A Quiet Eye

A Quiet Eye

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
A Quiet Eye finds British singer June Tabor continuing to explore the "chamber-folk" avenue she first ventured down with 1992's Angel Tiger. Backed by the Creative Jazz Orchestra, Tabor puts her smoky, evocative alto in service of an assortment of traditional tunes ("The Water is Wide"), pop standards ("I'll Be Seeing You"), and contemporary material, including Richard Thompson's "Waltzing for Dreamers" and "Pharaoh." The one-time Silly Sister's taste for minor-key melodies--in tandem with Hum Warren's lush arrangements dominated by piano, reeds, and brass--creates a somewhat gloomy but warm ambiance that makes A Quiet Eye apt rainy-day listening, à la Marianne Faithfull's Strange Weather and Mary Coughlan's After the Fall. --Steven Stolder

Tracks:

The Gardener
A Place Called England
I Will Put My Ship In Order
I'll Be Seeing You
Out Of Winter/Waltzing's For Dreamers
Pharaoh
Must I Be Bound?
The Writing Of Tipperary/It's A Long Way To Tipperary
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
The Water Is Wide/St. Agnes/Jeannie And Jamie

Amazon.com

A Quiet Eye finds British singer June Tabor continuing to explore the "chamber-folk" avenue she first ventured down with 1992's Angel Tiger. Backed by the Creative Jazz Orchestra, Tabor puts her smoky, evocative alto in service of an assortment of traditional tunes ("The Water is Wide"), pop standards ("I'll Be Seeing You"), and contemporary material, including Richard Thompson's "Waltzing for Dreamers" and "Pharaoh." The one-time Silly Sister's taste for minor-key melodies--in tandem with Hum Warren's lush arrangements dominated by piano, reeds, and brass--creates a somewhat gloomy but warm ambiance that makes A Quiet Eye apt rainy-day listening, à la Marianne Faithfull's Strange Weather and Mary Coughlan's After the Fall. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Includes a song that 'changed my life'!.......2005-03-10

As a June fan, there's lots to choose from, and as others have noted, this one is an experiment in folk/jazz. If you don't like that idea, go to the definitive collection, etc., as a starting off point.

Having said that, there's a folk song on here - I'll put my ship in order - that is as good as anything that June has done, and since it's not on the definitive collection, you just may need to get this one!

Used, it's an outstanding bargin; full price...you decide.

+ 1/2 stars...The Orchestral Arrangements Are Hit and Miss.......2004-03-12

I first encountered June Tabor when she teamed up with Maddy Prior for 1976's SILLY SISTERS. This was one of my favorite Celtic albums of the period. While June Tabor remains one of the finest vocalists of the British folk music scene, unfortunately A QUIET EYE is not a traditional folk album--there's not a fiddle or guitar in sight. Instead Tabor works with the horn-laden Creative Jazz Orchestra and musical arranger/pianist Huw Warren.

Standout tracks include the cover of Richard Thompson's "Pharaoh" and the a capella reading of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." The one track where the orchestral backing works well is the closing 8-minute-plus medley. "The Water is Wide" provides a subdued piano backing to Tabor's ethereal vocal. "St. Agnes" is a lovely instrumental. The medley closes with another haunting vocal over a droning horn on "Jeannie and Jamie." [Running time: 58:54] RECOMMENDED

Good, but not her best.......2003-10-13

I love June Tabor's music. I've seen her in concert three times and it is always an incredible experience. She has a gift for bringing voice and power into traditional and modern folk songs. But this album isn't her best. If you are new to her music, I'd start with any other album except for "Some Other Time." I think "Some Other Time" has vanished off the face of the earth, but if you find it used somewhere, don't fall for it. It's good music, Monk tunes etc, but she hadn't figured out how to bring life to Jazz and blues back then.

The odd/interesting thing about Quiet Eye is the mix of folk with Jazz. As one of the professional reviews mentioned, this is nothing new for her. She's been experimenting with Jazz for a long time. Angel Tiger and Aleyn has a lot of the feel and instrumentation that Quiet Eye has, but they did it better. It isn't the blending with Jazz that is the problem.

My first impression of Quiet Eye was a disappointment, but after spending more time with it, I've changed my opinion. I'm very happy I have it. Most of the songs are wonderful. However, the first few songs don't cut it. The second song, Place Called England, sounds like it should be sung by Billy Bragg with a lot of biting commentary added in. Sure June has sung Billy Bragg's songs before and made something incredible and unBragglike out of them, but Place Called England doesn't quite work. Not musical enough. Not clever enough.

The rest of the album though is up to her standards and well worth getting if you've already got everything else by her.

