René Marie - How Can I Keep From Singing? (2000)

"How Can I Keep From Singing?" asks the title of Rene Marie's new album. But after a childhood of performing in Warrenton and Roanoke, Va., she didn't sing in public during 20 years of marriage and child-raising. It was only in 1994, at age 38, that she took the stage again, first under her married name of Rene Croan in Roanoke and more recently as Rene Marie in Richmond. The long years of practicing at home, far from the conformist pressures of the music industry, allowed her to develop a distinctive style of her own. As her new album demonstrates, that style features eclectic song choices (three originals, a country oldie, a new-age ballad, a Nina Simone protest song and a folk spiritual as well as familiar standards associated with Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday), a crisp focus on the lyrics, the flexibility to handle rhythms other than swing and a down-to-earth delivery that turns every song into a kitchen-table conversation. She is backed by an all-star band that features pianist Mulgrew Miller, saxophonist Sam Newsome and two members of Cassandra Wilson's band (guitarist Marvin Sewell and percussionist Jeffrey Haynes). Marie's voice is a key part of that band on tunes such as Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue," where she pushes along the Cuban rhythm and extends the harmonies with her scatting. Even better are the ballads, like the original "Hurry Sundown," where she sounds disarmingly casual without sacrificing a bit of musicality. ~ by Geoffrey Himes, washingtonpost.com. 

MAXJAZZ, MXJ 109, 2000
Recorded 13th-14th January, 2000 at Sound On Sound, New York 

Musicians:
René Marie - Vocals, Arranger
Sam Newsome - Soprano Saxophone (#7,12)
Mulgrew Miller - Piano (#1,2,5-11) Fender Rhodes (#3,4)
Marvin Sewell - Guitar (#2-4,11,12)
Ugonna Okegwo - Bass
Gerald Cleaver - Drums (#1-11)
Jeff Haynes - Percussion (#3,7,11,12) 

Tracks:
01. What A Difference A Day Makes {Stanley Adams, María Mendez Grever} (3:42)
02. Tennessee Waltz {Pee Wee King, Redd Stewart} (6:44)
03. Motherless Child {Traditional} (1:29)
04. Four Women {Nina Simone} (6:10)
05. The Very Thought Of You {Ray Noble} (5:00)
06. I Like You {René Marie} (4:04)
07. Afro Blue {Oscar Brown, Jr., Mongo Santamaría} (6:45)
08. A Sleepin' Bee {Harold Arlen, Truman Capote} (6:22)
09. Hurry Sundown {René Marie} (6:03)
10. God Bless The Child {Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog, Jr.} (5:07)
11. Take My Breath Away {Bab Hallahan, René Marie} (5:24)
12. How Can I Keep From Singing? {Enya, Nicky Ryan} (5:42) 

Total Time: 62:32 

Credits:
Producer, Arranger - Bruce Barth
Engineer - David Baker
Assistant Engineer - Zach Wind
Mastering - Katsuhiko Naito
Photography - Jimmy Katz
Liner Notes - Mary Ellen Sullivan 

How Can I Keep From Singing?