BWW Reviews: Ellen Greene Sets CD Aglow: SONGS FOR A WINTER'S NIGHT

Few singers have the expertly unique phrasing or deeply felt emotional delivery of Ellen Greene. She is a one.of.a.kind first class gem and after 10 long years, has finally released a second CD entitled Songs for a Winter's Night with her terrific musical partner Christian Klikovits at the piano. Fans of Greene will remember that in 2004 they collaborated on her first solo album the evocative In His Eyes.

Unlike the first recording, Songs for a Winter's Night is by and large a Christmas album with delicious renditions of holiday favorites like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and some lesser known tunes like the title "Song for a Winter's Night". Greene did a Christmas concert with the GMCLA of Washington a couple of years back, and the concept for the album arose from that appearance. Is there a similarity between the two albums? If so, it would have to be the use of singularly beautiful arrangements and the bold unexpected choice of certain pieces, which deserve to be heard during this or any other exciting season of the year.

Highlights of Songs include; Greene's delightfully kittenish interp of "Santa Baby", the childlike "Christmas Time Is Here" from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, "Silent Night" with a lovely German translation "Stille Nacht" and a very unusual combo of Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" with "Let It Be Me". Leave it to Greene to come up with a different way of singing the traditional tune and the latter flows into the other just perfectly. On the hymn side of the coin, there's also a lilting "Angels We Have Heard On High" and on the less familiar side, the gorgeous "Wintersong", a haunting "Universal Child" by Annie Lennox and the aforementioned title "Song for a Winter's Night", a mood piece by Gordon Lightfoot. Also on tap is the terribly pretty "Chanson D' Alsace" from Suite Francaise, op 114 for orchestra and... Greene somehow slips in the evocative"Morning Has Broken", Christmas or not. And it does work sublimely, just like the comfort of morning that follows a cold, dark winter's night.

As both actress and singer Greene has no limits. She is known for her daring choices and bold interpretations, and that is what makes her so very special, a singer's singer. Don't stick to what everyone else does, strike out on your own and create something fresh and alive. Brava once more, Ellen Greene! This is a must in every holiday collection.

go to itunes or cdbaby to purchase your copy today!

The digital download of the CD has two wonderful bonus tracks: Peter Allen's "The Lives of Me" and Sondheim's "Marry Me a Little", sung like you've never heard them before.