Love Is for the Birds

by Meredith d'Ambrosio

Overview

Singer Meredith d'Ambrosio alternates between trio arrangements (which she co-arranged with pianist Lee Musiker) and a sextet scored by trumpeter and flugelhornist Don Sickler, while also writing lyrics for all 13 songs, which are centered around the challenge of achieving and maintaining love. Her soft, cool-toned vocals are captivating, as is her ability to write intelligent lyrics that originate from songs by composers like Kenny Dorham ("Rhyme of Spring," originally "Poetic Spring"), Harold Land ("That Magic Rapture," initially called "Rapture"), Tom McIntosh ("Cup of Life," adapted from "The Cup Bearers"), and Clifford Brown ("Beloved," based on his well-known "Daahoud"). D'Ambrosio also wrote both the music and lyrics to six of the selections, including the haunting ballad "I May Be the One." She collaborated with Eddie Higgins (her husband) on the richly textured samba "Just a Dream (Falando de Orlando)" and Ray Passman on the whimsical but understated "Frishberg and Dorough," a fine tribute to two very entertaining singing pianists which intermixes excerpts of lyrics from each of the songs. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden

Product Details

Release Date:	06/04/2002
Label:	Sunnyside Communications
UPC:	0016728110129
Rank:	140825

Tracks

1. Cup of Life (Cup Bearers)
2. Steppenwolf
3. Rhyme of Spring (Poetic Spring)
4. Valentine
5. That Magic Rapture (Rapture)
6. I May Be the One
7. Don't Go (Josephine)
8. Tell This Poor Fool
9. Just a Dream (Falando de Orlando)
10. Love Is for the Birds
11. Beloved (Daahound)
12. Blame It All on Spring
13. Frishberg and Dorough

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Meredith d'Ambrosio   Primary Artist,Voices
Jay Leonhart   Guest Artist,Bass
Don Sickler   Guest Artist,Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Bob Kindred   Guest Artist,Sax (Tenor),Flute
John Allred   Trombone
Lee Musiker   Piano
Joe Ascione   Drums

Technical Credits

Francois Zalacain   Producer,Executive Producer
Don Sickler   Arranger
Lee Musiker   Arranger
Lourdes Delgado   Photography
Michael Braunstein   Executive Producer
Eddie Higgins   Composer
Ralph Moore   Composer
Meredith d'Ambrosio   Arranger,Composer,Cover Painting
Ray Passman   Composer,Production Assistant
A.T. Michael MacDonald   Engineer,Mastering
Harold Land   Composer
Doug Ramsey   Liner Notes