Judi Silvano is a traditional Jazz singer, whose release “Woman’s Work” showcases her bright voice against a simple backdrop of piano, drums and bass in an intimate live performance.
Silvano does not have a great voice per se, but what she may lack in range and depth she more than makes up for with conviction and a straight-forward style that catches the ear. It is her delivery that keeps this from being background music that is easily ignored; Rosemary Clooney, Peggy Lee with a pinch of Ella Fitzgerald are good points of reference for her vocal style. Silvano is not afraid to be playful and light on such songs as “Not To Worry” and “New Dance” where she scats convincingly, and she can also handle a song with more depth such as “Inside A Silent Tear” and the lovely “Why Do I Still Dream of You”, which is the standout track and her best vocal performance.
Silvano sounds best when she has a solid, smooth melody to sing without many histrionics and the song arrangements allow her backing band to step up and balance out the overall sound. The backing band’s musicianship is excellent, and they exercise restraint where other musicians may have gone overboard with solos. This ensures that Silvano’s voice remains at the forefront.
A lovely bass solo starts off “Ballad For Miles” but Silvano’s lyrics, although sincere, overreaches. When she goes for the comedic on “Can’t Get My Motor to Start” it seemed very forced and harsh, and her musicality was lost. But these are minor complaints, for the CD as a whole is pleasant listen, and perfect for those who like traditional Jazz and can appreciate a singer with a clean, unfussy voice that is not afraid to take some chances for her craft.
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More Information
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http://cdbaby.com/cd/judisilvano7
http://www.judisilvano.com
http://www.jslrecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/judisilvano
