| "Alex
Donner has been leading his New York based Orchestra and
singing to crowded dance floors of the world's "Movers
& Shakers" for fifteen years. However, in the entertainment
world we long suspected he had more to reveal - that one day
he could be in the great but fast disappearing tradition of
American pop singers such as Bennett, Darin, and Sinatra.
His
first step toward emerging as a singer was a critically acclaimed
SRO run with his 1997 cabaret show, "New York My Hometown",
at the renowned Algonquin Oak Room. And here is the next step.
On this, his inaugural CD, Donner sings his first class arrangements
with the backing of some of New York's top musicians, many
of whom have performed with him over the years.
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Highlights
include a swinging take on that old Scottish chestnut, "Loch
Lomond", a hauntingly romantic rendition of "Mam'selle",
and sensitively nuanced interpretations of the "cheating"
songs "Don't Cha Go Away Mad" and "When In Rome".
Superb enunciation on Cole Porter's "Can Can" drives
home the lyric's kickiness and his brash romp through "That
Old Black Magic" screams with energy.
Duke
Ellington's famous quote years ago set a standard for all
music - it must SWING. Here Donner more than meets that standard,
always swinging while using a full palette of vocal hues to
make us FEEL the lyrics. There are many self-proclaimed "New
Sinatras" out there, but this guy is not copying anyone.
He's the real thing. Just listen..."
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