Search - Julia Rich :: If I Spoke French

Julia's Great In Any Language!

Phil Stout | 03/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Julia Rich is one of those rare female vocalists that can sing a song you've heard dozens (if not hundreds) of times before, and flat out make it her own! On IF I SPOKE FRENCH, her uncanny ability to take some great old standards like "What A Difference A Day Made", "I Know Why" and (believe it or not) "The Tennessee Waltz" and make them sound down right refreshing, is nothing short of genius. Of course Julia has been honing her songbird skills in front of SRO audiences for a few seasons now as the Glenn Miller Orchestra's leading lady. Believe me, when you hear her version of "Ding Dong!The Witch Is Dead", you'll wonder how such a dastardly deed could bring a smile to your face. IF I SPOKE FRENCH also includes a number of Rich originals which deserve wider exposure. In addition to the title tune, "My First Love" and "Matching Rings" are Julia tales sung simply and grand. It doesn't matter what language you speak, Julia Rich's IF I SPOKE FRENCH is universally recommended!

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I just love her music

C. L. Orenstein | Appleton, WI | 06/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've purchased every one of Julia's CD's, mostly from the Glenn Miller Web site. I just love her music. She has a fresh new voice and her disks contain a good mix of music. I highly recommend purchasing this and all the rest of her disks if you like vocal jazz."

Beautiful, fresh jazz vocals - not the retread list of stand

Penumbra | Atlanta, GA USA | 10/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Julia Rich has the bona fides. She became the featured vocalist for the Glenn Miller Big Band in 1985. As you would expect her voice is marvelous; her diction is clear and her singing is melodious.



But Julia also has a solo career. "If I Spoke French" is one of four CD's she has produced with her own band of excellent jazz musicians - bass, guitar, piano, trumpet, trombone, sax, and percussion. The selections here are on the laid back side of jazz. More what you'd expect to hear in a smoke filled jazz club, than a night of big band swing.



What sets Julia Rich apart from the growing throng of wannabe chanteuses is that with her superb voice and excellent taste, she has the courage and confidence to select fabulous songs that aren't on the retread list of standards from the Ella/Sarah/Billie songbook. Those ladies *own* the material from their songbooks, which is why is is so refreshing to hear a contemporary jazz singer performing something different - perhaps future standards.



There are a few familiar songs on here, but Julia Rich gives them a fresh spin without resorting to the scourge of amateurs - scatting and wailing them into an unrecognizable mess.



You're really hearing something beautiful and new on "If I Spoke French."



Highly recommended!



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