Simone Dinnerstein and Tift Merrill - Night

  by Lisa Torem

published: 8 / 4 / 2013

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Review

At first, it sounds like a strangely brewed elixir, but 'Night', the album which features the Julliard-trained pianist and vocalist Simone Dinnerstein and country songwriter and instrumentalist Tift Merritt, goes down easily. The former released J.S. Bach’s 'Goldberg Variations' in 2007 and intrepidly spread her wings into a host of other genres. Dinnerstein says, “In the classical world, it can be safer to play familiar music in a familiar way, but I find that a suffocating aesthetic. Music by Bach or Schubert or any composer needs to be approached in a way that’s constantly fresh.” To that end, the album remains exceedingly true to her vision: Songs recorded by Billie Holiday and Johnny Nash share space with classical icons Henry Purcell and Franz Schubert. Last year Merritt released on ‘Traveling Alone’ on the Yep Roc labael, and she continues to attract talented folk like Rosanne Cash with her podcast 'The Spark With Tift Merritt'. Dinnerstein’s 'The Berlin Concert', 'Bach: A Strange Beauty' and 'Something Almost Being Said' have eclipsed the classical charts. She has travelled the world as soloist with the New York Philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony and Vienna Symphony. They merge their gifts exceedingly well on 'Night'. The first of Merritt’s originals, ‘Only in Songs’ speaks of a place “where beauty is patience and dreaming is right.” Gentle strums and whispering piano make Dinnerstein’s voice melt above the chords. You don’t expect harmonica to trail off of a Schubert classic, but this element also works. Dinnerstein’s vocals rise and climb convincingly, as she sings simply, “You hold me so tender…” Dinnerstein displays a more jarring execution on the Billie Holiday/Nina Simone standard, ‘Don’t Explain.’ Blindly acquiescing to a mate’s cheating might pose a challenge to today’s vocalists, but Dinnerstein expresses anguish and a bittersweet acceptance convincingly phrase by phrase while uttering: “You know that I love you and what love endures/Any thoughts are with you and I’m completely yours…” Even when she sings, “Skip that lipstick, don’t explain…” she evokes sympathy for the duo. Her final verse tugs the most fiercely at our hearts. Purcell’s ‘Dido’s Lament’ is a philandering fugue which evolves into a spacious anthem. Simply, Dinnerstein sings, “Remember me. Remember me.” The juxtaposition of the sparse lyric and full explosion of her piano merges dreamily. Brad Mehldau’s ‘I Shall Weep at Night’ is blues-driven and symphonic, yet melodically straight-ahead. The traditional ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ finds Dinnerstein’s voice as cracklin’ pure as a Kentucky stream as Merritt’s guitar whips across her gentle voice. The other trad ballad, ‘I Will Give My Love An Apple’ rewards the listener with a calm evanescence. Another nod to the classical world, ‘Prelude in B minor’ is delicately powerful. ‘Still Not Home’ is another Merritt penned ballad. “Regular life don’t suit me at all…” is the theme. The subtle, skilled writing makes this common theme sound brand new. Merritt’s ‘Colors’ is a bewitching pastiche of self-reflection. “What will I know tomorrow that I don’t know today?” the text poses. Dinnerstein sings demurely, “All the colors that I see will keep me company/'Til my sleeping heart wakes up in the sun…” Her last original, ‘Feel of the World’, is also enhanced by bright, introspective images. Leonard Cohen’s iconic ‘Suzanne’ is played passionately; with the golden touch of a fairy wand and a roaring dissonance on ‘The Cohen Variations.’ Here Dinnerstein gives all she’s gleaned from the classical world, whilst exhaling jazz/blues inspirations. Patty Griffin’s ‘Night’ is a lovely ballad, which explores the mysterious underpinnings post sunset where one discovers “birds that tell me lies.” The album ends with a cover version of Johnny Nsh’s ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ – Dinnerstein’s performance shows that she can express optimism as well as anguish. 'Night' is a gorgeous fusion of talent, which dissolves boundary lines and highlights the heartfelt. Simone Dinnerstein and Tift Merritt may be groundbreaking solo artists, but together they exceed expectations.

Track Listing:-

1 Only in Songs
2 Night and Dreams
3 Don't Explain
4 Dido's Lament
5 I Shall Weep at Night
6 Wayfaring Stranger
7 Prelude in B Minor
8 Still Not Home
9 I Will Give My Love an Apple
10 Colors
11 The Cohen Variations
12 Night
13 Feel of the World
14 I Can See Clearly Now

Band Links:-

http://www.simonedinnerstein.com/
https://www.facebook.com/simonedinners
https://www.youtube.com/user/SimoneDin
http://www.tiftmerritt.com/
https://twitter.com/tiftmerritt
https://www.facebook.com/tiftmerritt/