Search - Stevie Holland :: More Than Words Can Say

More Than Words Can Say
Stevie Holland
More Than Words Can Say
Genres: Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists
 
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #1

Stevie Holland provides a beautiful, soulful, swinging journey with MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY. Arranged and orchestrated by award winning composer Gary William Friedman, this collection of jazz standards, classic pop songs a...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Stevie Holland
Title: More Than Words Can Say
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: 150 Music
Original Release Date: 5/23/2006
Release Date: 5/23/2006
Genres: Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists
Styles: Vocal Jazz, Vocal Pop, Traditional Vocal Pop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 837101169547

Synopsis

Product Description
Stevie Holland provides a beautiful, soulful, swinging journey with MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY. Arranged and orchestrated by award winning composer Gary William Friedman, this collection of jazz standards, classic pop songs and original songs are explored with exciting, innovative and haunting approaches. Stevie is backed by a string orchestra on several selections and by some of todays hottest jazz musicians led by pianists Martin Bejerano and Kris Davis.

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CD Reviews

5 Stars for the Singer
Rick Cornell | Reno, Nv USA | 07/06/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"If memory serves, Christopher Loudon of "Jazz Times" said very nice things about Stevie Holland and this c.d. last year. I can't get to them all on time; but a friend recently advised that I really needed to get to this one.



What can I say, but thank you, compadre!



Stevie Holland is a terrific singer. She reminds me a lot of Ann Hampton Callaway and Jackie Ryan, both for the richness of her singing voice and for her range of styles. Whether a growling, shouting blues ("Only You"), standards jazz ("Day By Day" and "Desafinado"), cabaret ("If Ever I Would Leave You") or some killer originals ("Firefly" and "Evening Song"--both my favorites on this disc), Ms. Holland shines impressively.



The backup musicians are equally great. I'm not familiar with any of them, but everything sounds appropriate and accomplished. And Danny Lawrence and Sarah Register have done terrific jobs in recording, mixing, engineering and mastering this c.d. This is one that sounds great on a killer sound system!



When a c.d. sounds this good, though, the producer usually deserves the most kudos, and this disc is no exception. The producers here are Gary William Friedman and Tim Peierls, and Mr. Friedman did quintuple duty as arranger, orchestrator, conductor and on "Lovingly", "Evening Song" and the title track, songwriter. In many ways, this c.d. belongs as much to him as to Ms. Holland.



Nonetheless, there's a reason for the title of this review: it is Ms. Holland's voice, first and foremost, that distinguishes this album. My only critique of this c.d. is that it's another "here's 12 songs that I like" disc. I.e., what's it really all about? I've downgraded other discs for this reason. Not this time, though. Stevie Holland is too good, and this disc sounds too good, to downgrade for that reason.



I suspect that Stevie Holland--even though she's been around for awhile--has only scratched the surface. And this is a surface worth exploring. Highly recommended. RC



"
A Whole Lot More Stevie Holland This Time!
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 05/23/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stevie Holland is such a rewarding artist, a singer with smarts who believes in her lyrics, the owner of a voice capable both of the softest caress of sadness or reverie and the joyous brassiness of sass! She is simply wonderful - by anyone's standards.



For those fortunate enough to own her other fine CDs this new release will not come as a shock: we have all been well prepared for Stevie's intuitive approach to songs both new and old and have a firm hold on her 'style'...or do we? On this collection of both known and not so well known selections she is again abetted by the fine work of Gary William Friedman who has arranged, orchestrated (yes, folks, full orchestra this time around!) and conducted the ensemble. Not that all of the tracks are luxuriously big orchestra: she still respects her jazz musicians who back her - no, collaborate with her - with polished élan.



Everyone will have particular favorites (if you can actually separate them into an order...), but for this listener it's hard to better her rendition of Antonio Carlos Jobim's 'Desafinado', sung in English with a flair that will make you forget the original. But then there is also Jerome Kern's haunting 'Yesterdays', and a really fine take on Lerner and Lowe's 'If ever I would leave you', a song written for a man, but Stevie now owns it.



This is a first class CD with a terrific body of music sung by one sophisticated lady! The title of the album really tells the truth about what awaits you inside. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, May 06



"
Smoothjazz.com Review
Sandy Shore | Monterey, CA | 06/16/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"A colorful career of cabaret and theater leads Stevie to jazz... MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY is a solid, swinging, soulful collection of songs offering a diverse variety. Ms. Holland's latest release was arranged and orchestrated by award winning composer Gary William Friedman. This 12-song collection delves into classic jazz standards from the 1950's and 1970's, sprinkled with original compositions all handled with innovation and confidence. Strings enhance the artist's effortless vocals... A stylish, expressive singer; you might hear essences of Diana Krall and Marilyn Scott... We're buying what she's selling here with her creative and powerful attack on hits like "Only You," the iconic 50's smash and the opening track on MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY. Stevie lays it down in a big way capturing the "Wow Factor." I enjoy this project... It commandingly meanders through the floral memories of the past including the show stopping, "If Ever I Would Leave You," never would I have imagined a jazz-fringed arrangement of this one, but it's stunning. The Smoothjazz.com Hot Pick is Stevie's stellar version of Kenny Loggin's "This Is It." The minute I heard it I thought to myself that it was curious that no one else considered covering this one... 'Til now. Stevie does it great justice and owns it. Contemporary, cool and classic. Truly, more than words can say, but I did my best to describe this unique and jazzy collection of songs and I hope enough to inspire you to listen for yourself. ~SANDY SHORE"