Whistling In The Dark | JazzWax Review
CDs you should know about, Marc Myers
Denise Donatelli—Whistling in the Dark: The Music of Burt Bacharach (Savant). Having interviewed Burt several times, once at his home in Los Angeles, I can tell you that Denise on this album totally gets his music. Singing Burt’s melodies is back-breaker business. They aren’t easy by any stretch, nor are his changing keys and time signatures. Take the title track, for example, from his album Blue Umbrella,with lyrics by Daniel Tashian. Or Toledo, with lyrics by Elvis Costello. Denise sings the nine tracks with the ease and the sound of dreamy desperation that Burt loves. Instead of the Dionne Warwick blast or Cilla Black hysteria, Denise’s voice is soft and caressing, bringing a new level of sophistication and conviction to the music. Dig Walk On By, with Denise’s pauses in just the right places. Here are the tracks, with arrangements by Larry Klein: Whistling in the Dark, The Look of Love, In Between the Heartaches, Toledo, Anyone Who Had a Heart, Walk On By, In the Darkest Place, Mexican Divorce and A House Is Not a Home. My only hope is that Denise has Part 2 on the way.