Search - Rene Croan :: Eclectcizm

From rene marie

Rene Marie | Colorado, USA | 04/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To everyone confused by this listing on Amazon.com: My name is Rene Marie. My former name was Rene Croan and this CD,"Renaissance", is by Rene Croan, not Zakiyah. Amazon has incorrectly listed this CD as being by Zakiyah, a black female vocalist who also recorded her CD at Flat Five Studios in Salem, Virginia. For years, I have attempted on several occasions to correct this error by letting Amazon know, but the correction has never been made. I still get e-mails from folks confused by the error. So this is my attempt to set the record straight. This mistake does both Zakiyah and me a disservice. I wish I could remember the name of Zakiyah's CD so I could send you there to purchase it. It's great!! But I'm not her and she's not me.



Secondly, I am rating this CD 5 stars just so it will be placed at the beginning of the ratings to get my point across about the error. Personally, I do not believe in ratings or stars or competitions of any kind. Rather, I believe they inhibit free artistic expression.



Third, this CD is no longer in print. You may be able to find it used somewhere, but it is not available at this time. We are thinking about re-releasing it in the near future.



Fourth: now, the review...

The music here is typical of sophomoric efforts of a vocalist. It's chockfull of mostly standards (except for "Be My Husband") and, to my ear, sounds like I was trying to get somewhere. I eventually did, but you can't tell it by listening to this. Every journey begins with a first step, however, and this one was mine. I'm proud of it in that I had many obstacles to overcome in order to record it (produce it, sell it, mail it to radio stations, newspapers and clubs just to get airplay, media coverage and gigs), not the least of which was leaving my husband, religion and home of 30 years, having a guitarist quit at the end of the recording session (and telling me i couldn't use his playing in it) and a son incarcerated; all while in the midst of recording it. So when I think of Renaissance, I think of all that. I give 5 stars for chutzpah!"

Renaissance Has Much to Offer

Rene Marie | 03/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At the age of forty, her children grown, Rene Croan (now known as Rene Marie) began singing professionally again after a twenty year hiatus.During her time out of the spot light, this one time Rhythm and Blues singer honed her craft late at night listening to jazz greats Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae and others while her babies slept. Raised in a household filled with a music, literature and art, Rene enjoys all types of music,as this CD clearly illustrates. Offering a diverse mix of songs sung with a jazz twist, this CD contains selections ranging from well known jazz standards, such as Them There Eyes, to a gut-bucket-blues version of Patti Page's country classic Tennessee Waltz.Other standout selections include Andy Stroud's Be My Husband and one of the most exciting versions of Caravan I have ever encountered. She caresses tender in her lovely versions Jobim's Dindi and the too seldom heard Soon It's Gonna Rain.For fun, you can't beat Comes Love or Dave Frishberg's Peel Me A Grape.This self produced album is one of the finest debut albums to come about in quite some time.I am sure we will be hearing more from this talented new artist."