Leslie Adams CD Review

A Review: Leslie Adams' Songs Rarely does one hear a perfect match of singer, pianist, and repertoire. Love Rejoices, a new compact disk containing a rich assortment of the masterful songs composed by Leslie Adams has that magic. The program contains the complete song groups Nightsongs, The Wider View, as well as exerpts from Five Millay Songs and selected individual songs. Poets include Edna St. Vincent Millay, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Joette McDonald, Langston Hughes, and Georgia Douglas Johnson.

The Adams songs are beautifully crafted. This composer knows what musical line is all about and sets his texts with love of words and musical technique to match the poetry. The piano parts are at once intricate and a perfect matach for the nuances of text. Darryl Taylor's rich tenor and Ms. GuyÕs sensitive accompanying meld perfectly. Mr. Taylor knows how to change his timbre from warm and luxurious to moody and dark, from very rhythmic to liquid. This is a wonderful listening experience.

David Powers tells us that the disk [CD, Albany Records, Catalog 428] can be ordered from Educator's Music, (216) 226-6780. Printed songs (in three keys) can also be purchased at Educator's Music.