Kirsten has taken one of the lesser known Mancini gems and delivered an elegant and sultry interpretation of the lyrics by Jay Livington and Ray Evans.
—Monica Mancini
Kirsten Gustafson, the renowned jazz vocalist, hailed by critics and fans since her intimate 1992 Atlantic Records debut “You Taught My Heart To Sing" is back with a new collection that pushes the boundaries of the traditional jazz standard.
Wait Until Dark is an album of 11 songs that includes selections from a variety of genres – pop, funk, soul, easy listening, '50s swing, and—yes—even rock. Kirsten’s compelling, sultry vocals, supported by adventurous and sophisticated arrangements, effortlessly and expertly tie these together, creating an album of new jazz standards. Songs made famous by Led Zeppelin (yes, really), Dusty Springfield, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Roberta Flack, James Taylor, America, Julie London, and others are part of this extraordinary effort.
The songs—many given the jazz treatment for the first time—include “The Look of Love" (written by Bacharach/David, featuring Fareed Haque: the album’s first single), “The Rain Song" (written by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, featuring Fareed Haque, “A Horse With No Name" (written by Dewey Burnell,) “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" (written by James Taylor,) “Compared to What" (written by Gene McDaniels,) From the “Beginning" (written by Greg Lake, featuring Fareed Haque, “A Song For You" (written by Leon Russell,) “Hot Toddy" (written by Ralph Flanagan and Herb Hendler,) “Wait Until Dark" (written by Henry Mancini, Jay Livingston and Ray Evans,) and “For One Alone" (written by Richard Knight, Jr., featuring Fareed Haque, the album’s sole original, a jazz ballad given a lush Nelson Riddle orchestral treatment.
“Kristen Gustafson's Wait Until Dark is a rare cognac of an album to savor over many sessions. She conveys the meaning of each choice with a luscious and pliable voice. This one is worth a closer listen." —Andy Cahill, WIOX 91.3 FM.
Wait Until Dark is available now on Amazon.com, and all digital outlets.
Wait Until Dark is an album of 11 songs that includes selections from a variety of genres – pop, funk, soul, easy listening, '50s swing, and—yes—even rock. Kirsten’s compelling, sultry vocals, supported by adventurous and sophisticated arrangements, effortlessly and expertly tie these together, creating an album of new jazz standards. Songs made famous by Led Zeppelin (yes, really), Dusty Springfield, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Roberta Flack, James Taylor, America, Julie London, and others are part of this extraordinary effort.
The songs—many given the jazz treatment for the first time—include “The Look of Love" (written by Bacharach/David, featuring Fareed Haque: the album’s first single), “The Rain Song" (written by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, featuring Fareed Haque, “A Horse With No Name" (written by Dewey Burnell,) “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" (written by James Taylor,) “Compared to What" (written by Gene McDaniels,) From the “Beginning" (written by Greg Lake, featuring Fareed Haque, “A Song For You" (written by Leon Russell,) “Hot Toddy" (written by Ralph Flanagan and Herb Hendler,) “Wait Until Dark" (written by Henry Mancini, Jay Livingston and Ray Evans,) and “For One Alone" (written by Richard Knight, Jr., featuring Fareed Haque, the album’s sole original, a jazz ballad given a lush Nelson Riddle orchestral treatment.
Press Quotes
“The Page/Plant mysticism of “The Rain Song" makes the transfer to jazz here, with a nifty arrangement makeover from Curtis Allen Hager and some compelling guitar from guest star Fareed Haque. ELP's “From the Beginning" gets a mellow treatment that anybody should be able to dig." —Jack Walton, “Jazz Extrapolation."WSND-FM.“Kristen Gustafson's Wait Until Dark is a rare cognac of an album to savor over many sessions. She conveys the meaning of each choice with a luscious and pliable voice. This one is worth a closer listen." —Andy Cahill, WIOX 91.3 FM.
About Kirsten Gustafson
Audiences first took notice of Kirsten Gustafson (pronounced “Kear-sten Gus-tuff-son”) with the release of You Taught My Heart to Sing in 1992. The Atlantic Records CD (with liner notes by the legendary Sammy Cahn) put her on the map literally overnight and acclaimed performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival and other significant shows followed. In the years since her stunning debut, Kirsten has continued to concentrate on live performance and sporadic releases including a special appearance on jazz arranger Frank Mantooth’s posthumous CD release Ladies Sing For Lovers which found Kirsten alongside her contemporaries Diane Schuur, Ann Hampton Callaway, Oleta Adams, and others. Now, thanks to the vision of producer Richard Knight, Jr., a host of top jazz musicians (including guitarist extraordinaire Fareed Haque, the gorgeous orchestral arrangements of Curtis Allen Hager, and most of all, Kirsten’s sensational vocal stylings, Wait Until Dark is sure to be acclaimed as a masterpiece of pop jazz.Wait Until Dark is available now on Amazon.com, and all digital outlets.
For more information contact Lampkin Publicity Service.
