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The song selections frequently lie down at the less frequented end of the street. The album is a sequel to The Art of the Song, Quartet West's 1999 project. There were two recording sessions, in Los Angeles and New York City, each employing a different string orchestra.
Melody Gardot is at her most dignified with a haltingly breathless enunciation of If I'm Lucky. A thoughtful, measured piano solo is followed by a tender tenor saxophone statement by Ernie Watts. Norah Jones sounds more immediately close to the microphone on Ill Wind, lazy and almost ghostly. The spectre of her voice peeks through a smoky veil. The deep mahogany tones of Cassandra Wilson infuse My Love and I with an intensified slow drift that washes into a bass solo before resuming its processional pace. Haden is limned by a halo of string-blooms. For this recording, a set of Johnny Mercer's lyrics were exhumed, and used for the first time on this previously instrumental number.
In the instrumental camp, the title-track is lusciously afloat with strings, then picks up its pace as new band member Rodney Green's drums drive more firmly, and Watts solos with gusto. Today I Am a Man is handled by the unadorned quartet, with a necessarily more compressed sound. It's dense and brisk, with all of the members pointedly delivering their solos. Angel Face (penned by the recently departed Hank Jones) is marinated in noir juices. My Old Flame is another purist Quartet West interpretation, prefaced by another Haden bass solo. After all this, the closing Wahoo provides a chirpy antidote for the lovelorn.
Haden has managed to entice some of the most renowned jazz songbirds in the world, and their combined efforts are cumulatively sombre, with a frisson of bittersweet fatalism. Sometimes this build-up can establish a cocktail lounge atmosphere, but in most cases its emotional resonances hover on the right side of poignant.
--Martin Longley
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Customer Reviews
Quartet West is made up of the great Ernie Watts on Tenor Saxophone, Allan Broadbent on Piano, and new addition Rodney Green on drums. All members once again join forces with Bassist Haden to forge yet another unique look at the "standard".
While "Sophisticated Ladies" is perfectly balanced between instrumental and vocal tracks. The vocals, especially here take on a very significant role in the presentation of this beautiful release.
"Sophisticated Ladies" enlists the help of some top-tier vocalists including Melody Gardot, Norah Jones, Cassandra Wilson, Ruth Cameron, Renee Fleming and Diana Krall to explore some lesser-known tunes but in a way that you feel like you have known them all along.
Ruth Cameron, Haden's wife, co-produced the effort with her husband and gives an incredible rendition of "Letfs Call It a Day".
Melody Gardot and Norah Jones are stellar and all the vocal tracks shine with a highly understated "sophistication" that Quartet West is so well-known for.
From the classic cover art, reminiscent of the Capitol days of the early 60s, to the open and often lush sound consistent throughout this effort, this is a band at the very top of their game.
Inviting, seductive, and engaging on all levels.
"You can't knock the sheer class of this major-label grand production matching bassist Haden's film noir-inspired quartet - one of the best groups of the past 20 years - with guest singers Cassandra Wilson, Diana Krall, Melody Gardot, Norah Jones, Renée Fleming and Ruth Cameron (Haden's wife, who co-produces).
The repertoire leaves room for instrumental chops from saxophonist Ernie Watts, while Haden's big bass fiddle thumps out the time with authority..." - Phil Johnson
The album debuted at # 3 of the Billboard Top Jazz Albums. March 2011
I can't stop playing it. The saxaphone sounds so amazing. My favourite track is the first one, Melody Gardot singing an old number, " If I'm lucky." I was lucky as I saw her sing it at The Barbican. Buy this and enjoy!
I must applaud Charlie Haden Quartet West by carefully selecting and inviting some of the finest songstresses to grace this truly sophisticated album.
Melody Gardot in the first track, Norah Jones with her "Ill Wind", Cassandra Wilson caressing the tune of "My Love And I", Ruth Cameron's superb rendition of "Let's Call It A Day", "A Love Like These" featuring Renee Fleming and finally Diana Krall's "Goodbye".
A must buy!
That probably says it all, but in a spirit of helpfulness I ought to explain why. Beautiful songs, superbly interpreted. Read more
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