DOWNBEAT Magazine

Written by Michael Gallant

Critic John McDonough once stated that vocalist Denise Donatelli “slides between the role of singer and musician with the cool acrobatics of an athlete” – and Donatelli’s latest release, the coolly adventurous Soul Shadows, shows that she remains in Olympian form.

From the album’s floating and sparsely arranged opener “All Or Nothing At All” to the bittersweet closer “Too Late Now,” her tonal consistency, phrasing and sense of time are all polished and expressive. Donatelli seems comitted to serving each song through her vocals, rather than employing the song as a vehicle for virtuosic bombast. A philisophical distinction, perhaps, but one that makes Soul Shadows infinitely more enjoyable than it could have been if captained by an equally skilled, yet less mature and sensitve, vocalist.

Arrangements and music direction on Soul Shadows come courtesy of Geoff Keezer, who also contributes buoyant solos and comping on piano. Keezer clearly knows Donatelli’s voice well, giving her enough instrumental support for the tracks to feel full, but leaving her ample space to ply her craft. Ramon Stagnaro’s acoustinc guitar contributions are notable as well, adding intrigue and bounce to the bossa-flavored title track, among others.

Donatelli and her cohorts take risks with song choice and arrangement, and that’s mostly a good thing. “When I looked Again” melds fluidly with Donatelli’s vocal approach, and the melodies of the wistful “Ocean” seem to blend effortlessly with Keezer and Stagnaro’s accompaniment. “Postcards and Messages” hits on interesting themes of tech-tweaked communication, dances on a lively arrangement with strings and percussion, and features an assured guest vocal from Peter Eldridge, but feels like it’s trying too hard thanks to cumbersom lyrics.