Tenderly

Review

This is WENDOLINA's first cd. Well, she must have been singing for many moons, because each song is approached as an individual entity, but her honey-toned voice brings the immensely diverse package to a very satisfying whole.

I do not know what training the lady has had, but she approaches each song, and each style, with a studied, elegant ease. She tackles pop ballads, well-known standards and Brazilian and Latino favourites with a confident, self-assurance. And when you hear her interpretations, she makes you believe that that is how the song was meant to sound. This is no mean feat.

She starts the set with "TENDERLY"- and maintains a gentle, caring mood throughout - ending with Barry Manilow's achingly beautiful "WHEN OCTOBER GOES".

One of the tracks on the album is "SONG OF NO REGRETS", and while one listens, one gets the impression that Wendy is wearing her heart somewhat on her sleeve, that she has experienced some emotional suffering and one feels that this collection of songs is somehow cathartic and resonates of a personal renewal. This is no more evident than on her highly evocative rendering of the Lennon - McCartney classic "YESTERDAY". The opening lines of "FOR ALL WE KNOW" are delivered with such poignancy, that the image that comes to mind is Ingrid Bergman's tear-stained face in many of her films. The same wistful mood is evoked on "TO SAY GOODBYE".

The group of musician’s accompanying this superb singer are part of the reason the bittersweet mood is maintained on this album from the first tender track to beautiful last one. And not to detract from the artistry of the other musician's, Laura Caviani is a pianist other artists should almost commit gross acts of violence or at least pay large amounts of money for, to have on their albums.


The album is a quiet one, but it is never maudlin or sombre. It's the kind of album one listens to when one is in a reflective frame of mind, when one wants to be cosseted and mollycoddled. As mentioned, this is WENDOLINA's first cd. This is definitely not going to be her last.

Many very good jazz singers sound bold and brassy much like polyester - WENDOLINA is pure cashmere.

Hadley is the Front of House Manager At The Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town and Broadcaster on Fine Music Radio. He is an unashamed Jazz Vocalist Lover.