Sathima Bea Benjamin....

Sathima Bea Benjamin Cape Town Love (ekapa SA 001)
Sathima Bea Benjamin Musical Echoes (ekapa SA 002)
Sathima Bea Benjamin Song Spirit (ekapa SA 003)

Recorded in Cape Town in, respectively, 1999 and 2002, the first two of these CDs demonstrate the liquid skills of this highly distinctive singer. Relaxed and introspective interpretations of classic songs abound - 'When Day Is Done' and 'Body And Soul' on the first, 'I'll Follow My Secret Heart' and 'Someone To Watch Over Me' on the second are examples. There are also lesser known songs, such as Duke Ellington's 'All Too Soon' and one of Sathima's own compositions, 'Musical Echoes'. Matching the loving care that the singer brings to this music is fine playing from her accompanists. On Cape Town Love she is joined by the veteran South African pianist Henry February, bassist Basil Moses and drummer Vincent Pavitt; while on Musical Echoes, Stephen Scott is at the piano and Lulu Gontsana at the drums. This is music for the connoisseur of elegant singing by an artist whose appearances on record and in live performance are not nearly as frequent as her talent demands.

The third CD, released in September 2006, consists of eleven tracks from earlier albums, plus a previously unreleased duet, on 'It Never Entered My Mind', by Sathima and her husband, internationally renowned pianist Abdullah Ibrahim. Elsewhere, Sathima is accompanied by Duke Ellington on his own 'I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good', from a 1963 session, A Morning In Paris (Enja ENJ 9309 2); by Kenny Barron, with Buster Williams and Billy Higgins, on 'Indian Summer', from 1985's Windsong (ekapa 006) 'Lush Life' and 'Loveless Love', from 1989's Southern Touch (Enja ENJ 7015 2). This last song starts out with the original lyrics sung a capella, before pianist, bassist and drummer enter in high life rhythm and Sathima sings the later 'Careless Love' lyrics. This has always been one of my favourite tracks and is one that defies any listener to stay in his or her seat. I recall Sathima telling me that it was not planned to include this on the session, but was something the four of them had played before and they used it as a warm-up and, praise be, the tapes were running. Among other songs on this compilation Sathima sings 'Ah! Sweet Mystery Of Life', from Dedications, 'I Only Have Eyes For You', from Cape Town Love, and 'I'll Follow My Secret Heart', from Musical Echoes. If you are unfamiliar with this fine singer, do try this compilation, released in celebration of Sathima's 70th birthday. I am sure that it will lead you irresistibly to the other CDs from which it is drawn.
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