DIANA TORTI - On A Cloud
SLAMCD595
Diana Torti, voice; Sabino de Bari, classical guitar
Recorded at The Premises Studios, London, April 5, 7, 8, 2018
I last encountered Diana Torti on Lucia Ianniello’s Live at Acuto Jazz, which I reviewed enthusiastically in December 2017. I described the music as ‘hugely melodious’ and I must say that the vocalist has grown her musical stature at that time into something enormous.
She has in fact taken on, with On a Cloud, a tribute to avant-garde jazz singer Jeanne Lee, some tracks drawing from Jeanne Lee herself, Abbey Lincoln, Monk, Mal Waldron and Fats Waller. Here, Monk’s Misterioso also recalls his acknowledgement to Gertrude Stein’s poetry, as well as Torti’s own credit to Lee, who recorded the same with pianist Ran Blake. She even performed it solo, live, at Jazz at Entermedia, a three‐night festival at the Entermedia Theatre, NY, led by Don Cherry. The New York Times wrote (March 4, 1979):
‘Jeanne Lee's solo set was quiet, but spellbinding. The highlight was the remarkable version of Thelonious Monk's difficult “Misterioso,” sung with exquisite intonation using a text by Gertrude Stein.’
It is a very fine challenge that Torti has attempted and she has prevailed with it, brilliantly.
The unusual accompaniment by classical guitar adds volumes to the already extended range of vocal sounds, mellifluous and open, which Torti employs,using her voice more as an instrument. She’ll be spirited, articulate and resonant one moment, shadowy and bottomless the next. Together they are both amiably playful and gravely intimate, their individual interpretations of the songs giving them both ownership.
Ultimately though, her enthralling voice and phenomenal technique claim the album for Torti’s accolade.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
SLAMCD595
Diana Torti, voice; Sabino de Bari, classical guitar
Recorded at The Premises Studios, London, April 5, 7, 8, 2018
I last encountered Diana Torti on Lucia Ianniello’s Live at Acuto Jazz, which I reviewed enthusiastically in December 2017. I described the music as ‘hugely melodious’ and I must say that the vocalist has grown her musical stature at that time into something enormous.
She has in fact taken on, with On a Cloud, a tribute to avant-garde jazz singer Jeanne Lee, some tracks drawing from Jeanne Lee herself, Abbey Lincoln, Monk, Mal Waldron and Fats Waller. Here, Monk’s Misterioso also recalls his acknowledgement to Gertrude Stein’s poetry, as well as Torti’s own credit to Lee, who recorded the same with pianist Ran Blake. She even performed it solo, live, at Jazz at Entermedia, a three‐night festival at the Entermedia Theatre, NY, led by Don Cherry. The New York Times wrote (March 4, 1979):
‘Jeanne Lee's solo set was quiet, but spellbinding. The highlight was the remarkable version of Thelonious Monk's difficult “Misterioso,” sung with exquisite intonation using a text by Gertrude Stein.’
It is a very fine challenge that Torti has attempted and she has prevailed with it, brilliantly.
The unusual accompaniment by classical guitar adds volumes to the already extended range of vocal sounds, mellifluous and open, which Torti employs,using her voice more as an instrument. She’ll be spirited, articulate and resonant one moment, shadowy and bottomless the next. Together they are both amiably playful and gravely intimate, their individual interpretations of the songs giving them both ownership.
Ultimately though, her enthralling voice and phenomenal technique claim the album for Torti’s accolade.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
