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Deanna Witkowski: Wide Open Window
ByHere, Witkowski pulls in several standards with the emphasis on Cole Porter, in addition to her own compositions. She makes a mark as an accomplished interpreter, giving the standards a welcome, new color. The pull is immediate as she gets off in a free-flowing yet emphatic structure of “All Through The Night,” which she shapes in tantalizing tempo switches. Her wordless vocalizing on “From This Moment On” in tandem with McCaslin’s soprano is almost hymnal, the lyrical impact compelling. Speaking in terms of hymns, “Sanctus,” which she wrote, swings joyously and appropriately in praise of God. Her solo reading of “You And The Night And The Music” is delectable and true to the core.
In her own write Witkowski brings the soft sashay of a Latin rhythm into “New August Tune” with McCaslin breathing the lifeblood through his warm tenor. And on “A Rare Appearance,” he pushes the boundaries without flooding the cove. Witkowski daubs the tune with an airy vocal and opens up the melody with romps and whorls while Paul and Hipskind swirl beneath, feeding the impetus. This is an enjoyable musical journey.
Track Listing
All Through the Night; New August Tune; Wide Open Windows; From This Moment On; A Rare Appearance; Speak My Name; Just One of those Things; You and the Night and the Music; A Wonderful Guy; Sanctus.
Personnel
Deanna Witkowski
pianoDeanna Witkowski-Piano, Vocals; Donny McCaslin Soprano and Tenor Saxophone; Jonathan Paul-Bass; Tom Hipskind-Drums.
Album information
Title: Wide Open Window | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Khaeon World Music