Linda Purl – Taking A Chance On Love – CD Review
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Surface noise: N/A
Dynamic Range: 4+
Stereo Imaging: 4+
Image depth/perspective: 4
Overall frequency response: 4+
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Track List:
- Pure Imagination/Never Never Land
- I Have Dreamed
- Lucky Day/Shooting High
- And We Will Fly/Come Fly With Me
- Taking a Chance On Love
- Too Late Now
- Throw It Away
- Wave
- Darn That Dream
- You Fascinate Me So
- Try Your Wings
- Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
Line Up:
- Linda Purl – Vocals
- David Finck – Bass
- Tedd Firth – Piano
- Ray Marchica – Drums
- Nelson Rangell – Reeds
This album was recorded and engineered by Ryan Streber at Oktaven audiO, Mount Vernon, NY, and mixed and mastered by Gabe Moffat at Wheelhouse Audio Inc., Los Angeles, CA. The album was originally released on the Reaching Records label on May 29th, 2020.
Linda Purl is a seasoned international jazz vocalist and established actor having performed at Feinstein’s 54 Below, the Lincoln Center For Jazz and Birdland to mention just a few venues, and various Broadway shows and iconic TV series including; The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Getting and Spending, Happy Days and The Office, to name just a few. This is her 5th solo album release.
This CD meets all my expectations regarding any electronics white noise or hum as tracks are faded up and out, or during very quite passages. There was nothing audible and tracks faded into an inky black silence. Despite the low noise floor the the dynamics never really excelled but nor did they seem to be overly compressed or restricted.
The recording provides an intimate performance by Linda. There seemed to be few restrictions to the dynamics of her vocal range or any of the instruments. Her voice was absolutely natural, having excellent annunciation, with little undue emphasis to any part of the vocal range except maybe the upper registers sounding a little hard at times. Her close miking rarely accentuating any sibilance. Linda’s presence was very good but not quite sufficient to “appear” in my room.
Musicianship and vocals were first rate providing a tight, very enjoyable and entertaining musical performance. Stereo imaging was rock solid with just a touch a reverb being added to Linda’s voice that you occasionally heard tail out. There are few long instrumental solos or breaks on this album as it is all about Linda’s vocals. T5 is the only track that shows the kit and acoustic double bass in all their gory, providing a very natural, tight and clean sound. Depth of image was very shallow with the kit sitting just behind Linda, the double bass placed dead center between Linda and the kit and the piano and Linda’s vocals being in the same up front plane.
The kits’ image was a little different to most placements, appearing between the left hand speaker and just right of center, with the snare and hi-hat left of center. Toms were positioned from the center to left hand speaker with the cymbals placed just right of the left hand speaker and just right of center. The toms provide a well damped but hollow tone while the kick drum was a very hollow dull thud. No beater sound was noted. The snare had a short well damped ring and provided a few very impactful rim shots. All brush work was very detailed and open as were the cymbals and hi-hat. The chimes provided a detailed and remarkably delicate sound while the wood blocks were open and clean. There was only one solo of note, T5, that provided a very pleasing break .
Double bass was always tight and natural sounding with no boom, never lost in the mix and providing an excellent solo on T5. Occasional finger work was heard providing just a slightly more intimate feel. Several other short intros, breaks and solos abound throughout the tracks.
The piano sounded very natural with good attack and a clean, bright and mellow tone. Its image filling the space between my speakers. No key or damper action was apparent. There are several short breaks, intros and solos to include T5, T6, T7, T10 and the quite excellent T12.
Only T8 and T9 had reed instruments. T8 had what I have to assume was a flute (not really a reed instrument), and T9 what I assume was a tenor saxophone. Both were imaged left of center at the same height and in the same plane as the vocals and piano. The flute provided a smooth and mellow sound with just the occasional hint of air noise as it passed over the mouth piece, while the sax was very open and mellow with a bright clean edge and a touch of reed. Their solos were supported by pleasing levels of reverb.
General levels of reverb were quite low and short filling out the sound and creating a warm enveloping atmosphere.
All tracks are quite well recorded and performed, I particularly enjoyed T5 and the duet on T12. All tracks provided accomplished vocal performances with many of the tracks having excellent piano parts with numerous instrumental short solos and breaks throughout. I am sure that many jazz fans, and in particular fans of Linda Purl, will thoroughly enjoy this album.
Playback note: Reviewed using my Denon DBP A100 over Denon Link 3. Speakers; a stereo pair of Genelec 1038’s and four SVS subs.
Disclosure: This CD was provided by Kari-On Productions for my review. No financial compensation was provided.
Purchase from the Linda Purl web site and Amazon Music.
See my other Kari-On Productions reviews here.
