Catherine Russell - Strictly Romancin' (2012) [Official Digital Download]

Strictly Romancin, Catherine Russell s fourth album for World Village, is a paean to natural attractions: to a lover, an art form, to one s family heritage. Our heroine explores love s foibles, failures and bliss, from amorous to humorous. This acclaimed vocalist embodies the lost art of song savvy, inhabiting the lyric and allowing each melody to shine. On this fourteen song collection, Russell takes us on a journey from Harlem dance hall to Parisian Café, from Store Front Church to Uptown Cabaret blurring distinctions between the carnal and the eternal in a musical tour-de-force. For these sessions, Russell reunites with the team from her previous chart-topping album Inside This Heart of Mine, including recording engineer Katherine Miller, producer Paul Kahn and Musical Director/Guitarist/Banjoist/Arranger Matt Munisteri, who contributes his expansive vision to the project.

A masterful singer who knows how to inject her own personality into the heart of a great song. And as she shows with Luci, she s capable of writing a nuanced, alluring number herself. –The Philadelphia Inquirer

Russell sings in a marvelously full, rich alto and hangs just a hint of a blue scrim over her cheerful, straight-shooting, girl-next-door innocence. Her haunting version of No More with its '50s-modern arrangement, is easily as good as Billie Holiday's. –Paul de Barros, The Seattle Times

Catherine Russell is one of the most exciting talents among new jazz singers. –Jeff Simon, Buffalo News

Tracklist:
01. Under the Spell of the Blues
02. I'm in the Mood for Love
03. Wake up and Live
04. Ev'ntide
05. Romance in the Dark
06. I'm Checkin' Out, Goom'bye
07. No More
08. Satchel Mouth Baby
09. Everything's Been Done Before
10. Don't Leave Me
11. I Haven't Changed a Thing
12. Everybody Loves My Baby
13. He's All I Need
14. Whatcha Gonna Do When There Ain't No Swing?

Personnel:
Catherine Russell – vocals, arranger
Matt Munisteri – guitar, banjo, vocals
Mark Shane – piano
Lee Hudson – bass
Mark McLean – drums
Andy Farber – tenor saxophone, arranger
Jon-Erik Kellso – trumpet, horn arrangement
Dan Block – alto saxophone, clarinet
John Allred – trombone
Joe Barbato – accordion
Aaron Weinstein – violin
Carline Ray – vocals