Dream Dancing: Songs of Cole Porter

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Listeners in the thrall of the great Cole Porter's lyrical sense and legendary melodic finesse probably don't need to be prompted to pick up an album featuring new piano-trio interpretations of 14 of the master's gems. The good news though, is that Nashville pianist Beegie Adair's Dream Dancing: The Songs of Cole Porter holds up as a first-rate piano-trio record on more than just the strength of Porter's melodies (this is equally the case on her Nat "King" Cole Collection, Frank Sinatra Collection, and even her Love, Elvis set of the King's ballads). An elder stateswoman of the Nashville music scene who's backed her share of country and pop performers over the years, Adair displays a formidable technique and a sensitive soloing style that may surprise even seasoned piano fans. She's helped by her regular rhythm team of bassist Roger Spencer and drummer Chris Brown, both of whom play behind Adair as if they anticipate her every dynamic shift and nuance before it happens. They bring life to everything from the bluesy groove of "I Love Paris" to the gentle swing of "What Is This Thing Called Love." Dream Dancing shows Adair putting her technique in the service of these great songs rather than running all over them--so much so that even her interpolation of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" during Porter's "You're the Top" seems only to enhance that classic melody. --Ezra Gale

Dream Dancing: Songs of Cole Porter, Music, Beegie Adair, Jazz, Jazz Music, Pop, Post-Bop, Standards

Average customer rating:

Not Just "Dinner Music"

Dream Dancing: Songs of Cole Porter by Beegie Adair

Surprising Disappointment

Definitely among the short list of great jazz pianists

Beegie Adair once more with her exceptional interpretations

Dream Dancing: Songs of Cole Porter
Beegie Adair
Manufacturer: Hillsboro Jazz
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Bebop & Post-Bop | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000059T5V
Release Date: 2001-02-27

You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
You're The Top
I Love Paris
So In Love
I Concentrate On You
Dream Dancing
I Love You
What Is This Thing Called Love
Easy To Love
Every Time We Say Goodbye
It's All Right With Me
Why Shouldn't I
From This Moment On
Begin The Beguine

Amazon.com

Listeners in the thrall of the great Cole Porter's lyrical sense and legendary melodic finesse probably don't need to be prompted to pick up an album featuring new piano-trio interpretations of 14 of the master's gems. The good news though, is that Nashville pianist Beegie Adair's Dream Dancing: The Songs of Cole Porter holds up as a first-rate piano-trio record on more than just the strength of Porter's melodies (this is equally the case on her Nat "King" Cole Collection, Frank Sinatra Collection, and even her Love, Elvis set of the King's ballads). An elder stateswoman of the Nashville music scene who's backed her share of country and pop performers over the years, Adair displays a formidable technique and a sensitive soloing style that may surprise even seasoned piano fans. She's helped by her regular rhythm team of bassist Roger Spencer and drummer Chris Brown, both of whom play behind Adair as if they anticipate her every dynamic shift and nuance before it happens. They bring life to everything from the bluesy groove of "I Love Paris" to the gentle swing of "What Is This Thing Called Love." Dream Dancing shows Adair putting her technique in the service of these great songs rather than running all over them--so much so that even her interpolation of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" during Porter's "You're the Top" seems only to enhance that classic melody. --Ezra Gale

Customer Reviews:

Not Just "Dinner Music".......2007-01-05

Flawlessly executed renditions of well known standards. Here, as elsewhere, BA sports Oscar Peterson-like technique and sensibilities sans the 128th-note riffs. While hard-core jazz enthusiasts may find her work a bit "straight" or predictable, BA is clearly a first-rate pianist.

Dream Dancing: Songs of Cole Porter by Beegie Adair.......2006-11-07

Received in excellent shape. Very satisfied with transaction.

Surprising Disappointment.......2006-10-18

Being both a Beegie Adair and a Cole Porter fan I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of this CD, but would have to say it is, to my taste, the weakest of her works. I've tried to think why, and believe it is a conflict between a great instrumentalist and a great lyricist, indeed poet. Porter's genius was in his poetry, set to catchy tunes.

In this CD, Beegie seems to run rampant with the music to the point that one can't follow the lyrics, either in your head or aloud. It seems a bit egotistical to me to do so, and I would compare this CD with her wonderful "I'll Take Romance,: where Beegie seems to worship the songs she plays. In "Dream Dancing," it's more of a battle.

The final track "Begin the Beguine" is just painful, a slow funeral dirge of a song that can be a great self proclamation.

Not recommended.

Definitely among the short list of great jazz pianists.......2006-07-18

Reading through some other comments, I'd like to throw in my own three cents. Beegie Adair should indeed be considered among the short list of great jazz pianists. Her recordings are one thing. Here LIVE PERFORMANCES are quite another.

On Deam Dancing, Beegie Adair and her trio present the great songs of Cole Porter in a, yes, "romantic" and "easy on the ears" format. Intentionally created for dinners, candlelight moments, and those oh-so-grand times of canoodling with your heartmate.

This in no way dismisses her from inclusion among Bill Evans, George Shearing, Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, Tommy Flanagan, Gene Harris, et al. Still a sceptic? Go see her live concerts. I've attended dozens of them, and I have every single recording she has made (23 to date).

Again, her recordings are great, no doubt. Her live performances are beyond great. Hear for yourself.

Beegie Adair once more with her exceptional interpretations.......2006-02-22

This album shows Beegie Adair interpreting several Cole Porter songs. The beginning of several of her performances reminds me of Oscar Peterson (one of the greatest jazz virtuoses ever).

Her choice of chords (harmony) is also very nice.

If you like Gene Harris, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans or Ray Charles you will appreciate her fine interpretations.

Dream Dancing: The Songs of Cole Porter & Richard Rodgers

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Dream Dancing: The Songs of Cole Porter & Richard Rodgers
Deborah Kraus & John Gilbert
Manufacturer: Deborah Kraus (mezzo - soprano)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA3AQ4
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

Ace in the Hole (Cole Porter)
He Was Too Good to Me/My Heart Stood Still (Richard Rodgers &
I Concentrate on You (Cole Porter)
Sing for Your Supper (Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart)
I Wish I Were in Love Again (Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart)
Blue Room/There's a Small Hotel (Richard Rodgers & Lorenz
Dream Dancing (Cole Porter)
Spring Is Here (Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart)
Do I Hear a Waltz (Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart)
After You (Cole Porter)
Physician (Cole Porter)
Tale of the Oyster (Cole Porter)
Why Can't I (Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart)
You're Nearer (Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart)
True Love (Cole Porter)
Experiment (Cole Porter)

Music: