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Paula Lammers - A Blanket Of Blue (Nightingale)
Released: July, 2005
This is a first release for Paula Lammers, who has been performing in
the Minneapolis area for some time. I've been saying that there's a lot
of regional talent who deserve wider audiences; and Ms. Lammers is proof
of that. Mostly standards, Ms. Lammers' sense of phrasing shows best in
the ballads. Her opening on the classic "In The Wee Small Hours Of The
Morning," backed only by guitarist Clay Moore, is haunting - and the
rest of the song floats along nicely.
Good stuff. There's a nice sense of timing on the title track, "Under A
Blanket Of Blue," and I'll admit a partiality to Brazilian beats -
Jobim's "Meditation" is also nicely done.
The band swings along nicely on the classic "More," with Mr. Moore and
sax fella Gary Berg taking great turns.
Ms. Lammers' Opera training clearly shows - her voice is more precise in
its higher register. Sometimes, the training shows a little too much -
she could relax and swing a little more - and show the confidence her
fine voice deserves.
But I'm being picky.
This is a great first outing; it leaves me looking for the next release,
and trying to make sure that all of us pay more attention to great
regional artists such as Ms. Lammers and the band.
It's i-Tuneable.
Go. Listen. I think you'll like it.
Recommended.
  Two
and one-half microphones (out of four)
- Doug Boynton
(04/28/07) |
