Search - Kate Ceberano :: 19 Days in New York

Ceberano's "Days" Fullfilling

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 02/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: I Had a Talk with My Man, Seven Day Fool, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow



Before it was rakish for artists to dabble with the American songbook, Kate Ceberano is sui genius. Over a couple of decades ago, this Aussie diva had already cut her teeth on jazzy classics vis-à-vis the short-lived funk group "I'm Talking." Coming full circle, Ceberano has finally recorded her first standards album in over twenty years, and all these years of experience of releasing hit records in Down Under allowed her to gain an added heft in what is perhaps her most sturdy record in her career. Though copious versions of these songs abound, Ceberano brings to this CD a poignant fluency that captures the edges and subtleties of these songs to make what might have been tried sound so evocative. With the succor of R&B recording masters Billy Davis and Leonard Caston on the helm, "19 Days in New York" exiguously relies on a small jazz ensemble of piano, bass, upright bass, drums and guitars. Yet sounding ambrosial, such a fleet is an accomplishment in itself.



Despite being recorded in just 19 days (hence the CD title) in Sony Studios in New York City, Ceberano's delivery is unforced and assuring. In fact, she has never sounded more confident as in the Aretha Franklin's soulful "Natural Woman." Producers Davis and Caston certainly have a way of drawing out Ceberano's torch sensibilities as on her take on Ella Johnson's "Since I fell for you." Not since Natalie Cole and Reba McEntire, no one has had captured the sentiments of this soul classic as Ceberano does. Though she follows very closely to the originals in most of her reads, Ceberano does not have a slavish allegiance to the past. Her kick up your heels funky take of the bluesy "Seven Day Fool" certainly would turn heads. So will her sultry take of Little Willie John's sensuous "Fever."



Even when the mood becomes more intimate and contemplative, Ceberano shows once again that she's not sonically and emotionally demurred. Laced by some plaintive sounding jazzy piano playing, Ceberano's rendition of Carole King's "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" is heartfelt. You can almost hear the pain oozing out of the speakers as Ceberano expounds on the inclement of a one night stance. Easily the best ballad must be the reassuring "I Had a Talk with My Man," a re-write of James Cleveland's "I Had a Talk with God." Stripped of its religious connotations, this almost sounds like a new song. Set within a relational context, "I Had a Talk With My Man" finds an anxious Ceberano assured of her paramour's affections. Collorary to "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," "I Had a Talk" is intimate, romantic and roseate.



My quibbles with this CD, though minor, are that there are too few songs. In this day and age where 12-15 songs already appear meager, 10 tracks is a little on the thrifty side. Also, many of these songs are too familiar and safe; with Ceberano's caliber, it would be interesting for her to tackle more challenging and perhaps obscure songs from the past. Nevertheless, this is an excellent CD-performed with verve and produced with care."