Search - Lea Delaria :: Play It Cool

Play It Cool
Lea Delaria
Play It Cool
Genres: Jazz, Special Interest, Pop, Classical
 
Standup comedian, actress, and singer Lea DeLaria presents a less confrontational image here than she did on 1994's Bulldyke in a China Shop, adopting the role of seductive, witty, confident, and heterosexual jazz chanteus...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Lea Delaria
Title: Play It Cool
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Warner Bros / Wea
Release Date: 6/12/2001
Genres: Jazz, Special Interest, Pop, Classical
Styles: Vocal Jazz, Comedy & Spoken Word, Gay & Lesbian, Vocal Pop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 093624799320, 093624799320

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Standup comedian, actress, and singer Lea DeLaria presents a less confrontational image here than she did on 1994's Bulldyke in a China Shop, adopting the role of seductive, witty, confident, and heterosexual jazz chanteuse to perfection. Her voice ranges from little-girl-lost innocence to harder-edged tones, both suited to the opening "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd." With stylings from Billie Holiday to Judy Garland, "I've Got Your Number" heads straight for the heart of 1950s big-band balladry, improvised scat vocals proving DeLaria can swing with the best. "Cool" is anything but, the accompaniment understated, that voice dripping with the promise of sex. In "With Every Breath I Take," we get to imagine every late night smoky bar in every old Hollywood film we've ever seen--while it is pastiche, the characterization is startlingly evocative. DeLaria sums it up with "All That Jazz," confidently suggesting, following her recent twin roles in the lavishly acclaimed 2000 Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show, that this girl just wants to have fun playing bad. When she sings "Life Has Been Good to Me," she has such an upbeat twinkle, you suspect she means every word. --Gary S. Dalkin

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CD Reviews

Everyone does it, and seldom as well...
04/10/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"All I can say is...WOW.
When my partner and I saw Lea perform her routine in P-town, she wowed us with a stunning version of one of my all-time favorites, "The Ballad of Sweeny Todd." We bought her CD on the spot and it stayed in my car's CD player for weeks on end (and then I only took it out because I had to switch cars).
I enjoyed the whole album, but I found myself playing the first track over and over, and even singing it in the shower. I must disagree with the "Cigar" review on all counts, at least regarding this track. The song lends itself so beautifully to swingin' jazz I can't believe nobody thought of it before. But I'm glad no one has, because Lea DeLaria knocks it out of the park. The smooth delivery is perfect for the dry humor of the lyrics, her belts are such a perfect blend of head and chest it sends chills up my spine, and the arrangement is spot-on. The best part - it stands up beautifully to repeat listenings; I just can't grow tired of this rendition. The opening track alone is worth twice the price of this CD."
Oh Yeah
Dan Bunch | Pasco, Wa United States | 01/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"...This bull... in a china closet just flat kills.. you like your jazz delivered with power, style, and class.. Lea delivers. You want your jazz to swing? It does that too. My highest rating. It won't leave your cd player anytime soon. Did I mention the musicians helping Lea are just as hot?"