Sony
2008
Quintessence
About This Album
Quintessence is the "pure and concentrated essence of a substance" and the title of a beautiful album from vocalist Betty Buckley and longtime producer/musical arranger/pianist Kenny Werner, who is co-credited on the cover. Not actually a "compilation," the liner notes by Betty Lynn Buckley explain that this studio disc, the musical duo's ninth album over a span of two decades, represents more of an open arrangement to rework the music the singer is associated with. For example, she extends Arthur Alexander's classic "Cry Me a River" from the sparse -- and shorter -- 3:09 version on 1997's Much More album to a more elaborate and experimental vamp that is double in length. Where Jane Olivor is overpowering in her sublime grandiosity, Buckley takes the subtle approach, though with a dash of Olivor's inflections. For those not in touch with Buckley's recordings, this will serve as a good starting point, the rendition of Stephen Sondheim's "No One Is Alone" adding a bit more pop to the tune's jazz leanings, and also contrasting with Buckley's own cautious rendition from 1993's Children Will Listen CD. Some purists may object to the treatment of the Rex Harrison nugget "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," not spoken à la Harrison, and further morphed by being combined in a medley with Oscar Levant's "Blame It on My Youth.
Track List (try tracks 1,7,8 and 10)

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