Shirley Horn - Here's to Life

Shirley Horn's meeting with a string section and an orchestra arranged by Johnny Mandel has some exquisite moments although sometimes it is just overly sweet. Horn recorded with her trio (which includes bassist Charles Ables and drummer Steve Williams) first, emphasizing slow ballads. Mandel used the pianist-vocalist's improvisations and chord voicings as the basis for his charts and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis took guest solos on "A Time for Love" and "Quietly There." Shirley Horn fans will love this CD (which includes such numbers as "Here's To Life," "How Am I To Know" and "If You Love Me") but no real surprises or contrast occurs. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Schmitt Mixing, Engineer Alan Broadbent Piano Anne Karam Cello Arnold Belnick Violin Assa Drori Concert Master, Violin Bob Tricarico Woodwind Brad Warnaar French Horn Brian Leonard Violin Bruce Dukov Violin Bruce Morgenthaler String Bass Camille Tominaro Production Assistant Carol Friedman Photography Charles Ables Bass Chris Thompson Artwork, Art Direction, Design Chuck Domanico Bass Clayton Haslop Violin Dave Reitzas Assistant Engineer David Baker Engineer David Duke French Horn Dennis Karmazyn Cello Derrick Garrett Assistant Engineer Don Palmer Violin Donna Karan Clothing/Wardrobe Dorothy Remsen Harp Doug Sax Mastering Eddie Karam Conductor Evan Wilson Viola Eve Sprecher Violin Frederick Seykora Cello Gayle Levant Harp Gene Cipriano Woodwind Gerald Vinci Concert Master, Violin Giulio Turturro Design Gordon Marron Strings Violin Haim Shtrum Violin Harvey Mason, Sr. Percussion, Drums Henry Ferber Violin Ian Underwood Synthesizer Igor Horoshevsky Cello Isabelle Daskoff Violin Jack Nimitz Woodwind James Harris Hair Stylist James Ross Viola James V. Ross Viola James Walker Woodwind Jay Rosen Violin Jean Hugo Violin Jeffrey DeRosa French Horn Jerry Epstein Viola Jim Walker Flute Joel Derouin Violin Joel E. Siegel Liner Notes, Associate Producer John Chiodini Guitar Johnny Mandel Arranger, Producer Jon "JD" Dickson French Horn Lanny Morgan Woodwind Larry Bunker Percussion, Vibraphone Larry Corbett Cello Luis Conte Percussion, Bird Calls Mari Botnick Violin Marilyn Baker Viola Marilyn L. Johnson French Horn Mark Sazer Violin Mark Stevens Percussion, Percussion Michael Bays Art Direction Michael Etchart Producer Michael Rodriguez Assistant Engineer Pamela Goldsmith Viola Peter Kent Violin Ralph Morrison Violin Reginald Hill Violin Rene Mandel Violin Richard Seidel Executive Producer Richard Todd Horn, French Horn Roland Kato Viola Rollice Dale Viola Ronald Clark Violin Ronald Cooper Cello Samuel Boghossian Viola Shari Zippert Violin Sheila Mathis Product Manager Shirley Horn Vocals, Arranger, Piano Steve "Syco Steve" Williams Drums Steve Genewick Assistant Steve Kujala Flute, Woodwind Steve Williams Drums, Drums Susan Ranney String Bass Suzie Katayama Cello, Librarian, Copyist Terrence "Bearwolf" Williams Drums Todd Hemmenway Cello Wynton Marsalis Vocals, Trumpet