Retta Christie with David Evans and David Frishberg: Volumes 1 and 2

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

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Published: August 6, 2010

Christie sings with a voice full of sunshine, bright and clean. The performances (both releases) have a relaxed feel suggesting Broadway composers performing their own songs. It is beautifully stripped down, baring the essentials of harmony and melody. Frishberg employs his vast knowledge of stride piano to great effect on "Old Folks" and "For All We Know." Evans excels on clarinet on "'Neath The Purple on the Hill" and "For All We Know." His tenor saxophone on "Foolin' Myself" illustrates the short evolution of the instrument from Lester Young to acolyte Al Cohn, hardening the steady tone of Young, while filling in the lightness Cohn.

Christie has done a most tasteful job breathing life into old tunes. Her's could be considered a period interpretation of the popular music of the 1920s and 1930s and she could not have chosen better partners to effect such treatments.

Visit David Evans and Dave Frishberg on the web.

Tracks and Personnel

Music

Tracks: Cheatin' On Me; Yearning Just for You; Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?; Wallflower Lonely, Cornflower Blue; Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You); The Thrill Is Gone; Louise; I'll String Along With You; On Treasure Island; This Cold War With You; Lost; Ridin' Down the Canyon.

Personnel: Retta Christie: vocals; David Evans: reeds; Dave Frishberg: piano.

Joy Spring

Tracks: I Get the Blues When It Rains; Foolin' Myself; My Mother's Eyes; Old Folks; 'Neath the Purple On the Hills; Only A Rose; Sweet and Slow; You Always Hurt the One You Love; A Sailboat In the Moonlight; For All We Know; I Only Want A Buddy Not A Sweetheart; The Lonesome Road.

Personnel: Retta Christie: vocals; David Evans: reeds; Dave Frishberg: piano.

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