Cabaret Scenes CD Review - Sally Kellerman

It may surprise some people that Sally, the new CD by Sally Kellerman is so good, but it shouldn’t. Sally Kellerman has one of the most distinctive voices in showbiz—a languid drawl that sometimes just slips out a lyric to a soulful blues number or slowly paces a tender ballad. Music is Kellerman’s first love and she puts it all together on this solid new release, her first in many years. The wait was well worth it.

She plays to her stock in trade blues rock material that she’s honed with her live shows. “Nobody’s Perfect” opens the CD and displays Kellerman’s affinity for the blues with a Bonnie Raitt-flavored rock backing. “Somebody Call the Cops,” a live performance standard, gets a nice treatment in the studio with stellar backing musicians Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar and Dean Parks. “Love Potion #9” adds to the CD’s blues/rock feel, but its John Fogerty’s “Feelin’ Blue” that steals this genre.

The beauty of this CD is the ballads. Producer Val Garay has handled his share of illustrious singers (Kim Carnes, Linda Rondstadt, Marvin Gaye, Bonnie Raitt and Jennifer Warnes), and brings out the very best in Kellerman, putting her voice up front and center. The Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ classic “I Put a Spell on You” gets a bluesy, New Orleans style enhanced by Kellerman’s raspy delivery. Her choice of five-time Grammy-Award winner Mervyn Warren’s lovely “Say It Isn’t So” is pure magic. She works the lyric masterfully, aided by Jerry Peterson’s wistful saxophone. “Over Overnight,” a tender love ballad, is a standout and should be a hit. “By Heart,” written by Sally’s longtime musical director Chris Caswell, is another wonderful showcase for Kellerman’s unique interpretation of her material. She is, after all, an actor and each ballad receives a layered multidimensional approach.

The CD closes with the catchy “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” a duet with RJ Ross. It sums up Kellerman's approach to this project and her life in general.

Sally is alive—it rocks, it soothes, it moves, and it feels good. With this fine collection of songs, Sally Kellerman delivers a strong musical statement. No surprise here.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
March 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org



	Sally Kellerman Sally Music Force
It may surprise some people that Sally, the new CD by Sally Kellerman is so good, but it shouldn’t. Sally Kellerman has one of the most distinctive voices in showbiz—a languid drawl that sometimes just slips out a lyric to a soulful blues number or slowly paces a tender ballad. Music is Kellerman’s first love and she puts it all together on this solid new release, her first in many years. The wait was well worth it. She plays to her stock in trade blues rock material that she’s honed with her live shows. “Nobody’s Perfect” opens the CD and displays Kellerman’s affinity for the blues with a Bonnie Raitt-flavored rock backing. “Somebody Call the Cops,” a live performance standard, gets a nice treatment in the studio with stellar backing musicians Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar and Dean Parks. “Love Potion #9” adds to the CD’s blues/rock feel, but its John Fogerty’s “Feelin’ Blue” that steals this genre. The beauty of this CD is the ballads. Producer Val Garay has handled his share of illustrious singers (Kim Carnes, Linda Rondstadt, Marvin Gaye, Bonnie Raitt and Jennifer Warnes), and brings out the very best in Kellerman, putting her voice up front and center. The Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ classic “I Put a Spell on You” gets a bluesy, New Orleans style enhanced by Kellerman’s raspy delivery. Her choice of five-time Grammy-Award winner Mervyn Warren’s lovely “Say It Isn’t So” is pure magic. She works the lyric masterfully, aided by Jerry Peterson’s wistful saxophone. “Over Overnight,” a tender love ballad, is a standout and should be a hit. “By Heart,” written by Sally’s longtime musical director Chris Caswell, is another wonderful showcase for Kellerman’s unique interpretation of her material. She is, after all, an actor and each ballad receives a layered multidimensional approach. The CD closes with the catchy “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” a duet with RJ Ross. It sums up Kellerman's approach to this project and her life in general. Sally is alive—it rocks, it soothes, it moves, and it feels good. With this fine collection of songs, Sally Kellerman delivers a strong musical statement. No surprise here. Steve Murray Cabaret Scenes March 2009 www.cabaretscenes.org

Sally Kellerman

Sally

Music Force