Características
Stacey Kent's latest recording once again shows her vocal prowess. The impeccable intonation, her timing and diction are flawless to the point of absolute purity. Her voice becomes an instrument of unfailing clarity and minimal vibrato. The focus of this album is mainly on Latin American pieces, a mix of classics and original compositions, where she skillfully and almost imperceptibly switches between English, Portuguese and French. Cover versions of Bossanova numbers by Tom Jobim, Roberto Menescal, Marcos Valle and others can be found. Highlights include Jobim's "How Insensitive," which is quiet and intensely melancholy, while the Jobim classic "One Note Samba" is given a jaunty edge by fast tempos. The piece is difficult to master at this tempo with its short notes that seem like staccato. Stacey sings her way effortlessly through the fast runs. Roberto Menescal's "O Barquinho" gets a new arrangement and is performed by the composer himself on guitar.
Six originals by Jim Tomlinson make up the rest of the album, three of them written with storyteller and lyricist Kazuo Ishiguro; the great title track "Changing Lights", "The Summer We Crossed Europe In The Rain ", a story gracefully delivered by Mrs Kent, and "Waiter, Oh Waiter" a catchy, lively plea for help in the face of a French menu. Two more songs in Portuguese, "Mais Uma Vez" and "A Tarde," written with poet Antonio Ladeira, and "Chanson Légère," a collaborative effort with Bernie Beaupère, who wrote the title to Stacey's "Raconte-Moi," add an extra touch to the album. Arrangements and accompaniment by husband Jim Tomlinson are outstanding. The rhythm section is wonderfully subtle, with special praise going to drummers Josh Morrison and Matt Home, as well as pianist Graham Harvey, bassist Jeremy Brown and guitarists Roberto Menescal and John Parricelli. Still, "The Changing Lights" is first and foremost Stacey Kent's record; impressive and top notch.
While explaining his and Stacey's musical evolution, Tomlinson continues Kazuo Ishiguro's thoughts in his liner notes to Stacey's 2001 album on Candid, "In Love Again." "Stacey's style reminds me of the best film actors, who develop a way of performing in front of the camera that is very different from that of stage actors, whose voices must carry and whose gestures must be very incisive in order to be heard and seen throughout the theater. In film, an actor can accomplish a great deal with very little, whether in terms of expression, gesture, modulation, or tone of voice. With Stacey, I think we create music in the same way, with even the smallest gestures having great emotional significance."
Highly recommended.
Stacey Kent (voc, g); Jim Tomlinson (ts, ss, fl); Graham Harvey (p, el-p); Roberto Menescal, John Parricelli (g); Jeremy Brown (b); Matt Home, Joshua Morrison (dr); Raymundo Bittencourt (ganza)
Side A
1. This Happy Madness
2. The Summer We Crossed Europe In The Rain
3. One Note Samba (Samba De Uma Nota Só)
Side B
1. Mais Uma Vez
2. Waiter, Oh Waiter
3. O Barquinho
Side C
1. The Changing Lights
2. How Insensitive
3. O Bêbado E A Equilibrista / Smile
Side D
1. Like A Lover
2. The Face I Love
3. A Tarde
4. Chanson Légère