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Ingrid James: Colours Of Your Love: Wild Silk Strings Project
ByTwo covers stand out. A laid-back version of k.d. lang's "Constant Craving," with a relaxed, waltz-time, rhythm, is a successful and refreshing take on the original. James' considered and precise vocal giving the lyric a romantic and personal feel while Greggors White's tenor solo adds a wilder edge to the performance. A soulful version of Carole King's "It's Too Late" is another great example of Denson and James' ability to approach well-known songs with fresh ears and voices: in this case, hip-hop inspired rhythms and smooth horns underpin James' vocal.
The Satie and Supertramp numbers are less successful. Satie's "Gnossienne No. 1" is usually heard as a solo piano piece, starkly beautifully. James and Denson's arrangement features James's wordless vocal, muted horns and plenty of percussioncloser to a Phil Spector production than it is to the diminutive French composer's original, it loses the emotional impact engendered by the starkness of the solo performances. Supertramp's "The Logical Song" is driven by Harrison's percussion and features another strong string arrangement, although even James's faultless vocal can't overcome the pretentious lyric about radicals and vegetables.
James and Denson's own songs are uniformly strong. "Flame Tree" features another wordless vocal, but this time it's more in keeping with the piece, adding to the sultry and danceable rhythm. "First Love" opens as if it were played on a scratchy shellac disc then morphs into a mellow, Latin-inspired, love song with atmospheric contributions from the strings and trumpeter Paul Armstrong. The closing trio of songs are all originals, notable for strong ensemble performances and, as ever, James' beautiful vocals.
Track Listing
Gnossienne No. 1; Constant Craving; Flame Tree; First Love; Tristeza de Amar; Wild December Wind; It's Too Late; The Logical Song; If You Could Read My Mind; Colours Of Your Love; Maybe Tomorrow; Gone Too Soon.
Personnel
Ingrid James
vocalsIngrid James: vocals; Louise Denson: piano; Paul Armstrong: trumpet, flugelhorn; Paul Greggors White: tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone; Martin Kay: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone; Andrew Shaw: acoustic bass; Christopher Todd Harrison: drums, percussion; Eugenie Costello-Shaw: violin; Danielle Bentley: cello; Richard Grantham: viola.
Album information
Title: Colours Of Your Love: Wild Silk Strings Project | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: The Planet Company