Sony Holland – ‘Sanssouci’
Van Ness Records 2010
“Sanssouci”, Rufus Wainwright’s lush romantic rumination is the perfect illustration of where vocalist Sony Holland stands musically. The song is both intelligently composed, even classically oriented, yet refreshingly modern and contemporary in its lyrical content. It also moves in the up-tempo Latin beat that seems to be driving much of this CD’s sound. Holland has been moving away from standard interpretations of Great American Songbook and here interprets “My Foolish Heart” and “What A Difference A Day Made” in this hipper, acoustic based style. “You Don’t Know What Love Is” is a perfect example of Holland’s re-interpretive work.
Influenced by husband Jerry Holland’s original tunes (“Curiosity”, “You’re Always With Somebody New” and “When I Find You”), this CD has a moving beat, tempered with Sony’s languid, deliberate reading of the lyric. It’s not swing or jazz in the strict sense, but moves close to the Jobim/Gilberto bossa nova sound popular in the sixties. Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is most close to its original recording and a Holland live staple. “Autumn Leaves”, originally the 1945 French song "Les Feuilles Mortes", sung in French and English, is lovely. Sony’s voice is lovely as always and self-assured and the musicianship heartfelt.
Steve Murray in Cabaret Scenes
Fantastic review!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is so goodto see those folks in that big, crowded city with all that traffic are astute and with it in regard to their realizaion of what a fabulous singer you are. Bravo, too,that Steve Murray mentioned that brilliant, handsome songwriter whose work rivals that of Cole Porter or any of the others in the Great American Songbook, none other than Jerry Holland!!
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