A Very Naama Twofer...Part I.
The Singles "When I Grow Too Old To Dream" and "Time To Say Goodnight."
New York City jazz vocalist, Naama, finds herself “Deep In a Dream.”
New York City-based vocalist Naama has been busy since releasing Wild Is Love (La Reserve Records, 2024). As with her previous recordings, Naama anticipates releasing her newest long player by preceding its release with singles, dropped once a month until the LP release. She has upped her game. This time, the singer is releasing two singles at a time.
These singles softly introduce Naama's LP, Dream With Me (La Reserve), releasing later this year. Naama is progressively assembling her top-draw band. This time around, the singer is again in the company of pianist Jeb Patton, bassist Dave Baron, and drummer Jimmy Macbride. Dream With Me promises to address Love, the central theme making up the project’s foundation. Naama injects the elements of loss and hope: more ends than beginnings, maybe more bitter than sweet.
“When I Grow Too Old To Dream”
Music composed by Sigmund Romberg and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, “When I Grow Too Old To Dream” was the required ballad inclusion for the movie The Night Is Young (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1935). Evelyn Laye and Ramon Novarro debuted the song, and countless artists have recorded it since. Naama and the band put a potent country spin on the old song; the singer picking up where Norah Jones left off with her country products (with the Little Willies), The Little Willies (Milking Bull, 2006) and For The Good Times (Milking Bull, 2012). Naama runs with this country, almost Western Swing infused sound. Bassist Dave Baron gives a straight and swinging bass solo over pianist Jeb Patton’s crisp accompaniment. This performance is a solid stylistic step forward.
“Time To Say Goodnight”
For something else altogether, Naama resurrects Al Bowlly’s 1934 recording of “Time To Say Good Night” (later appropriated by Sesame Street and sung by Andrea Bocelli). The singer delivers this chestnut with the antique patina of the period, orbiting close to the original melody. It is a brief performance, as it can only be. Naama is claiming more and more material as her own. A perfect set closer for the saloon that inspired “Lush Life.”
Discography
Dearly Beloved (Cellar Music Group, 2020)
If I knew Then (Self Produced, 2022)
Where Flamingos Fly (La Reserve Records, 2023)
Wild Is Love (La Reserve Records, 2024)