Ranee Lee - Maple Groove '2003

Tracks list

Tracklist:

[3:43] 01. Ranee Lee - If You Could Read My Mind
[4:41] 02. Ranee Lee - Waltz for Debby
[4:34] 03. Ranee Lee - Maybe September
[4:16] 04. Ranee Lee - My Beat
[4:37] 05. Ranee Lee - It Looks Like Rain
[4:43] 06. Ranee Lee - Douce Pluie
[2:47] 07. Ranee Lee - Some of These Days
[3:26] 08. Ranee Lee - Put Your Dreams Away (For Another Day)
[3:23] 09. Ranee Lee - Undun
[4:50] 10. Ranee Lee - Hymn to Freedom
[3:31] 11. Ranee Lee - Swinging Shepherd Blues
[7:09] 12. Ranee Lee - Both Sides Now
[3:57] 13. Ranee Lee - Spinning Wheel

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The always swinging singer Ranee Lee chose to create a songbook of works written
by Canadian composers and/or lyricists for this release, including some fare not
typically covered in a jazz setting. Folksinger Gordon Lightfoots If You Could
Read My Mind works surprisingly well in an uptempo hard bop setting, while
rocker Bruce Cockburns My Beat is given a funky treatment. Less successful is a
bossa nova arrangement of the Guess Whos Undun, which collapses due to its vapid
lyrics, while the strutting take of Blood, Sweat & Tears Spinning Wheel goes off
track due to the addition of a dumb rap by Darrell Henegan Jr. However, the
standards and jazz compositions are consistently rewarding. She soars with a
brisk rendition of Bill Evans timeless ballad Waltz for Debby (with lyrics by
Canada native Gene Lees), while the McGill Students Vocal Ensemble invite
comparisons to the Singers Unlimited with their backing of Lee in the amazing a
cappella version of Oscar Petersons Hymn to Freedom. Her lighthearted take of
Swinging Shepherd Blues includes a bit of playful scatting and singing in unison
with guitarist Richard Ring. She packs an emotional punch with her powerful
interpretation of Maybe September. Lee is in consistently fine voice throughout
the date, which is warmly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden

Personnel: 

Ranee Lee (vocals);
Ranee Lee; Richard Ring (guitar, guitars);
Mike Downes, Zach Lober (electric bass);
Richard Beaudet (saxophone);
Ron DiLauro (trumpet);
John Sadowy, Brian Dickinson (piano);
Dave Laing (drums).

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