Lena Horne: Seasons of a Life

Thus we find Lena Horne captured on Seasons of a Life, a grab-bag collection of live and studio recordings. While Horne is an entrancing performer in the nightclub setting, where she projects class and warmth, her performances on disc can seem a bit much. Her frequent technique of talk-singing is a fine tool for communicating through vocals and body language, but here, suspended from the context of a flesh and blood performance, it seems kind of odd.

The take on "Chelsea Bridge succeeds because it is relatively subdued; Horne's sophistication and style come through loud and clear when she isn't projecting to the back of the club. Elsewhere, "I've Got To Have You, penned by Kris Kristofferson, is a total misfire. In order to sing a Kristofferson song successfully, one must either be Kristofferson himself, or else tuned into his own unique frequency. It is fair to say that Horne fits neither prerequisite.

The fact that Seasons of a Life fails as an album is not a condemnation of Horne's talent, but rather a confirmation that her unique gifts are best suited to other mediums.