Search - Lynne & Mike :: New Rememberings

For romance, musicianship, and creativity, this CD is tops.

Mary Whipple | New England | 01/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Famous for their George Gershwin concerts and their Gershwin CD, for which jazz aficionado and pianist Steve Allen wrote the liner notes, jazz/cabaret artists Lynne Jackson and Mike Palter here feature old favorites from the American Songbook and newer "standards" from the past twenty years. Lynne's voice, usually described as "soprano," has the power and fullness of an alto, and her versatility and control allow her to soar through several octaves. Mike's vocal range from tenor to baritone compliments Lynne's voice perfectly. Lynne, a genius at the piano and keyboard, and Mike, equally adept on bass, accompany themselves, needing no other instruments as backup, and their long collaboration shows in their harmonies, their ability to hit words exactly at the same time, and their phrasing and tempo.



A special feature of this album is their creative combination of two different, but complimentary, songs in five tracks, with Lynne singing one song, while Mike sings a completely different one. Somehow Lynne manages to connect the harmonies and tempos of both songs in her accompaniments. "Sing a Rainbow" and "The Color of My Life" are combined, as are "Didn't We" and "The Way We Were," "The Nearness of You" and "When I Fall in Love," "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top and "You Took Advantage of Me," and (my favorite) "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and "I'll Be Seeing You," one of the most romantic songs in the album. In some cases, the listener hears one song starting the track and a different one ending the track and is oblivious to where the shift between songs takes place.



Two medleys, one consisting of ten Gus Kahn songs and one of Yip Harburg songs, are also major features. The harmonies, lyrical interpretations, instrumental musicianship, and communication with the audience and each other are among the highlights of the album. Concert artists of the highest order, Lynne and Mike should gain even more fans with this album. Mary Whipple

"