LOREZ ALEXANDRIA WITH THE GORDON BRISKER BAND - Dear To My Heart (1987) lp | FLAC (tracks), lossless

If one had to pinpoint Lorez Alexandria's most essential work during the 1980s, the obvious choice would be her impressive three-volume tribute to composer Johnny Mercer. But the vocalist is also quite appealing on Dear to My Heart, which was recorded at two sessions in L.A. in 1987 and was mostly arranged by tenor saxman Gordon Brisker. Alexandria, who was 57 at the time, is in fine form on well-known standards like "Speak Low," "Falling in Love with Love," and "Spring Is Here." Because these songs have been recorded so many times over the years, a singer who embraces them could easily end up sounding generic unless he/she has something personal to add. But Alexandria does, and it's a joy to hear her put her spin on these famous, if overdone, classics. Much to her credit, Alexandria also unearths her share of solid material that hasn't been recorded extensively, including "Zanzibar" and "Without a Friend." Dear to My Heart is among the many Alexandria albums that's well worth obtaining. Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1     Dear to My Heart 3'09
Walter Gross / Ashton Stanley
2     Everytime We Say Goodbye 4'13
Cole Porter
3     As Long as I Live 3'30
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
4     When the Sun Comes Out 5'41
Harold Arlen
5     Without a Friend 3'25
Louis & Monique Aldebert
6     Spring Is Here 5'24
Richard Rodgers    
7     Speak Low    4'31
8     Love Is Like an Old Man 6'50
9     Falling in Love with Love 4'47
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
10     Why Was I Born 4'33
Jerome Kern
11     Zanzibar    3'32
Weaver Copeland
12     Yellow Days    3'05
Álvaro Carrillo / Alan Bernstein
13     Where Have You Been    6'34
14     Ill Wind 5'31
Harold Arlen