When Summer Comes

Editorial Reviews
From Jazziz
The greatness of the Great American Songbook lies partly in its grown-up acceptance and witty dissections of love's ironies. Without sounding the least old-fashioned or derivative, vocalist Lisa Michel captures that classic sense of rueful irony - experienced but not jaded, hopeful but not naive - on her second CD. Her voice alternately smolders and sparkles on this varied program of originals, warhorses, and overlooked standards.

Her original songs - from the pillow-talk tenderness of "Einstein's Dreams" to the poison-pen wrath of "You're Gonna Get It" to the resigned embrace of love's contradictions on "Hard to Love" - capture the vicissitudes of contemporary romance with maturity, wit, and technical finesse.

She brings that same intelligence and vocal suppleness to bear on "Everything Happens to Me," which she sings with just the right melancholic smile, and she puts a sly wink in "On a Slow Boat to China" and "A Beautiful Friendship." Michel's technical command gives her this emotional range.

She can wrap a word in a halo of sighs, sharpen a phrase with a bluesy edge, or ornament a melody with pretty embellishments. She and the rhythm section - pianist David Berkman, bassist Ugonna Okegwo, and drummer Brian Blade - cohere into an exceptionally intimate and fluid ensemble that listens to and supports one another. Soprano saxophonist Sam Newsome appears on several tracks, and the simplicity and vocal timbres of his solos fit in seamlessly with the tunes.

They all form a quicksilver group that can play with tempos, stretch harmonies, and twist melodies without obscuring the meaning and beauty of the material. There is no self-indulgence here; every note is played or sung in service to the songs.

Tracks:

When Summer Comes
Grazin In The Grass
Just For Tonight
Hard Times
Three Minute Warning
Family
Only Human
When A Child Smiles
Reach
Out In The Cold

Customer Reviews:

Fine, Funky and Smooth.......2003-03-26

From the opening upbeat title song you will be in store for a rare talented artist. The upbeat opener "When Summer Comes" is hot and cooking! Get a feel of "Grazing in the Grass"! It is the best version yet, especially if you love smooth funk. "Three Minute Warning" has a mix of clasic jazz and funk that is awesome. Other gifted artists contributing to this fine work are George Duke, Everett Harp, Paul Jackson Jr., Vance Taylor and Stanley Clarke. If you enjoy complex smooth and funky jazz, do not hesitate to get this cd.

Average customer rating:

When Summer Comes: The Pye Anthology
The Freshmen
Manufacturer: Castle
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005JI70
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Tracks:

Saturday and Sunday
She Cries
Things Get Better
Look at the Sunshine
Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
When the Summer Comes
Gone - Movin' On
Carpet Man
Yesterday
Make It With You
Go Granny Go (The Little Old Lady from Pasadena)
Close Your Eyes
Say Goodbye
Little Girl I Once Knew
Let's Dance
Just to See You Smile
Indian Lake
She Sang Hymns Out of Tune
Mr. Beverly's Heavy Days
Better Believe It
Cara Mia
Yenka
Don't Say Love
So This Is Love
King Cole Yenka

Album Description

The Freshmen were Ireland's own Beatles or Beach Boys. They dominated not only the showband circuit during the 1960s & 1970s but also the pop charts. Instead of relying on the showband tradition of contemporary pop covers, The Freshmen carved out a niche in West Coast-influenced harmony pop, making them favorites of Castle Music's critically-acclaimed Ripples series. When Summer Comes contains The Freshmen's entire output for Pye Records between 1965 & 1969. It includes their rare album Movin' On, plus non-album singles & earlier tracks crediting Billy Brown & Derek Dean. Most tracks have never been on CD. 25 tracks. 2001.

Average customer rating:

Real Patriotism Through Extraordinary Music

American Dreamer: Heart Songs
Jean Danton , Thomas Stumpf , John Alden Carpenter , Aaron Copland , Carl Davis , Stephen Foster , Rudolf Ganz , and George Gershwin
Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000G3UP
Release Date: 1998-12-15

Tracks:

Beautiful Dreamer
Ah! May The Red Rose Live Always
If You've Only Got A Moustache
A Memory
When Your Hair Is Like The Snow
The Sleep That Flits On Baby's Eyes
The Dodger
Long Time Ago
Memories A, -Very Pleasant, B, -Rather Sad
Songs My Mother Taught Me
The Circus Band
Here Comes The Ballad
Are You Love?
My House
Dream With Me
All The Things You Are
One Moment Alone
The First Rose Of Summer
Why Was I Born?
Someone To Watch Over Me
You Are You
I Got Rhythm
Blah, Blah, Blah

Customer Reviews:

Real Patriotism Through Extraordinary Music.......2003-02-26

In the wake of considerable ersatz patriotism following 9/11, I have become sensitive to what I consider to be acts of true patriotism. Recording these very American songs, with a tremendous commitment to showing them in their most pristine and revealing light, is one of those, perhaps small, acts of patriotism that are profound in their ability to show the best of the United States of America. I used the word "commitment" in the above sentence because that is the underlying theme of this entire venture. Ms. Danton sings with amazing clarity of voice and tremendous enthusiasm for the material. Each of these songs is a minor masterpiece, as presented, and the whole album is captivating and deeply compelling. These songs stay with you. I find myself humming the melodies for days. They are, indeed, songs many of us grew up with or have heard for years. So there you have it: 5 stars for the material, 5 stars for the performances and 5 stars for the recording quality.

Average customer rating:

Love Comes When You Least Expect It.

