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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Stacey Kent was a very good singer when she made her debut but on her fifth album she's even better. In Love Again features high-class material delivered with emotional depth and clear individuality, a touch of expressive huskiness occasionally apparent. Her exceptional vocal control is excellent and so is her handling of the lyrics. Many of the finest melodies from the pen of Richard Rodgers were graced by the audacious and witty lyrics of Lorenz Hart and, in a song like "Manhattan", Miss Kent handles the internal rhymes and sophisticated mood with aplomb. In contrast she enters with feeling into the simpler, more evocative ambience of "It Never Entered My Mind" aided by a haunting tenor solo by Jim Tomlinson. He's only on a few of the dozen tracks and the accompaniment is mainly handled by a rhythm section in which David Newton's sensitive piano is outstanding, whether soloing or accompanying, while guitarist Colin Oxley also takes solos which are warm, mellow and wholly appropriate. There's no doubt however who is the true star of this well-conceived programme. Good jazz singers are few and far between and one as outstanding as Stacey Kent is not to be missed. --Graham Colombé
Album Description
In Love Again, Stacey Kent's fifth album, pays tribute to the songs of Richard Rodgers, one of the most successful songwriters in music history, whose centenary year is celebrated in 2002. It features her usual quartet--saxophonist Jim Tomlinson, pianist Dave Newton, guitarist Colin Oxley and bassist Simon Thorpe--plus drummer Jasper Kviberg.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Stacey Kent is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding jazz vocalists of the present generation. The London based New Yorker's newest album from Candid Records is a musical tribute to Richard Rodgers, one of the most celebrated Broadway composers, whose collaborations with Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II produced some of the most romantic songs that populate the great American songbook. Ms. Kent's jazz-inflected stylings transform this exquisitely hewn collection of chestnuts into freshly minted vignettes of love and its corollaries.
What distinguishes Ms. Kent from her contemporaries? First, there is her liquid, silver-streaked soprano - clean, clear and precise - with a mellow, mellifluous lower register that stretches all the way to crystalline tones in the upper register. But there's much more than just a beautiful voice: Ms. Kent's incisive musicianship is demonstrated in her elegantly sculpted phrases and impeccable enunciation, complete with her trademark fluttering terminal vibrato. She brings a girlish winsomeness and seeming effortlessness to her delivery.
The upbeat numbers on this album exude an infectious buoyancy, while the torchy ballads a have an introspective, intimate and almost conversational feel, as if they are delivered in quiet, reflective moments of solitude. "Shall We Dance?", the passionate polka of unfulfilled romantic passion from "The King and I", has been transformed into a sexy, swinging invocation. Her utterly beguiling rendition of "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" is another highlight of this recording. Ms. Kent has her tongue firmly in her cheek while she plays around with shifting musical tempos in "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair", the clarion call to womanly independence from "South Pacific", and she infuses "This Can't Be Love" with finger-snapping, feet-tapping exuberance and joyful abandon. "Thou Swell" is given a playful, endearing and coy reading that conjures up the image of a wide-eyed ingénue in the throes of requited love. In "Manhattan", Rodgers and Harts affectionate ode to the city that never sleeps, Ms. Kent deftly negotiates the gentle, interloping musical rhythms and urbane, witty lyrics with infinite ease. But she also knows that sometimes love can hurt, and Ms. Kent brings a whole octave of heartbreak and rue to her poignant, wistful rendition of "Easy to Remember"; close your eyes and you can almost imagine her in a smoky jazz club in the wee hours of the morning.
Ms. Kent has surrounded herself with a top-notch quintet of sidemen, who provide sensitive, attentive accompaniment to complement her vocal and interpretive skills. Jim Tomlinson's sinuous, sultry tenor sax pas de deux with Ms. Kent's vocals, Colin Oxley's warm, supple guitar solos and David Newton's brilliant piano fills prove that you don't need an orchestra to sound like one. The clean, spare arrangements bring a heightened sense of hushed intimacy to the recording.
To put it succinctly, Stacey Kent is simply sublime.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am a great fan of Stacey Kent and listened to her latest offering with great anticipation. The format is familiar to that of her other albums : Great American Songbook standards in a sophisticated small combo setting. The major soloists are there and would be well known to anyone who has a Stacey Keny C.D. already : Stacey's hubby Jim Tomlinson (sax and flute), the talented David Newton (piano)and Colin Oxley (guitar). All the tracks have a light but expert touch and Stacey's phrasing and interpretation are, as usual, top class.
There is however an overall sameness in tempo and format about many of the tracks that was evident in "Dreamsville" as well. This had the effect of not holding my attention for the full span of the record. I had quite the opposite reaction to "Let Yourself Go", for example, which has a much broader mix of interpretations. A couple of more up tempo numbers to give Tomlinson and Newton, in particular, a chance to let rip, would have mixed up the whole package in a more interesting way.
I don't regret at all having obtained "In Love Again" virtually on the day it became available, and it would be a good introduction to anyone not familiar with Stacey Kent's work, but it falls a little short of being my favorite representation of her work.
There is however an overall sameness in tempo and format about many of the tracks that was evident in "Dreamsville" as well. This had the effect of not holding my attention for the full span of the record. I had quite the opposite reaction to "Let Yourself Go", for example, which has a much broader mix of interpretations. A couple of more up tempo numbers to give Tomlinson and Newton, in particular, a chance to let rip, would have mixed up the whole package in a more interesting way.
I don't regret at all having obtained "In Love Again" virtually on the day it became available, and it would be a good introduction to anyone not familiar with Stacey Kent's work, but it falls a little short of being my favorite representation of her work.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After the superb Dreamsville album last year, Ms. Kent earned more new fans than most would have thought. Everyone I have played that album to has bought their own copy!
But this new album is even better. The breadth of sheer musicality is outstanding - from tracks that are great 'foot-tappers' to those which just make you sit back, close your eyes, and listen.
Once again, the combination of Ms. Kent's voice, her diction, the choice of songs, and the silky-smooth arrangements leave you wanting to play this album again, and again.
I bet you can't listen to it for the first time without hitting the repeat button!
HMV Choice magazine highlighted Ms. Kent as a star for 2002 - oh how right they were! And it's still only January!
But this new album is even better. The breadth of sheer musicality is outstanding - from tracks that are great 'foot-tappers' to those which just make you sit back, close your eyes, and listen.
Once again, the combination of Ms. Kent's voice, her diction, the choice of songs, and the silky-smooth arrangements leave you wanting to play this album again, and again.
I bet you can't listen to it for the first time without hitting the repeat button!
HMV Choice magazine highlighted Ms. Kent as a star for 2002 - oh how right they were! And it's still only January!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Stacey Mines The Romance in Richard Rogers
Stacey Kent is a young, native New Yorker who now lives, and generally performs, in England: that's what might happen to an American singer who falls in love with an English... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stephanie DePue
Nice and sentimental
This is a nice, swing oriented album; Stacey Kent is a vocalist of pleasant voice and great precision, although not all the supporting musicians drive her the way many older giants... Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2008 by Nikica Gilic
League of her Own
Another one (Stacey Kent album ) to add to my collection.
I've heard Stacey Kent described in various ways most of which include comparisons to people like Billie, Ella and... Read more
I've heard Stacey Kent described in various ways most of which include comparisons to people like Billie, Ella and... Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2004
Outstanding tribute to Richard Rodgers
American-born but British-based Stacey does it again with this mellow but classy collection of songs composed by Richard Rodgers in collaboration with either with Lorenz Hart or... Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2003 by Peter Durward Harris
Stacey the singer
Lovely voice but not quite as good as some Portugese singers I know - Lisa Ono and Leila Pinheiro, Elis Regina for starters as a comparison. Tomlinson sounds like Getz. Read more
Published on 7 Oct 2003 by "tiggyscuba"
I've fallen in love again
Yet another brilliant albumn fron the loverly Stacey Kent.
Having bought other cd's by Stacey and loving them all!!! Read more
Having bought other cd's by Stacey and loving them all!!! Read more
Published on 1 May 2003
I've fallen in love again
Yet another brilliant albumn fron the loverly Stacey Kent.
Having bought other cd's by Stacey and loving them all!!! Read more
Having bought other cd's by Stacey and loving them all!!! Read more
Published on 1 May 2003
In Love Again
Having seen Stacey live at Hever Castle, I bought this CD. I did not expect it to be SO good! Not only is her voice like velvet but the musicians in her group are so accomplished,... Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2003 by Maureen P Winskill
Imaginitive arrangements but maybe a bit one paced
A selection of Richard Rodgers' songs which varies from the very familiar to the less well known. It is perhaps a pity that the pace of the album is not quite as variable. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2002 by Robert O. Davidson
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