Helen Merrill Lilac Wine CD

Personnel: Helen Merrill (vocals); Alan Merrill (vocals, guitar, double bass); Lew Soloff (trumpet); Torrie Zito (piano, electric piano, keyboards); George Mraz (double bass).
Nearly a half-century after she recorded a classic album with trumpeter Clifford Brown, Helen Merrill's voice is still pretty strong. On Lilac Wine she performs a set of melancholy ballads that are heartfelt and lightly swung. Accompanied by a large orchestra from Czechoslovakia that is arranged by Torrie Zito, Merrill interprets all of the material at a slow dreamy tempo. The results are subtle, quietly emotional, and atmospheric. The only real change of pace is Marian McPartland's instrumental "Portrait of Helen Merrill." Otherwise all of the music is taken at the same slow tempo and in a similar mood. Despite the lack of variety, this quiet outing grows in interest with each listen. ~ Scott Yanow
On LILAC WINE, the eminent jazz singer Helen Merrill (whose fans have included everyone from great jazz arranger Gil Evans to Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood) applies her magnificent voice to an inspired selection of standards, forgoing any hackneyed old warhorses. Merrill's mellow tones weave their way through a moody setting reminiscent of Frank Sinatra albums like IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE MORNING. Swelling strings, muted trumpet, and exquisitely spare arrangements frame pensive lyrics embraced by a masterful singer with a gentle, seen-it-all tone.
Arrangements and piano by Torrie Zito (he's also worked with Tony Bennett and Sinead O'Connor) underscore the reflective temperament of the songs and Merrill's gentle, worldly wise vocals perfectly. Not for Merrill are showy displays of "technique"--her sublime singing draws attention to the song rather than the singer. If you savor the classic ballad style of Chris Connor, Nat "King" Cole, and Peggy Lee, you'll find LILAC WINE intoxicating.Down Beat (p.70) - 3 stars out of 5 - "The feeling of unrequited love she eases into 'Something I Dreamed Last Night' is almost palpable, the strings exquisitely underscoring and extending the mood."