Featured Artist: Paulette Dozier

CD Title: With You

Year: 2006

Record Label: Self -published

Style: Jazz Vocals

Musicians: Paulette Dozier (vocals), Michael Levine (piano), Chuck Bergeron (bass), Sam Levine (drums), Jason Carder (trumpet), Lindsay Blair (guitar), Ed Calle (tenor sax) appearance courtesy of Concord Records), Alex Berti, (bass), Remy Taveras (frums), Dan Warner (guitar), Randall Dollahon (guitar), Richard Bravo (percussion)

Review:

Paulette Dozier is a multi-talented entertainer, able to convincingly wear many hats without losing focus and most importantly the integrity of each role that is required by the hat.  Dozier’s hat rack consist of: jazz vocalist, actress, model, voiceover performer, and pageant coach.

Dozier, brandishing a jazz vocalist hat that is straight from the 1940s and garnished with contemporary accents, has compiled a mixture of eight well known standards and two originals to comprise a new release entitled, With You.

The Paulette Dozier experience begins with an up-tempo version of “Only You.” Dozier’s rich playful voice conveys the story of love over a nice pad of brush work and a driving bass line by drummer Sam Levine and bassist Chuck Bergeron.  Pianist Michael Levine’s solo swings while continuing the playful nature of the song and leading to Dozier’s vocal solo, which is full of fun short rhythmic phrases that organically lead back to the melody and storyline. 

“Ode to Billie and Freddy,” uses the melody of “Strange Fruit” with new lyrics penned by Dozier.  Dozier is accompanied by guitarist Randall Dollahon in an intimate and heartfelt homage about the untimely loss of friendship and the void it can leave.  Dozier’s voice is beautifully haunting and executes the large interval jumps with emotion and accuracy of pitch. 

The experience closes with a contemporary arrangement of the “Walk on By.”  A very enjoyable journey of musical styles and colors that, as with all the songs contained on With You, displays Dozier’s uniquely strong and rich vocal style. 

The production and flow of the CD is very enjoyable.  Dozier has a wide array of instrumentations and styles to keep the journey fresh and entertaining.  Throughout the project Dozier conveys a sense of joy and enthusiasm that is contagious to the listener. 

A tip of the hat is in order to Dozier and her versatility in the entertainment industry, which culminates on With You. This is a very enjoyable vocal jazz release that is sure to please any music lover, jazz aficionado to Rhythm and Blues listeners alike.

Tracks: Only You, Groovin' With Marvin, Fever, Nature Boy, Ode To Billie and Freddy, With You, Just In Time, Alfie, I'm In Love, Walk On By

Artist's Website: http://www.paulettedozier.com

Listen or Buy: Buy Direct From Paulette Dozier Online Store

Reviewed by: H. Allen Williams

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