Wesla Whitfield 'Livin on Love' CD Release Concert August 27, 2006

Wesla Whitfield
“Livin’ on Love” CD Release Concert
with the Mike Greensill Octet
Sunday, August 27, 5PM
Herbst Theatre in San Francisco

"For Whitfield, it's always the words, delivered as if she's just chosen them herself.
Is she the best singer -- jazz or whatever-around today? No disagreement here." -- Village Voice

"My idea of the best of all possible musical experiences might well be Wesla Whitfield...her use of dynamics, often with a dramatic, personal flair...convert virtually every one of her renditions into a distinctive, personalized classic." -- San Francisco Examiner

"One of the finest masters of popular singing, Whitfield should be scrutinized by anyone attempting to learn the subtleties of the vocal arts, and treasured by listeners who value beautiful music, beautifully done.. The result is superb jazz singing." -- The Los Angeles Times

‘Make It So’ Productions presents...Wesla Whitfield in concert, celebrating the release on her new CD “Livin on Love’, released in June 2006. Wesla Whitfield is regarded as one of America’s greatest vocalists and interpreters of the exquisite body of Broadway tunes, movie songs and Hit Parade numbers known collectively as the Great American Songbook. For over three decades, Wesla has thrilled audiences and critics alike with her incomparable blending of musical intelligence and dramatic sophistication. She has garnered numerous national television, radio and written media credits including, All Things Considered, People Magazine, CBS Sunday Morning, New York Times Sunday Magazine and ‘O’ Magazine.

The new CD masterfully blends songs from the finest American songwriters: Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer and includes The Klingel Horns, a four french horn choir led by San Francisco Ballet and Opera Orchestra's co-principle horn Bill Klingelhoffer. All arrangements are by pianist Mike Greensill.

For this special one-night program, she will be joined onstage by:
Mike Greensill - Piano
John Wiitala - Bass
Vince Lateano - Drums
Gary Foster - Alto, Tenor, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute & Alto Flute
French Horns:
Leader - Bill Klingelhoffer
Alicia Telford
Keith Green
Eric Achen

Livin’ on Love CD review:

It's impossible to identify Wesla Whitfield as anything less than one of the most original and articulate members of the American Songbook community. Her singing is witty, melancholy (without being sentimental) and informed by a worldiness that enables Wesla to find the center of a lyric and move in, becoming the lyric, bringing the music to life without a theatrical vibrato or a false emotion. She is reflective, literate, and more than often, kind, inhabiting the complexities and, well, the sadness with which many of us are afflicted. We are in her songs and she knows who we are. I often feel revealed when listening to Wesla, either on a CD or in person (on a stage she is a superior actress and a frequent humorist - really something to see and hear). Any new recording by Wesla Whitfield is cause for celebration. Celebrate, then, Here's Livin On Love.

Jonathan Schwartz NPR New York, and XM Satellite Radio

Official Website: http://www.weslawhitfield.com