Nancy Harrow Winter Dreams: The Life And Passions Of F. Scott Fitzgerald CD

This unusual set features twelve songs by singer Nancy Harrow that are based on the life of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald as seen through his fictional characters. Harrow and Grady Tate share the vocals and are joined by a four-piece rhythm section with pianist Roland Hanna plus up to four horns. Although the music at times hints at the 1920s and `30s, it is generally more modern. The lyrics are interesting even if none of the songs are destined to become future standards. It helps to be pretty familiar with Fitzgerald's writing and chances are that these performances would be more effective if seen in a play. The debut release on producer John Snyder's Artists House label is quite heart-felt and intelligent, as are all of Nancy Harrow's recordings. ~ Scott Yanow

WINTER DREAMS"Harrow's writing has wit and sophistication...The songs on Winter Dreams deal with love and loss, ambition and status, lost dreams and the span of time. Poetic and moving, it's an unexpected gem." 
Alan Lankin, Jazzmatazz 



"Harrow investigates the hopes, dreams, excitement, excesses and sadness of the great writer and the era in which he lived. The resulting work is wonderful. This completely original musical adventure is a hip and adventurous journey investigating the nooks and crannies of Fitzgerald's tumultuous life...Winter Dreams is enjoyable from start to finish with some particularly outstanding songs. "This Side of Paradise" is a terrific, upbeat song in which Tate swings out hip lyrics...The starry-eyed optimism of the opener is contrasted with the epic sadness of the title song and the ennui of "My Lost City"...Harrow creates an engaging song cycle that reaches beyond the vistas of the life and times of F. Scott Fitzgerald by tapping into the emotions behind the story. Winter Dreams is a tremendous recording." 
Michael Dominici, Whereyat 


"Like Nina Simone, Nancy Harrow has never known the meaning of the word compromise. She has spent four decades fighting the dragons of pop puerility. Her reward? Perhaps one percent of the recognition she truly deserves. Harrow's latest, Winter Dreams: The Life and Passions of F. Scott Fitzgerald (Artists House), has about as much chance for widespread appeal as caviar blintzes at McDonald's. The wise minority with the wisdom to recognize the clarity of Harrow's vislon will, however, be richly rewarded. The album's 12 tracks, all written by Harrow, are less a musical biography than a gallery of hand-tinted X-rays that lay bare the hopes, dreams, fears and self-loathing of Fitzgerald's checkered life. Grady Tate, surely the finest jazz baritone since Billy Eckstine, is cast as F. Scott, with Harrow playing an assortment of supporting roles, including Zelda, Sheila Graham and Daisy Buchanan. These dozen snapshots capture a bracingly broad spectrum of emotions, extending from the youthful idealism of 'This Side of Paradise' (I'm young /I'm smart/I'm making cash from art") and naked ambition of "You'll Never Get to East Egg" to the money-hungry tap dance of "Dear Max"and the haunting desolation of the title track. A stunning achievement, Harrow's jazz-tinged salute to the most iconic of all Jazz Age figures is made all the more admirable by her commitment to donate all proceeds to the not-for-profit Artists House, supporting her unflagging commitment to "rescue the recording business from egregious commercialism."
Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes 


Personnel: Nancy Harrow (vocals); Grady Tate (vocals); Jack Wilkins (guitar); Bill Easley (flute, clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Frank Wess (flute, tenor saxophone); Michael Mossman (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Mosca (trombone); Roland Hanna (piano); Rufus Reid (bass instrument); Akira Tana (drums, percussion).

Liner Note Author: Nancy Harrow.

JazzTimes (8/03, p.131) - "...A gallery of hand-tinted X-rays that lay bare the hopes, dreams, fears and self-loathing of Fitzgerald's checkered life....A stunning achievement..."