Uneven and down a step.......2000-07-15

I love June Tabor. Not a lot of those I have forced her upon share that passion. So, this review is for the authentic fan. I think this CD weaker than many others. It sounds the same, has the familiar husky vocals and sultry arrangements, but just not grab viscerally as her best work does. Think "No Man's Land" or "The Great Valerio". If you have to have everything, go ahead. If you're wondering, Aleyn is a much more intersting disc.

An Excellent Eye!.......2000-06-21

June Tabor's latest release "A Quiet Eye", proves faithful to a high artistic legacy. A treasured and gifted singer, Tabor's impeccable style and phrasing lends much depth to the arrangements guided by the Creative Jazz Orchestra. With a somewhat different approach from that of her past efforts, the slight and tasteful tinge of "chamber-jazz" adds just the right elements to such strong moments as "I Will Put My Ship in Order", "Waltzing's For Dreamers" and "The Water is Wide." The latter, a magically sparse adaptation of the classic song, showcases Tabor's gift for a soulful and balanced vocalese. I highly recommend this tasteful recording as a welcome addition to June Tabor's standard setting archive.

The Water Gipsies (Original London Cast) with Bonus Tracks

Average customer rating:

The Water Gipsies (Original London Cast) with Bonus Tracks

Manufacturer: Sepia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000CNDXH2
Release Date: 2005-12-26

Tracks:

Overture - Orchestra
Why Did You Call Me Lily? - Dora Bryan
Clip-Clop - Laurie Payne
I Should Worry - Dora Bryan
When I'm Washing Up - Pamela Charles
Jane's Prayer - Pamela Charles
Lily's Tale - Dora Bryan
He Doesn't Care - Peter Graves
Castles And Hearts And Roses - Laurie Payne
Peace And Quiet/Little Boat - Laurie Payne
Why Should Spring Have All The Flowers? - Doris Hare
This Is Our Secret - Peter Graves
It Would Cramp My Style - Dora Bryan
You Never Know With Men - Dora Bryan
Here's Mud In Your Eye - Chorus
I'm Not A Jealous Woman - Joan Sims
Finale - Chorus
I'm So Terribly In Love With You - Robert English
I Never Dreamt (You'd Fall In Love With Me) - Lido Dance Orchestra
My Heart Is Saying - Billy Milton
Selections From 'Little Tommy Tucker' - The Million-Airs
You Looked At Me - Olive Groves
My Heart's A Compass - Olive Groves
You Have That Extra Something - Phyllis Stanley
Three Songs From 'Big Ben' - Vivian Ellis
Three Waltzes From 'Big Ben' - Vivian Ellis
Selections From 'Tough At The Top' Part One - Vivian Ellis
Selections From 'Tough At The Top' Part Two - Vivian Ellis
The Music From 'And So To Bed' Part One - Vivian Ellis
The Music From 'And So To Bed' Part Two - Vivian Ellis

Album Description

English composer Vivian Ellis had a prolific career spanning five decades, during which she wrote nearly 70 West End shows. The Water Gipsies was a 1955 collaboration between Ellis and A.P. Herbert. Contains the cast recording of The Water Gipsies plus bonus tracks including early Ellis compositions, many appearing on CD for the first time!

Average customer rating:

In Sight

Manufacturer: Quiet Eye Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000CADRPI
Release Date: 2002-07-30

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Ultimate Rodgers & Hart, Vol. 2

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On Your Toes: Quiet Night (Vocal)/There's A Small Hotel/It's Got To Be Love (Vocal)/On Your Toes... - Jack Whiting
On Your Toes: Glad To Be Unhappy - Edgar Fairchild/Adam Carroll
On Your Toes: There's A Small Hotel - Jack Whiting
On Your Toes: There's A Small Hotel/It's Got To Be Love - Edgar Fairchild/Adam Carroll
Babes In Arms: Babes In Arms/I Wish I Were In Love Again - Edgar Fairchild/Adam Carroll
Babes In Arms: Johnny One Note - Wynn Murray
Babes In Arms: All At Once - Edgar Fairchild/Adam Carroll
Babes In Arms: Where Or When - Ray Heatherton
Babes In Arms: My Funny Valentine - Edgar Fairchild/Adam Carroll
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I Married An Angel: Little Work-A-Day World - Nelson Eddy
I Married An Angel: Spring Is Here - Nelson Eddy
I Married An Angel: How To Win Friends And Influence People - Audrey Christie
I Married An Angel: I'll Tell The Man In The Street - Nelson Eddy
Too Many Girls: You're Nearer - Frances Langford