There are sorts of music that I am not especially predisposed to like. Like the one up today. It's some arranged, jazzed versions of Michael Jackson songs. Namely Charito's Heal the World (Soho 201104).
But it's good! Harvey Mason produced it, got some very good arrangers and instrumentalists together (like Hubert Laws, Azar Lawrence) and gave singer Charito an effective backdrop for her song interpretations.
And it works. Charito's voice comes on as sultry and powerfully projecting in alternation. The arrangements get the world-funk thing in there along with a cosmopolitan jazz/r&b flair. They are a joy to hear (seriously). It has what this sort of remake should have to work: a lingering look at the songs as songs, vocal artistry and arrangements that refresh the material and bring new life to it.
No comments:
Post a Comment