PATRICE WILLIAMSON
Free to Dream (River Lily)

"You want to hear beautiful music? Go directly to Track 4 on Patrice Williamson's latest album, Free to Dream, and listen to Rodgers and Hart's With a Song in My Heart. Irresistibly melodic and outspokenly tender, the way a love song should be written (and sung). I'd never before heard the introduction to this masterpiece (one of many on which R&H collaborated), which is as beguiling as the verse, if not more so. Handsomely performed by Williamson, pianist Mark Shilansky, guitarist Jason Hunter, bassist Keala Kaumeheiwa and drummer Ron Savage, it is the explicit highlight of a session that is strongest when Williamson sings the standards ("But Not for Me," "Alone Together," "Love Me or Leave Me," "Puttin' on the Ritz," a medley from Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music and a bonus track, "Close Your Eyes"...Bud Powell's Celia is a saucy swinger but has no lyrics, only scatting (nicely done by Williamson). This is a studio date except for "Close Your Eyes" (another high spot), which has an audience..."

–Jack Bowers
AllAboutJazz.com

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