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Although not Lalah's best, this is still a quality disk. In her signature melodic way, she weaves a story that is touching yet so so mellow. My fav is "That was then and this is now". I find myself hitting repeat every time I play that song. I guess that my criticism would be that overall, the album is a little too mellow. Nevertheless, I will continue to buy Lalah's music before hearing it because I can be assured that there will plenty for me to love.
It is simply that in these two vocals Hathaway seems to rise out of the mood of the accompaniment and enter the atmosphere of the great communicators.Hathaway's voice is lush cream, warm and sensuous, but at the same time her inherent musicianship is always at hand to assure that the singing remains clear and informed. Having never heard her previous albums so richly praised by critics and fans, this 'Self Portrait' is a breathtaking awakening. Lalah Hathaway is an established artist of the world of jazz, but for this listener this is an introduction to the gifts of an amazing communicator. Perhaps as more lovers of fine music - especially soft jazz - discover her, Lalah Hathaway will embrace the fame associated with the particularly gifted young singers. The beautiful Hathaway is different from her colleagues in many ways and it is this difference that makes her singing so unique.There are two songs on this consistently fine CD that stand out as examples of her qualities of bringing both fine musicianship (which includes an uncanny ability to find the center of pitch of each of the notes she sings, a sense of how to arch a line to find the most direct mode of communicating the words married to the tune, etc) and her almost timid sense of being an extraordinary performer: 'Learning To Swim' and 'What Goes Around'. Not that she is unsuccessful in the rest of this set of fine performances. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, June 09
This cd is awesome to listen too after that long intense day after work or from school. The music is just right, her voice flows with music perfectly. Hopefully Lalah has another one like this one in the works.
love lalah, love lalah, love lalahthe cd is FANTASTIC.-it came like it was NEW.love lalah
I THOUGHT AFTER "OUTRUN THE SKY" LALAH COULDN'T DO ANY BETTER. BOY, WAS I WRONG. EVERYTIME SHE DOES A NEW CD IT BECOMES MY FAVORITE-LOL. I LOVE ALL OF HER MUSIC.
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