SOFIA LAITI OR WHAT AUTHENTIC EUROPEAN CABARET SHOULD BE

American chanteuse, Sofia Laiti's new CD "You Don't Know Me" is making a big buzz in the United States. Finally,  the American cabaret found an authentic  Cabaret Noire singer who can really portray what authentic cabaret is. The voice of Ms Laiti is the roaring whispers of an early Berlin Kabaret and 1930s Parisian Cafe-Boite. She has the feelings, style and aroma of early Paris "Annees Folles" and the drama of its artistes-coquettes. You could sense in her singing style, a story-telling genre, an intimate dialogue with the audience and a nostalgic  ambiance of a cozy but stormy French boite. Perhaps, she is the only American cabaret chanteuse who imbibes her voice with an intellectual sensuality, the flair of the risqué, and a humanistic classicism. Few performers could deliver intimacy and remain refined and  eloquently distant. Ms Laiti has this talent. Is this ability a sign of  performance excellence or  an artist dramatic-theatrical attitude. Who knows? Except Ms Laiti herself and those who try to comfort themselves  with evasive memories and  gone-with-the-wind fantasies...only to be found in the voice of this mysterious diva.  If you enjoy traditional European cabaret a La Americaine Jazz, get copy of her CD. You would treasure it for years to come. What is so special about Laiti's voice? Ask Jean Cocteau, Sacha Guitry, Piaf, Mistinguet and Josephine Baker. They know! Unfortunately, they are all dead.  But you don't have to be a Cocteau or a Guitry to realize that "You Don't Know Me"  is the pure projection and teasing mirage of what the real Parisian cabaret used to be in the twenties and the thirties. This woman is pure magic. Yet, she is not French! But, she has the intoxicating and superb  dramatic talent of a real Parisian "Grande Chanteuse". Ms Laiti projects two images: On the front face of the coin, Ms Laiti appears to us as a classy lady. On the back side of the coin, with a sensual, almost unforgivable erotically intelligent voice, she teases us and implants in our childish and troubled minds, beautiful sins and daring thoughts. For, that extremely inviting voice of hers is sinfully  captivating and simplistically melodramatic. Such vocal virtuosity could only come from a woman who knows life and  understands how a song should echo life's sorrow and happiness. Sofia Laiti is a world-class singer. And "You Don't Know Me" is a sublime cabaret music gift. Buy it.

SHERYL BAILEY'S "BULL'S EYES" REDEFINES LYRICAL VIRTUOSITY IN CONTEMPORARY JAZZ

New Yorker master jazz guitarist, Sheryl Bailey offered  the American contemporary Jazz world,  a most impressive and lyrically-jazzy gift; her most recent CD "BULL'S EYES". And soon, she will be signing autographs during her forthcoming reception event in Manhattan, New York City. People have tendency to say "Jazz is Jazz, so what is the big deal?" But Jazz is more than Jazz, for more than two million reasons. I will give you two reasons for now. Primo, Jazz is the most truthful evocation and "representation" of human life with all its tragedies, ups and downs. Segundo: Jazz is the roots of American music, and perhaps the cradle of a universal symbolic musical platform. Ms Bailey does not proclaim herself the Moses of Jazz. But, most certainly, Bailey has become the rod and prescribed dogma of world-class jazz standards. It is true to a certain degree,  that Jazz can fall prey to monotony, if constant "traditional" repetitions  and rigidly structured interpretations dominate a musical piece. But, it is equally true, that those repetitions could and would anchor inner feelings and explode hidden emotions, if the Jazz musician  succeeds in  capturing and freeing original and individual musical virtuosity through lyricism and romanticism in jazz. Bailey has mastered this talent. Bailey has succeeded in  freeing Jazz from stagnant dogmatic musicality and redefining its humanistic beauty.  Rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars. "BULL'S EYES" is a jazz masterpiece! Two thumbs up! Buy it.