Search - Chris Connor :: Haunted Heart

One of the best albums of her long and distinguished career

12/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When listening to this, it's awfully hard to believe that Chris
Connor just turned 74. There's little evidence of age in most of
these tracks. She has completely done away with the affectations that marred some of her early work (at least for me); she gets right down to the essence of every song. She
has become a sort of minimalist singer - she lets all these
standards sell themselves. My favorites are "Haunted Heart,"
"But Not For Me," and "Key Largo," which has just the bare
hint of a bossa nova beat in the background. She also does
the wonderful Johnny Mercer saloon song, "Drinking Again," which deserves much wider exposure than it's gotten.If girl singers had trading cards, I would trade you three Diana Krall's and two Jane Monheit's for just one Chris Connor."

Chris At Her Best

10/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You'd think at this point, after nearly 50 years of recording, that Chris Connor might be some sort of ghost of herself, relying on fond memory rather than current attributes. Far from it. If anything, Chris is sounding richer than ever and as an interpreter wiser than ever. This splendid album includes familiar standards, long-neglected gems and a vocal version of the Claude Thornill theme "Snowfall" which will have your hair standing on end. Accompanied by a splendid small ensemble which manages to sound like a big band, Chris is ever-thoughtful, ever-provocative and ever-surprising in this sterling collection which is terrific from start to finish."

The Haunting Chris Connor Will Grab Your Heart

Steve Emerine | Tucson, AZ United States | 09/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While reissues of her early recordings continue to hit the market, jazz singer Chris Connor is still adding to her credits with new music. Her first effort for HighNote is a great collection of 10 tunes, ranging from the easily recognizable "By Myself," "But Not for Me," "Stairway to the Stars" and "Day In, Day Out" to the lesser-known "Drinking Again" by Johnny Mercer and the title tune, "Haunted Heart." Connor's voice is a little lower now than in the '50s when she launched her solo career after leaving the Stan Kenton orchestra, but the crisp articulation and great phrasing are still there. Arranger-pianist Michael Abene leads a fine crew of musicians including trumpet/flugelorn sensation Ingrid Jensen, Bill Easley on sax and flute, Chip Jackson and Steve LaSpina on bass and Dennis Mackrel on drums. The cover art is by Ilona Royce Smithkin, whose portrait of Chris was a bonus insert in the singer's "Sketches" album. My only criticism of this CD, recorded in two days in March of 2001, is that it's less than 40 minutes long. For years, however, Chris Connor has been known for quality instead of quantity. "Haunted Heart" continues that record."