"This
album consists entirely of covers – The Shadow Of Your Smile,
I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Save Your Love For Me (check
out the magnificent bass solo!), Tenderly, etc. – but if
you think you might be bored hearing one more version of Night
And Day, think again. Matassa and gang have the uncanny ability
to breath new life into these old chestnuts. I also need to give
a big nod to producer David Keefer. Sonically speaking, this is
one of the best live recordings I’ve heard in quite some
time. Absolutely superb all around. I’m so used to hearing
live recordings with too much bass, not enough drums or too much
reverb on the vocals that I almost forgot what a live recording
should sound like. It’s nice to be reminded."
Roman St. James
JazzReview.com
"Backed by her
bandmates, pianist Randy Halberstadt, bassist Clipper Anderson,
and drummer Gary Hobbs, Matassa is captured in a very conducive
atmosphere where her way with both the songs and the crowd are
fully realized.
Greta Matassa has a wonderful
voice, a way with phrasing, and a purpose to her improvisations,
together with an understanding of what it takes to get her audience
excited.
Another salient point to
Live at Tula’s is just how well it captures the feel of
being inside the club, with a table in the front row, surrounded
by the crowd, listening to a singer supported by a trio of sympathetic
musicians. This album catches that mood and transmits it very,
very well. If I closed my eyes, I could easily imagine being transported
to Tula’s. And while this was true no matter which format
I listened to (stereo CD, stereo SACD, or multichannel SACD),
it was really brought to the fore in the multichannel mix. There,
Matassa and company are spread out before you, with plenty of
space between and around them. The crowd noise comes from all
about your listening position. Keefer really captured the feel
of that night on Live at Tula’s, and that goes a long way
toward making this disc highly enjoyable."
John Crossett
SoundStage.com
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