CHRIS BENNETT — Less Is More (1997) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Chris Bennett is a versatile singer whose spine-tingling voice generates soft power. She gets her message across with quiet subtlety and always seems to fully understand the words she is interpreting. Although not really an improviser, Bennett is quite effective throughout this ballad album. Singing some older tunes (including "Isn't It Romantic," "My Foolish Heart" and "Some Other Time") and six of her melodic originals (which are generally pop-oriented), Bennett is featured in several different settings. There are some duets with pianist Eric Doney, a few of the other pieces also use guitarist Wayne Johnson, bassist Cliff Hugo, percussionist Bobbye Hall, flutist Gary Herbig, the tenor of Armando Castagnoli and/or violinist Haim Shtrum (who has a pretty tone), and the singer plays piano on three of her songs. With a few exceptions (such as "Make Me New For You"), the emphasis is on slower tempos, but Bennett's sensuous long tones make the record quite listenable.  Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Drifting    3:26
 Chris Bennett
2    Where Do You Start?    3:09
 Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Johnny Mandel
3    Isn't It Romantic?    3:35
 Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
4    My Foolish Heart    4:09
 Ned Washington / Victor Young
5    Make Me New For You    3:52
 Chris Bennett
6    People Will Say We're In Love    3:40
 Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
7    Dindi    5:48
 Ray Gilbert / Antônio Carlos Jobim
8    Theme From Midnight Express    5:06
 Chris Bennett / Giorgio Moroder
9    Feels Like A Heartbreak    4:12
 Chris Bennett
10    You Never Saw Me Dance    3:48
 Chris Bennett
11    Less Is More    3:32
 Chris Bennett
12    Some Other Time    5:43
 Leonard Bernstein / Betty Comden / Adolph Green
Credits :
Bass – Cliff Hugo
Flute – Gary Herbig
Guitar – Wayne Johnson
Percussion – Bobbye Hall
Piano – Eric Doney
Tenor Saxophone – Armando Castagnoli
Violin – Haim Shtrum
Vocals, Piano – Chris Bennett