DIANE SCHUUR - Some Other Time (2008) APE (image+.cue), lossless

For her entry into the increasingly popular Great American Songbook subgenre, Diane Schuur de-emphasizes the vocal histrionics that in the past have come close to spoiling some of her recordings and maintains a steady, clear, exuberant tone. Good move: one of Schuur's gifts is her multi-octave range, but she has often over-relied on it at the expense of whatever song she was singing. Here, she takes to the classic compositions of George and Ira Gershwin, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, and the like with a respectfulness and glee that allow her to frame and expose these culturally embedded lyrics and melodies without beating on them. If anything, Schuur is overly cautious at times -- there's a girl-like quality to her voice here that belies her 50-plus years, and she sometimes lays back where before she might have trampled. But she's clearly enjoying this repertoire; it's as if, by exploring these ancient tunes, she's discovered a fountain of youth along the way. Accompanied by longtime pianist Randy Porter, as well as guitarist Dan Balmer, bassist Scott Steed, and drummer Reggie Jackson, Schuur largely stays in a ballad-to-midtempo range on standards like "Blue Skies," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "My Favorite Things," and Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne's "It's Magic." She's comfortable there, and the lack of a hurried pace allows her to utilize her still impressive range to get the most from the tunes without falling into the trap of milking them. Jeff Tamarkin  
Tracklist :
1    Nice Work If You Can Get It 3'27
Written-By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
2    Beginner's Luck    4'21
Written-By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
3    They Say It's Wonderful 4'49
Written-By – Irving Berlin
4    Some Other Time 4'51
Written-By – Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
5    Blue Skies 4'03
Written-By – Irving Berlin
6    Without A Song 3'40
Written-By – Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu, Vincent Youmans
7    It's Magic 3'45
Written-By – Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
8    Taking A Chance On Love 4'54
Written-By – John LaTouche, Ted Fetter, Vernon Duke
9    The Good Life 3'53
Written-By – Jack Reardon, Alexander Sacha Distel
10    If Someone Had Told Me 3'39
Written-By – Charles Tobias, Peter DeRose
11    My Favorite Things 3'56
Written-By – Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
12    September In The Rain 2'03
Written-By – Al Dubin, Harry Warren
13    Danny Boy  3'33
Arranged By [Guitar Arrangement By] – Dan Balmer
Written-By – Frederick E. Weatherly
Credits :
Arranged By [All Arrangements By Except Danny Boy Guitar Arrangement] – Randy Porter
Bass – Scott Steed
Drums – Reggie Jackson
Guitar – Dan Balmer
Other [Diane Schuur Wardrobe By] – Owee
Piano – Diane Schuur (pistas: 7, 9), Randy Porter (pistas: 1 to 6, 8, 10, 11, 13)
Vocals, Arranged By [Additional Arrangements By] – Diane Schuur