Lani Hall Featuring Herb Alpert: Seasons Of Love #jazz

Vocalist and author Lani Hall has not released an album of her own in 20 years. That is our loss, for sure. Her last effort—not counting her work with husband Herb Alpert on his tours and on a number of his fine Grammy-winning sessions—was in 1998. With Seasons of Love Hall's stepping out in front shows nothing has changed. She still has an outstanding voice with plenty of walloping emotional impact. She "returns" with this effort, delivering ten fine songs—most well-known—which are all beautifully performed, impeccably presented, and superbly produced.

The title track is a dramatic take on the well-known feature from the Broadway hit Rent and it is a highlight. The late Bill Withers' upbeat "Lovely Day" is taken straight up by Hall, and builds over a terrific rhythm bed with Alpert's horn singing along with strings. It is a strong, involving track. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is an intimate play on the Roberta Flack classic. Hall caresses the rich lyric over an accompanying acoustic guitar and, later, with strings. Her approach is elegant and avoids any hint of being sappy or saccharine.

Click here to read the entire article by Nicholas F. Mondello at allaboutjazz.com

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