Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Roberta Donnay: Blossom-ing!

Roberta Donnay: Blossom-ing!

By Pierre Giroux
November 25, 2022
View read count

Pianist, vocalist and composer

Blossom Dearie

piano and vocals
1926 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Blossom Dearie may have been diminutive in stature and voice but certainly never in talent. She began her career in New York in the mid 1940s and then moved to Paris in the early 1950s to form the vocal group The Blue Stars, which eventually morphed into the Swingle Singers. Returning to the US in the 1960s, she began a solo career and gained international recognition through her wry interpretation of unusual song choices as well as her dynamic piano playing. She died in 2009 at the age of 85.

Vocalist

Roberta Donnay

vocals
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Roberta Donnay is celebrating the irrepressible Dearie with a tribute album entitled Blossom-ing! . In this captivating outing, Donnay has chosen 16 songs associated with Dearie, beginning with a

Billie Holiday

vocals
1915 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Billie Holiday composition, which Dearie adapted, entitled "Roberta's Blues." This swinging chart has a light bluesy frame in which Donnay's soft voice and smart pacing bring the number to life.

Dave Frishberg

piano
1933 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Frishberg's whimsical composition "Peel Me A Grape" became one of Dearie's signature tunes and Donnay's interpretation captures her fundamental quality . Guitarist

Jose Neto

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Jose Neto's solo adds to the flavour of the song.

There are two compositions that reflect Dearie's time in Paris: "Plus Je T'Embrasse" and her own "A Paris." Both are deftly done in the French language in which Donnay appears to be perfectly comfortable and expressive. Each has a different style and tempo but neither appear to concern Donnay. Among some of the other titles that Donnay has chosen are "Moonlight Savings Time," "Spring In Manhattan" and "You Fascinate Me So."

The final track in this release is "Put On A Happy Face." Following a strong into from bassist

Ruth Davies

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Ruth Davies, Donnay swings into a run through of the lyrics with Davies along for the ride. Pianist

Mike Greensill

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Greensill is unwavering in his accompaniment as he has been throughout the recording. This is an evocative celebration of a unique interpreter of words and music.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Roberta��s Blues; Peel Me a Grape; Just One of Those Things; Inside a Silent Tear; Plus Je T��Embrasse; Someone to Watch Over Me; Moonlight Savings Time; A Paris; The Party��s Over; If I Were a Bell; Spring in Manhattan; Unless It��s You; You Fascinate Me So; I Wish You Love; It Amazes Me; Put on a Happy Face.

Personnel

Roberta Donnay

vocals

Mike Greensill

piano

Ruth Davies

bass, acoustic

Mark Lee

drums

Jose Neto

guitar

MB Gordy

drums

David Sturdevant

harmonica

Album information

Title: Blossom-ing! | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

A Mahavishnu Tribute, Snarky Puppy, ...
< Previous

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brow...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.