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Benita Hill - I'll See You
In My Song
Released: January, 2006
This one came sailing into the mailbox from Nashville, where Benita Hill
has been working for a while. She's got the right genes - her mother was
the girl singer for the house band at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago
around 1950 or so. She's a writer, too - Garth Brooks, Isaac Hayes and sax
guy Kirk Whalum have all performed Ms. Hill's work.
Throw in some commercial work (notably "Santa Baby" for Jaguar ads),
television development projects, and Music City cabaret work - and well,
it looks like Ms. Hill stays pretty busy.
And oh, my. She's very good. I'll admit - I'm partial to the standards.
Ms. Hill's turn on "Besame Mucho" - slower than most - is hauntingly
beautiful. For me, it was the highlight of the disc. That said, though -
"Sausalito In The Summertime," from Nashville songwriter Steve Dan Mills,
is a real treat.
"I'll See You In My Song" is a good mix of standards and new material -
five of the tracks were co-written by Ms. Hill - along with people like
Phil Springer (Who wrote "Santa Baby"), and Julia Rich, who fronts the
Glenn Miller Orchestra.
My other favorites on this
disc include Mel Tormé's "Born To Be Blue," and "Go Slow."
Ms. Hill's backing band - Kevin Madill on piano, Jim Ferguson on Bass, Mr.
Whalum on Sax, Michael Ripoli on Guitar, and Bob Mater on Drums - are
solid, but pretty much stay out of the way, and frame Ms. Hill's fine
voice nicely.
The quality of the recording - many of the tracks from Ms. Hill's home studio - is
outstanding.
Ms. Hill's voice deserves to be showcased by major label. This is top-notch
stuff. This disc belongs in your collection.
Highly recommended..
 Three microphones (out of four)
- Doug Boynton
(02/05/07) |
