You and Me & Lady Forte

Artist: Lady Forte
Title: You and Me
Genre: Jazz-R & B-Pop
Label: Excalibur Records
Lady Forte Website

Forte Carter is the author of a classic jazz-pop vocal style. In the manner of legendary vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, she gives her golden vocal chords a tasteful workout with a solid new album titled You and Me.

I think covering time-tested standards was a very good idea for Lady Forte. Her voice is well suited for these great tunes. Her rendition of “God Bless The Child” is gorgeous and heartfelt every step of the way. “Lola” is my favorite tune on the album. She sounds so sultry and in command. You will be a believer once you hear the song that Lola always gets what she wants so does Ms. Carter evidently. She hits some incredibly high notes during the course of this recording. If you can remember the old Memorex commercial where Ella Fitzgerald breaks a wine glass with her amazingly high ranges, then you can understand the kind of range you will hear repeatedly on this CD.

Just as there is a great woman behind any great man, there is a great band behind any great singer. There is no exception to that rule here. The Carter orchestra featuring Arc Sano (piano) provides the superb accompaniment for the lady on every track. You may say that this is yet another cover CD and you have heard all of these songs hundreds of times - well it is not your typical album. Think for a minute how beautiful and meaningful all of these songs are. If performed properly they always sound so wonderful no matter how many times you hear them. All of the songs receive the most care and excellence by this talented vocalist.

With beautiful music and vocals, this is a real slice of the divine for you to absorb, body and soul. If you like quality music and a songbird that does each individual track the justice it deserves, wait until you hear this album, it will knock your socks off.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

June 6, 2005

01. God Bless The Child (5:00)
02. It Might As Well Be Spring (4:50)
03. Early Autumn (4:09)
04. Fairy Tales (5:01)
05. Lola (2:32)
06. I Cover The Waterfront (4:56)
07. Lullaby Of Birdland (3:31)
08. Street Of Dreams (2:44)
09. Body And Soul (4:16)
10. You And Me (3:33)
11. Yesterday's (3:02)
12. Why Are You Here (3:16)
13. It Had To Be You (3:12)
14. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life (5:03)
15. Watch What Happens (2:45)


Rating-8/10

Credits:

Forte Carter-Vocals
The Carter Orchestra Featuring-Arc Sano on piano

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The content provided for Blog Critics after 9/05 are independent of the services provided by Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck.

Keith Hannaleck, known as “MuzikMan,” is a Journalist specializing in independent and major music reviews and the …

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  • You And Me You And Me

    The Industry has been longing for a project of this nature! It has been a long time coming. Lady Forte' brings you the true QUALITY of music. Her vocals manipulate and tailor the notes to her own style. ...

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