early Nina Simone accompaniments and even the classic Ella and Louis sounds, ranging through cool swing, bossa nova and ballads.

Not to say that this album is a re-creation of those previous artists – it isn’t. Seidel and the band have established a fine and distinctive style of their own with this new release, and I urge all listeners interested in lounge, jazz and film scores to get a copy. It’s a lovely portrayal of some of the best songs ever written.

First published in Restaurant and Catering Australia magazine, Jan 2001