Manufacturer: Dick Summer
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Spoken Word | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA7CJK
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Average customer rating:

When Summer Comes: The Pye Anthology
The Freshmen
Manufacturer: Castle - Old Numbers
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00006GOH9
Release Date: 2002-09-03

Tracks:

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
SHE CRIES
THINGS GET BETTER
LOOT AT THE SUNSHINE
PAPA-OOM-MOW-MOW
WHEN THE SUMMER COMES
GONE- MOVIN' ON
CARPET MAN
YESTERDAY
MAKE IT WITH YOU
GO GRANNY GO (THE LITTLE OLD LADY FROM PASADENA)
CLOSE YOUR EYES
SAY GOODBYE
THE LITTLE GIRL I ONCE KNEW
LET'S DANCE
JUST TO SEE YOU SMILE
INDIAN LAKE
SHE SANG HUMNS OUT OF TUNE
MR BEVERLY'S HEAVY DAYS
BETTER BELIEVE IT
CARA MIA
LA YENKA
DON'T SAY LOVE
SO THIS IS LOVE
KING COLE YENKA

Average customer rating:

Meirion Williams: Yn Canu Cancuon

Manufacturer: Sain Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000027QMO
Release Date: 2005-08-02

Lauritz Melchior: Complete MGM Recordings, 1946-47

Average customer rating:

Lauritz Melchior: Complete MGM Recordings, 1946-47

Manufacturer: Romophone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
ASIN: B00004WKIT
Release Date: 2001-01-09

Tracks:

Der Lenz
Without A Song
For You Alone
Das Land Des Lachelns: Dein Ist Mein Ganzes Herz
I Det Frie (Danish Children's Song)
Agnus Dei
Easy To Love
Silent Night (Stille Nacht)
Cantique De Noel
The Rosary
Ave Maria
Der Opernball: The Kiss In Your Eyes (Im Chambre Separee)
Spring Came Back To Vienna
Kaiserwalzer
Torna A Surriento
The Song Is You
Summer Moon
Mattinata
Who Is Sylvia?
Robin Hood: O Promise Me
I Love You Truly
All Mein Gedanken 'Minnelied' - Lauritz Melchior/Georgie Stoll/Lou Raderman/Albert Sendry
Tosca: Recondita Armonia
Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle
Pagliacci: Vesti La Giubba
Pagliacci: No, Pagliacci Non Son!
Helan Gar (Swedish Drinking Song)

Average customer rating:

When Summer Comes
Lisa Michel
Manufacturer: Challenge
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00001QGOL
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Tracks:

My Ship
When Summer Comes
Perfect Dancer
Where Is Love
Einstein's Dreams
A Beautiful Friendship
Everything Happens To Me
Slides
On A Slow Boat To China
Hard To Love
You're Gonna Get It
He's Gone Away

Average customer rating:

The Lesser Known Nielsen, Vol. 5

Manufacturer: Rondo Grammofon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000009K5M
Release Date: 1995-03-23

Average customer rating:

the ultimate
Terrific
A superb Porter songbook

Close

Manufacturer: Stolen Moments
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Cabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000004CU1
Release Date: 2003-06-17

Tracks:

Close/Rosalie
Ev'rything I Love/Let's Face It/You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To/Something To Shout About...
I've A Shooting Box In Scotland/See America First
I'm Throwing A Ball Tonight/Panama Hattie
Me And Marie/Jubilee
Begin The Beguine/Jubilee
When The Summer Moon Comes 'Long (College Song)
I Get A Kick Out Of You/Anything Goes/Anything Goes
Down In The Depths/Red, Hot And Blue/Just One Of Those Things/Jubilee
A Picture Of Me Without You/Jubilee
Night And Day/Gay Divorce
What Is This Thing Called Love?/Wake Up And Dream/It's All Right With Me/Can-Can
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye/Seven Lively Arts
They Couldn't Compare To You/Out Of This World
Can-Can/Can-Can
You Don't Know Paree/Fifty Million Frenchmen/I Love Paris/Can-Can
I Concentrate On You/Broadway Melody Of 1940/In The Still Of The Night/Rosalie
Take Me Back To Manhattan/The New Yorkers
I Happen To Like New York/The New Yorkers
I've Got You Under My Skin/Born To Dance

Amazon.com

Steve Ross has such an affinity with Cole Porter that no less an authority than Michael Feinstein said he couldn't begin to approach Ross's "perfect rendition" of "Can Can." That song is only one of the 25 Porter tunes both familiar and unfamiliar collected on this 1996 album, Close. Like fellow cabaret legend Bobby Short, Ross doesn't have the most beautiful singing instrument, but he has an expert way around a lyric, and his piano accompaniments are perfect ("I Get a Kick Out of You" is only one example). If you happen to like New York cabaret, you'll happen to like Steve Ross. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

the ultimate.......2000-05-19

Steve Ross is the ultimate performer when it comes to Cole Porter's songs. He's such a gifted piano player, has a lovely voice, and his arrangements are so perfect you want to crank up the volume and belt out the tune yourself. He has such sensitivity and emotion, knows just when to change tempo or syncopate a beat. I've driven many miles to see him perform and I'd love to do it again. He's the best, and this album is his finest. Absolute perfection.

Terrific.......1999-10-23

Most of these songs are familiar, but Steve Ross' unusual capacity to clarify lyrics with his voice, his enunciation, and even his piano accompaniment combine to bring out the wit and sophistication of these songs in ways that are new and utterly delightful (not to mention delovely). Altogether enjoyable.

A superb Porter songbook.......1999-07-27

Steve Ross is without doubt one of the finest cabaret artists currently working, and this recording amply proves his talent. Steve takes loving stroll through the Porter canon, embellishing each song with his own brand of wit and sensitivity. His excellence as a pianist and knowing way with a lyric make for a superb listen. Every track is a superlative example of Steve's artistry. Not to be missed.

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