A good dance song has a certain energy to it that makes the pulse quicken and the spine straighten. It can be the highlight of a musical, even bringing a flagging scene back to life. Indeed, it is the very test of a triple-threat performer, demanding that they sing the song, dance the choreography, and act the emotion in both.

Laura Wolfe’s newest CD, ...also dances, celebrates the great dance numbers from Hollywood and Broadway, but rather than making the listener want to get up and cut a rug, the cool, smooth jazz invites the audience to sit back and appreciate the song itself.
The idea offers a different perspective on dance numbers, and puts their musicality—rather than their functionality as venues to a dance performance—front and center. Fortunately, Karen Hernandez’s arrangements (as the credit officially calls them, “adaptations”) offer some very interesting new spins on 12 classic songs. It’s no accident that many of them have a distinct bossa nova sound: Bossa nova is traditionally meant to “sway” rather than “swing,” which many dance numbers (quite understandably) aim to do. Hernandez’s arrangements bridge these two styles of music quite nicely, and leave the dance to the listener’s imagination.

Wolfe’s voice, the aural equivalent of cool cream blending with hot coffee, is perfect for jazz. While the entire album is utterly enjoyable and quite intriguing, some standouts include “Something’s Gotta Give,” ‘Let’s Misbehave,” a smoky and sensual “It Ain’t Necessarily So” and an innocently sexy “Too Darn Hot.” ...also dances is ideal for anyone who appreciates the music behind the dance, or who just likes good jazz.

Jena Tesse Fox
Cabaret Scenes
December 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org