Post Description

Review:
Fans of Rachelle Ferrell know how enjoyable her live shows can be. A little sassy, a little smooth, hers is a talent born for the stage, which is porbably one reason that her name, while big in jazz circles, hasn't quite reached the echelon of Cassandra Wilson or Diana Krall. "Live In Montreaux" covers a lot of ground in making up for that.
This disc actually features pieces of two shows, one from 91 and one from 97, each featuring different musicians. 9 of the songs are from the '91 Montreaux show that is legendary amongst RF's fans (as well as jazz critics), when she played with a trio of Philly boys and wowed the crowd.
The best tune on the disc is a Rachelle original, "I'm Special" which features George Duke. The tune bounces, both by the propulsion of Rachelle's incredible voice and some great keyboard and percussion work. Ms. Ferrell's voice on this tune is in excellent form, and the bliss in her voice while singing this tune carries well to CD.
Rachelle chose her covers very wisely, particulary in taking on "My Funny Valentine". While this tune has been covered to death, there is a torch quality to Rachelle's version that gives the song a real sense of freshness. "You Don't Know What Love Is" is also gorgeous, and compares very well to the Cassandra Wilson version on "New Moon Daughter".
Other highlights - "I Can Explain", "With Every Breath I Take".
Anyone who is a Rachelle fan probably pre-ordered this album, knowing how enjoyable her voice is live (NOTE - this recording translates well from performance to CD, something rare in many jazz circles given the subtleness and complexity of orchestration). For the uninitiated, this is a great starting point for turning on to one of the most vibrant, yet underappreciated singers of our day. 

Tracklist:

1. Montreux Introduction By Claude Nobs (Live) 1:09 
2. You Send Me (Live) 5:18  
3. You Don't Know What Love Is (Live) 5:59
4. Don't Waste Your Time (Live) 5:00  
5. My Funny Valentine (Live) 8:30 
6. I Can Explain (Live) 8:03 
7. I'm Special (Live) 5:54  
8. Bye Bye Blackbird (Live) 4:34  
9. Prayer Dance (Live) 6:30  
10. With Every Breath I Take (Live) 8:40 
11. Me Voila Seul (Live) 7:41  
12. On Se Reveillera (Live) 9:52