HELEN MERRILL - Lilac Wine (2004) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Nearly a half-century after she recorded a classic album with trumpeter Clifford Brown, Helen Merrill's voice is still pretty strong. On Lilac Wine she performs a set of melancholy ballads that are heartfelt and lightly swung. Accompanied by a large orchestra from Czechoslovakia that is arranged by Torrie Zito, Merrill interprets all of the material at a slow dreamy tempo. The results are subtle, quietly emotional, and atmospheric. The only real change of pace is Marian McPartland's instrumental "Portrait of Helen Merrill." Otherwise all of the music is taken at the same slow tempo and in a similar mood. Despite the lack of variety, this quiet outing grows in interest with each listen. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1     Lilac Wine 4:54
James Alan Shelton    
2     Wild Is the Wind 4:26
Dimitri Tiomkin / Ned Washington
3     Pierre 5:24     
Barbara    
4     Something I Dreamed Last Night 6:15
Sammy Fain / Herbert Magidson / Jack Yellen    
5     Love Me Tender/How Sweet You Are 5:33
Frank Loesser / Vera Matson / Elvis Presley / Arthur Schwartz
6     The Island 5:00
Ivan Lins    
7     One More Walk Around the Garden 4:34
Burton Lane / Alan Jay Lerner
8     Portrait of Helen Merrill 5:36     
Marion McPartland    
9     You 3:21
Colin Greenwood / Phil Selway / Thom Yorke
Credits :    
Arranged By – Torrie Zito
Double Bass – George Mraz (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Electric Piano – Torrie Zito (tracks: 3, 5, 6)
Guitar – Alan Merrill (tracks: 9)
Keyboards – Torrie Zito (tracks: 9)
Orchestra – 32 Piece Orchestra (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Piano – Torrie Zito (tracks: 4)
Trumpet – Lew Soloff (tracks: 2, 3, 6, 9)
Vocals – Alan Merrill (tracks: 9), Helen Merrill (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9)