Love For Sailin’ Over Seas: Then & Now
Laser, 2022
8/10
Listen to Love For Sailin’ Over Seas: Then & Now
The Bay Area lyricist and vocalist Dee Bell brings us some interpretations of classic songs, as well as a pair of new ones to this timeless jazz offering, where she’s got plenty of esteemed help with her.
“I Got Thunder (And It Rings)” opens the listen with Bell’s pretty, poetic pipes guiding Marcos Silva’s charming keys and Romero Lubambo’s spirited guitar, and “I’ll String Along With You” follows with a calmer pace of graceful keys and Celso Alberi’s subdued drumming in the dreamy atmosphere.
Halfway through, “You’re My Thrill” recruits Houston Person’s sax and Michael Spiro’s percussion for the worldly flavor that’s got plenty of grooves, while “By Chance” enlists Erik Jekabson’s flugelhorn and Tyler Harlow’s well timed bass for the romantic album highlight.
Rounding out the listen is “Watch What Happens” and “The Face I Love”, where the former shuffles warmly with plenty of rhythm, and the latter glides with a frisky pace that benefits from Phil Thompson’s playful drumming, and, of course, Bell’s diverse and absorbing pipes.
Bell possesses a voice that’s immediately cozy and the musicians on hand sure do know their way around samba, swing and ballad sounds that you can’t listen to just once.
Travels well with: Nicole Henry- Time To Love Again; Dave Stryker- As We Are