Search - Ramsey Lewis, Nancy Wilson :: Simple Pleasures

THEY'RE BACK!!!!

Harry N. Cohen | New Haven, Ct. USA | 07/31/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Fairly quickly on the heels of last year's Meant To Be, Ramsey Lewis and Nancy Wilson are back with this splendid new release. On Meant to Be, Nancy seemed like a guest on a Ramsey Lewis cd.On this new cd, there is definitely more of a teamwork feel. There are horns on this album and at times you may think you are listening to Tower Of Power in a mellow mood. Four of Nancy's five vocals are superb. The one misstep is a cover of Debarge's All This Love. Nancy rushes through this one , apparently as much in a hurry to be done singing it as we are to be done listening to it. However, all of Nancy's other cuts are outstanding. Kenny Rankin's Lost Up in Loving You is given a thoughtful, loving rendition. In the Name Of Love, a Ralph McDonald tune from the early'70's(I believe) features Nancy at her icy yet sexy best. The two absolute KILLER cuts are Give Me Something Real and God Bless the Child. Give Me... has Nancy growlin'and just a hollerin' up a storm. Subtle no, but leap out of your seat while shouting"Go Nancy" is a probable reaction to this blistering cut. I approached God Bless the Child with a little fear. Would Nancy over embilish? No, this is a lovely take on this most famous Billie Holiday classic. Ramsey's playing is equally sensitive, this cut really is a duet. It is great to hear Nancy sounding terrific, taking chances and being the ultimate diva once again. Ramsey' selections with his trio are equally effective, a mix of late '60's classics, In My Life and Ooh Child and lesser known tunes. The final cut Gentle Persuasion is a Ramsey original and is the perfect way to end this sumptuous set. I really am giving this 4 1/2 stars, but that doesn't seem to be an option."

Ashanti could only hope to have a career HALF as long!

Reginald D. Garrard | Camilla, GA USA | 10/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"134 years. That's the combined ages of Lewis (68) and Wilson (66). Each has been a jazz force for over forty years; thus, it's a no-brainer that when they come together for this, their third collaboration, it could be nothing short of perfection.Backed by a sextet of Henry Johnson (guitar), Alejo Poveda (percussion), Llew Mathews (electric keyboards), Orbert Davis (trumpet), Tracy Kirk (trombone), and Steve Eisen (tenor sax and flute), Lewis and Wilson shine on covers of tunes made popular by others. War's "Slippin' Into Darkness", DeBarge's "All This Love", Lennon and McCartney's "In My Life", and Billie Holiday's signature classic "God Bless the Child" all get the treatment that only real musicians like Lewis and Wilson can give.This is 54:35 of such a "simple pleasure" that it can become addictive."

A CATASTROPHE

Coco Pazzo | Long Beach, CA | 12/30/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I'm one of Nancy Wilson's biggest fans. The songs in this album, however, do not showcase her talents. The orchestral arrangements are saccharine sweet and Nancy's phrasing choices are bizarre. It's hard to believe this is the same singer who sang definitive versions of standards such as "The Masquerade is Over". Nancy is not a belter and she sings R&B songs that are completely ill-suited to her voice. Her new singing style sounds forced and downright bizarre. I hope her next album (RSVP- Rare Songs, Very Personal) will have better material and better vocal arrangements."