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Reviewers: Tony Augarde [Editor], Don Mather, Sam Webster, Jonathan Woolf, Glyn Pursglove



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CAROL KIDD

Dreamsville

Linn AKD 325

 

 

1. It Never Entered My Mind
2. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
3. How Deep Is The Ocean?
4. How Long Has This Been Going On?
5. Can't We Be Friends?
6. Dreamsville
7. There Goes My Heart
8. Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe
9. It's All Right With Me
10. Stars Fell On Alabama
11. Do You Believe?
12. When I Dream
 
  Carol Kidd - Vocals
Paul Harrison - Piano
Nigel Clark - Guitar
Mario Caribe - Bass
Alyn Cosker - Drums

 

It has been a long time - seven or eight years - since Scottish singer Carol Kidd recorded an album, and she has already tried retiring once. It was traumatic for her when her partner, John, died in 2003 and for some while she felt unable to work. She even lost her voice for six months. Then she began writing lyrics and gradually returned to performing. At a question-and-answer session during a 2006 show in Glasgow, she was asked why she hadn't made any records for so long, and that spurred her into making this album.

The CD makes you feel glad that she's back, as she still sings radiantly in tune, without any artifice or pretension. Her vocals sound as natural as breathing. The dozen songs on the CD are well-known (perhaps well-worn) but she brings freshness to them with her unforced delivery. She really is a jazz singer - taking occasional liberties with melodies and lyrics (e.g. omitting some words from A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square) and doing such jazz-vocal things as singing the verse of Happiness is a Thing Called Joe.

Carol co-wrote two of the songs with guitarist Nigel Clark. There Goes My Heart sounds sincere enough to come from Carol's own experience, and it is accompanied simply and subtly by Nigel. Do You Believe? is a similarly delicate duet. Most of the songs are slowish, although Can't We Be Friends? is pleasantly bouncy (with fine double bass from Mario Caribe), and It's All Right With Me doubles up what starts as a medium tempo. The backing quartet provides commendably sensitive accompaniments.
The Linn record label is renowned for its care with recording and the sound quality here is excellent. So is the singing. And the playing.

Tony Augarde


 

 

 

 

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