For The Color Five, Naylor has incorporated many different calculations of the number "5." There are five musicians on the record: Naylor on vocals, Art Khu on piano and guitar, Jon Evans on bass, Josh Jones on drums, and Yoon Ki Chai on violin. The song selection is also broken down into groups of five; there are five originals (all co-written by Naylor and Khu), five impeccably-chosen covers, and five of Naylor's trademark "acoustic smashes, " where she sings a classic rock tune over a jazz standard or vice versa. For example, Naylor sings the U2 favorite "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" over the music of Miles Davis' "All Blues" - which they've done here in 5/4 time. Appropriately, the CD clocks in at 55 minutes and 55 seconds.
The album starts off with a stunning arrangement of the timeless Rodgers and Hart gem "Blue Moon, " which serves as a great introduction to the varied textures and nuances that make this singer's voice so unique. Naylor leads the band on a Brazilian journey with her undulating bossa nova rendition of R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" and gives the Cole Porter standard "Love For Sale" a funky makeover by smashing it with Bill Withers' "Use Me." A highlight is her reverent telling of "Here's To Life"; Naylor chose that song in tribute to the late Shirley Horn, one of her major inspirations as a vocalist.
Naylor's original compositions likewise showcase an impressive range of genre and influence. "Sit And Rest A While" is breezy and easy going while "Angel of Mine" is a beautiful ballad. "Easy Ride From Here" can bring to mind the music of such diverse artists as Joni Mitchell, Natalie Merchant, or Aimee Mann.
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