Cinzia_Spata: 93-03

There is a wealth of jazz talent on 93-03, none less exciting than the singer and the songs. Cinzia Spata recorded pieces that were in her repertoire during the period from 1993 to 2003, hence the title of this release. That apart, Spata has a fine sense of style and articulation which come across potently and make this an accomplished recording.

Spata includes four originals as well as songs by Cole Porter, Horace Silver, and Kenny Wheeler, and they show how at ease she is with the diversity of the material. Her compositions are strong, illustrated by the sadness of breakup on "Friend We're Through, where her direct approach cuts through sentiment. She has able support form Marc Copland, whose piano adds to the dramatic impact, and Ron McClure, who gets the bass to staple the emotion. In contrast comes the sparkling "Anek, on which she scats with verve as soprano saxophonist Donny McCaslin breathes snaky lines into the spaces.

Spata holds the reins of emotion in firm control on the other tunes as well. Her voice captures the forlorn melancholy of "Lonely Woman compactly, the sense of loss enhanced by McClure, who integrates the feeling into his solo. Her interpretation of "Everytime We Say Goodbye is full of heartache, and she creates enough of an impact to give the song an acceptable stamp.

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