ROSEANNA VITRO — Catchin' Some Rays : The Music of Ray Charles (1997) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Roseanna Vitro is a very talented and versatile singer, as she proves throughout this highly enjoyable set. Vitro performs 14 songs (including a pair of two-song medleys) associated with Ray Charles. Although jazz has long been only a small part of Charles' music, the tunes are transformed into swinging and soulful jazz by Vitro. The instrumentation changes throughout the date, but often features pianist Ken Werner (who duets with the singer on a medley of "You Don't Know Me" and "Ruby"), trumpeter Eddie Henderson, and tenorman David "Fathead" Newman, among others; some of the songs utilize a larger than usual band. Highlights include "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'," a swinging "One Mint Julep," "I Don't Need No Doctor" and "Lonely Avenue." Thankfully, Roseanna Vitro avoids many of Brother Ray's best-known hits (including "Georgia On My Mind") in favor of songs better suited to her style and to this setting. A continually interesting set. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Unchain My Heart    5:27
2    Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'    5:20
3    One Mint Julep    4:40
4    Night Time Is The Right Time / But, On The Other Hand    6:28
5    Them That's Got    6:16
6    I Don't Need No Doctor    4:41
7    Tell Me You'll Wait For Me    5:13
8    Sticks And Stones    4:08
9    The Danger Zone    5:24
10    Roll With Me Baby    3:03
11    Lonely Avenue    3:43
12    You Don't Know Me / Ruby    6:23
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar – Chieli Minucci (tracks: 6)
Alto Saxophone – Dick Oatts (tracks: 5), Ed Joffe (tracks: 3, 9)
Baritone Saxophone – Gary Smulyan (tracks: 3, 5, 9)
Bass – Ed Howard (tracks: 1, 4 to 6, 8, 11), Ray Drummond (tracks: 2, 3, 7, 9, 10)
Congas – Mark Johnson (11) (tracks: 6)
Drums – Al Foster (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 11), Tim Horner (tracks: 2, 3, 7 to 9, 10)
Flute – Mark Johnson (tracks: 6)
Guitar – Freddie Bryant (tracks: 3, 9, 10), Mitch Stein (tracks: 1, 6, 8)
Percussion – Mino Cinelu (tracks: 1, 3, 6)
Piano – Ken Werner (tracks: 1 to 5, 7 to 12)
Strings – Miri Ben-Ari (tracks: 2, 7), Todd Reynolds (tracks: 2, 7), Werner Philharmonic (tracks: 2, 7)
Tenor Saxophone – David "Fathead" Newman (tracks: 4, 5, 11), Dick Oatts (tracks: 3, 5, 9), Mark Johnson (11) (tracks: 1, 3, 8)
Trumpet – Dave Ballou (tracks: 3, 9), Eddie Henderson (tracks: 1, 8), Ingrid Jensen (tracks: 3, 5, 9)
Vibraphone – Ken Werner (tracks: 2)
Vocals – Roseanna Vitro

ROSEANNA VITRO — Passion Dance (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One of the top jazz singers of the 1990s, Roseanna Vitro is a versatile vocalist who is not afraid to take chances. On her Telarc debut, the personnel changes on many of the ten selections with the stars among the sidemen including pianist Ken Werner (Vitro's musical director), altoist Gary Bartz, trumpeter Tim Hagans, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Elvin Jones. Among the highpoints of the diverse repertoire are an adventurous "Freedom Jazz Dance," "Out of This World," "Long as You're Livin '," McCoy Tyner's "Passion Dance" and "Strollin"' (an adaptation of Charles Mingus' "Nostalgia in Times Square"). The only number that does not work is an over-the-top rendition of "More than You Know" that is overly complex; simplicity would have been much more effective. Otherwise this is a superior set by a very appealing singer. Scott Yanow       Tracklist + Credits :