Patrice Williamson
“Free to Dream”
(River Lily Records)
Talented jazz vocalist Patrice Williamson, only in her thirties at the time of this release, brings to the table such singing abilities as to bear comparison to the genre’s shining matriarchs Ella Fitzgerald (for eloquent phrasing) and Sarah Vaughn (for crystalline clarity). The versatile alto presents her own songs along fun pop arrangements (Rodgers & Hart, Rodgers & Hammerstein) along with other excellent covers without trodding the well-worn paths of the jazz standards. Selections on this album include “Celia” (Bud Powell) and an arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s “Another Star” by co-producer and pianist Mark Shilansky.
