Ledisi: Feeling Orange but Sometimes BlueReviewed by Ismo TenkanenOrange has already received enormous critical success - "the best vocal jazz album in years" etc.- so you had better make sure that you won't miss this album!I'm truly happy she had the guts to take this step - doing a straight jazz set and showing that she really can sing jazz standards and straight jazz. However, all the tracks still have that special Ledisi touch all over them - they have been remade in a way that only Ledisi can.Rating: 10/ 10The Soul Express Album of the MonthApril 2002
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FEELING ORANGE BUT SOMETIMES BLUEJAZZ SINGER (LIMITED EDITION) US LeSun Music, 2002 1) So Right 2) I've Got It 3) Sugar / Brown Sugar 4) Meeting Marcus on a Thursday 5) Round Midnight 6) Straight No Chaser 7) Feeling Orange But Sometimes Blue 8) In a Sentimental Mood 9) If You Go 10) Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes) 11) Land of the Free When Ledisi's debut set Soulsinger was released, I was amused to notice that some critics stated that she's "rather a jazz singer than a soul singer". Well, there certainly was a distinct jazz flavour in Ledisi's phrasing, no doubt about it, but for me Soulsinger was just about the perfect soul album with a suitable amount of jazz added in the setting. Now that Ledisi releases her eagerly awaited second set, entitled feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue (US LeSun 0101, 2001) - with the subtitle Jazz Singer (Limited Edition) - I can readily state that THIS really is a jazz album, and those who don't like straight jazz, can instantly pass the set - yes, it's that jazzy! Still, I certainly have nothing against the new CD - on the contrary. I'm truly happy she had the guts to take this step - doing a straight jazz set and showing that she really can sing jazz standards and straight jazz. However, all the tracks still have that special Ledisi touch all over them - they have been remade in a way that only Ledisi can. Of the old jazz standards, my favourite is Round Midnight, on which Ledisi interprets the Thelonious Monk classic over a delicious backdrop featuring Nelson Braxton on electric six string bass, Brian Coller on drums and Sundra Manning on Fender Rhodes. Other jazz standards featured are Straight No Chaser, In A Sentimental Mood and Autumn Leaves - excellent choices to cover, indeed. As good as these interpretations are, I still prefer the original tunes written by Ledisi herself together with Sundra "Sun" Manning. Still on the straightforward jazz side, Meeting Marcus on a Thursday is an instant classic, much like Hotel around Midnight from her glorious debut set, but in a more authentic jazz setting with Ron Belcher on upright bass and Khalil Shaheed on trumpet - absolutely wonderful stuff!
Also worth a special mention are the creamy self-written soul-jazz ballad tune Land of the Free, as well as the opening track So Right, which has a modern Erykah Badu-ish feel and some truly breathtaking vocalising by Ledisi. The vibrant jazz-soul track we already enthused over in our Quality Time Top 50 countdown, I've Got It, is also included, as well as the inspiring, extremely dynamically delivered combination of D'Angelo's Brown Sugar and Stanley Turrentine's Sugar. Orange has already received enormous critical success - "the best vocal jazz album in years" etc.- so you had better make sure that you won't miss this album simply because this is more of a jazz than a soul album - it will be a true classic anyway. And you may rest assured that Ledisi will be recording more R&B oriented albums in the future as well - read her exclusive interview in our next issue! The album of the Month in March 2002: The O'Jays The album of the Month in February 2002: Jill Scott The album of the Month in January 2001: N'Dambi The album of the Month in December 2001: Ali Ollie Woodson The album of the Month in November 2001: Main Ingredient The album of the Month in October 2001: Ty Stephens The Album of the Month in August 2001: Michael Bohannon The Album of the Month in June-July 2001: Miki Howard The Album of the Month in May 2001: Cynthia Biggs The Album of the Month in April 2001: Gladys Knight The Album of the Month in March 2001: Nathan Heathman The Album of the Month in February 2001: Ian The Album of the Month in January 2001: Karen Bernod Albums
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