Lea DeLaria-Play It Cool

Play It Cool (2001) Warner  Jazz/WEA

Play It Cool Album Cover Although DeLaria had already recorded songs for inclusion in various artist compilations, soundtracks, and cast recordings, this is the album that started it all. This is the album that launched DeLaria as a jazz recording artist!I had the pleasure of hearing and seeing Ms DeLaria debut this recording live at a party celebrating The Tale of The Allergist’s Wife. (We each went  home with a promo copy). Play It Cool came as a result of Matt Pierson, head of Warner Worldwide music seeing her perform at a jazz tribute concert for Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim. The song she chose to perform at this concert (The Ballad of Sweeney Todd) blew the house out at this concert and is the song that opens this set. The jazz interpretations of some of the Broadway & pop standards that follow this have set the bar high, which might make DeLaria a tough act to follow, even for herself. Her phrasing and timing is impeccable, especially on All The Jazz.  Delaria feels the music and then interprets those feelings into ‘standout’ performances that thrill the listener. Although I no longer possess a retail copy I purchased one in order to support this artists debut effort. This was the first jazz  recording that I added to my collection. Fave Tracks: All That Jazz, Ballad of Sweeney Todd, Once  In A Lifetime, With Every Breath I Take, Cool