Renee Olstead: Renee Olstead

Elly Roberts reviews

Renee Olstead: Renee Olstead
Distributed by
143 Records/Reprise

    Cover

  • Released: April 2005
  • Rating: 8/10
  • Cat.no.: 9362-48704-2

After a hesitant start, emerging Jazz singer Renee Olstead finally lets rip on knockabout standard Summertime.

From then on it’s cruise control on a sentimental journey of a superblyarranged covers album. As much as she may not like it, she’s probably goingto join the ranks of Katie Melua in terms of branding. That’s were comparisonsend, as her range is much wider and more profound.Vocally she’s a lightweight, but don’t dismiss her, as she can cut it with thelikes of Clare Teal and show Amy Winehouse the door.

Pristine and clear as the driven snow: like a rollercoaster Olstead can riseand fall in an instant. Her male counterpart Michael Buble’s similar effortson This Time sounds the poor relation in every way. Here, the chemistrybetween artist and song is very explosive – in the nicest possible way ofcourse.

She can let rip and tone it down like a past master – check her mesmerisingduet with singer-songwriter Peter Cincotti on Neil Sedaka’s Breaking Up IsHard To Do. Elsewhere she flirts with the lyrics and the listener e.g.A Love That Will Last as she do-wops her heart away.

Maria Muldaur’s hit Midnight At The Oasis is done as straight cover- spot the difference? Given the right exposure (BBC Radio 2) this sexy younglady could be a huge star. The singing is as passionate as her red hair -so look out Olstead’s gonna grab you quite soon.

Weblinks:Renee Olstead.com andReprise Records.com


The full list of tracks included are :

1. Summertime
2. Taking A Chance On Love
3. Is You Or Is You Ain’t My Baby
4. Someone To Watch Over Me
5. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
6. A Love That Will Last
7. Meet Me, Midnight
8. Sunday Kind Of Love
9. On A Slow Boat To China
10. What A Difference A Day Makes
11. Midnight At He Oasis
12. Sentimental Journey

[Up to the top of this page]


Loading…