Street of Dreams

by

Patti Austin

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kprovo@hotmail.com from TORONTO , June 14, 1999 STREET OF DREAMS . . .AUSTIN EMBRACES OLD & NEW WITH CLASS!! Trademark diversity in place, Patti Austin, vocalist extraordinaire starts set off with a generous re-thinking of the otherwise bland "The Look of Love". (Bacharach and David never had it soooo good!) She even helps breathe some life into the old standard "Street of Dreams", the title cut, but when "A Candle" (new song) takes off it is clear that we have yet another Patti Austin treat for the old mixed tape. Singer, words, melody, and production are well-matched on this tune . . . music so good . . . ! When Austin sings "Someone To Watch Over Me" it makes the listener long for an entire Austin-Gershwin recording, so sweet the marriage of melody and voice. Leave it to Austin to remind us so stylishly why "I Only Have Eyes For You" is a standard. Colour Me Badd lend harmonies! "For Once in My Life" takes on a new face with an uptempo, funky arrangment that soars into a scat menage sweeter than any so-called "jazz vocals" I've heard so far this year! When Patti sings the much-recorded "Calling You", walls come down, curtains pull back, a new layer revealed . . . the desperation of the lyric becomes a siren song to lost loves. Could "Waiting For You" be the singer's most subtly poignant vocals ever? "Beautiful" seems even an understatement when describing the wonders at work on this gem, and don't be fooled by the laid-back approach on Boz Scaggs' "Look What You've Done To Me". Several plays later you'll be getting something new from the song each time, just like this great Patti Austin album, respecting the old by blessing it anew! KDP

Recently had a yen for Patti Austin, who I just adore. I've had the great pleasure of seeing her live a couple of times in New York and she is definitely one of the most versatile (and underappreciated) secret weapons in the recording industry. This album is the usual hodge-podge from Austin, laden with songs and arrangements that are very uneven and not always worthy of her great stylistic gifts. But take a listen to her tasty poppish update of the Brasilian pop-jazz standard "The Look of Love," the swooning, swinging big-band version of "Street of Dreams" and then the lush, heartbreaking ballad "Waiting for You" and you'll realize what's so special about Patti Austin--why her fans are so faithful. You might not want to pay full price for this CD, but I'd say the three aforementioned tunes make it a worthwhile purchase.