I Wish You Love is Janis Siegel's tribute
to the pop music of the Brill Building era, as originally
intended, but it also became, with the input of producer Joel
Dorn, a tribute to jazzy vocal numbers that managed to crack
the pop charts. By demonstrating that great songwriting craft
produces great songs regardless of which side of the pop/jazz
divide they hail from, I Wish You Love becomes more than just
another disc of jazz interpretations of popular songs.
It certainly helps, of course, that the singer
in question is Manhattan Transfer member and nine-time Grammy
award winner Janis Siegel, backed by an "A" list
of New York's jazz scene that includes Tom Harrell on trumpet,
Bill Ware on vibes, the ubiquitous (and always welcome) David
"Fathead" Newman on tenor sax and flute, David Williams
on bass, drummer Winard Harper, and the always tasteful Cedar
Walton. Walton is very skilled in accompanying vocalists,
giving just the right amount of support but never becoming
overbearing.
The opening track, an understated arrangement
of the Dusty Springfield classic "Just a Little Lovin'",
composed by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. The rhythm section
is supplemented by Bill Ware's vibes as well as nicely overdubbed
background vocal harmonies by Siegel. The result is a version
that is less melancholy than Springfield's performance, but
right on the money. Whereas Dusty sounded like she was remembering
morning loving that she no longer had, Siegel sounds like
she's singing about something that just happened this morning.
Jon Hendricks' "I Want You to Be My Baby" is given
the Manhattan Transfer treatment, courtesy of Aaron Franz,
who does the vocal responses, and Baby Konehead and her Fatty
Tumors, who provide additional vocal work. The ease with which
Siegel can swing a wordy vocalese such as this is testament
to her skills as a true jazz singer. "Go Away Little
Boy", Gerry Goffin and Carole King's song that is perhaps
better known to some as "Go Away Little Girl" (Andy
Williams! Donny Osmond!) is given a smoky ballad rendition
that renders the song not just palatable but actually pleasurable
to listen to! The track marks the first appearance on the
disc of David "Fathead" Newman, who plays a predictably
gorgeous Coleman Hawkins-inspired solo. At this point in the
recording, you are probably going to be hooked for good by
Siegel's way with a song. She's done everything in just three
numbers, it seems—a great pop adaptation, a swinging
jump-blues, and a torchy ballad.
But there's so much more. "Mr. Sandman/Dream
a Little Dream of Me" offers Siegel singing over an arrangement
of background vocal harmonies provided by Roger Treece, Lincoln
Briney, and Siegel, as well as the able accompaniment of Walton.
Newman swings out again with the Hawkins/Ben Webster thing,
and the whole thing comes to a gentle landing. "The Late
Late Show", Dakota Staton's big hit, is given a straightforward
jazz rendition by Siegel and her rhythm section. Tom Harrell
drops by to contribute a muted trumpet solo that is pure heaven.
"Don't Go to Strangers", the signature song of the
late Etta Jones, is dedicated to the singer, who Dorn and
Siegel refer to as "one of the nicest ladies who ever
sang a song" (I doubt you could find anyone to disagree
with this statement). Siegel offers another pretty straightforward
rendition on this number.
Other standouts abound, including "Where
Are You?" a tip of the hat to the underrated Dinah Washington,
the sly "Guess Who I Saw Today?" performed as a
duet by Siegel and pianist Walton, and the title track, originally
a hit for Gloria Lynne. It's performed as a Basie-like swinger
with Tom Harrell providing both trumpet and flugelhorn and
the added delight of Frank Colon's congas.
"Ultimately, you have to filter any song
through your own emotional experience, which is what makes
it relevant today", says Siegel. That she does so naturally,
and has a wealth of experiences on which to draw, is precisely
why Siegel is worth listening to and why I Wish You Love
stands head and shoulders above similar projects initiated
by lesser singers.
