Search - Marlena Shaw :: Lookin for Love

Just Beautiful Singing

Joel Rodriguez | Atlanta, GA USA | 06/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Marlena's newest release is simply divine. A mixture of simple yet interesting arrangements (trio and sometimes percussion)and excellent songs produce Marlena's most relaxed vocals in years. On this album she doesn't shoot the sparks that she can but opts to just lay back and let her unique phrasing and sense of time do their thing. She's been around long enough to know that great songs can just be sung and if the vocalist has the ability you will get something like this!
'Hope In A Hopeless World' is an instant classic. I'm not sure if it was done before but Marlena makes it hers. The lyrics coupled with Hazeltine's play (note the fitting Stevie Wonder tune after the bridge) give Marlena a great base to just go. 'NY State Of Mind' is given a mid-tempo treatment and Marlena just glides right on. Marlena takes the classic 'For All We Know' and makes you glad she did. 'Just The Two Of Us' is a highlight even on this stand-out album. 'Everything Must Change' reunites Marlena with Bernard Ighner who wrote much of her classic 'Who Is This Bitch' album. That she is finally recording his most noted song is a surprise but that she does such a (I'm running out of superlatives) great job isn't. 'Here's To Life' is my total favorite on the album- It's just an awesome song, lyric, arrangement and vocal combination. 'Easy Living' is sublime. 'Mercy Mercy Mercy' is Marlena revisiting her first hit and I'm glad that she finally put it out where everybody can here it!
'What A Wonderful World' makes you glad that it is a world that has Marlena Shaw! 'Sweet Georgia Brown' lets Marlena flex her bop chops. 'You Don't Know What Love Is' is an excellent finishing touch to this flawless performance.
The attitude of this album is so laid back and comfortable yet has all of Marlena's jazz elements that I readily put it up as one of her best. To sing this effortlessly and well is the sign of a singer that KNOWS HOW TO SING AND FEELS IT! I hope this album gets her her just notice and I feel is Grammy worthy!"