“Fun Out of Life” is the most recent release from the fabulous and highly talented Jazz vocalist, April Hall. Hall's voice has the ability to not only be in constant key but also adds considerable spice to each variety of Jazz song she attempts; which range from soulful ballads, to bluesy renditions, to high energy pieces. In “Crazy He Calls Me,” April interacts with some well played Jazz piano and just a dash of drums to deliver a mellow tune that shows off how her voice can be warm and inviting. Another song, “Boogie Woogie Blues (I May Be Wrong)” Hall gets a little groovier with a toe tapping, more Bluesy beat accompanied by a dynamic singing style. Then the song, “The Face I Love” we find a more traditional Jazz piece that features a fluttering flute line that subtlety jumps around Hall’s velvety vocals. If you like Jazz for its pure musicianship or for how it can at times settle you down and take your mind back to another era, then you should acquaint yourself with April Hall and her singing prowess featured on the album, “Fun Out of Life.”
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The rich, lively sound of April Hall's voice and the way she tells the stories of these great jazz standards leaves nothing behind.  Let's face it, you going to Feel Better and Appreciate Life more when listening to this CD.   From the uplifting, hopeful 'You Must Believe in Spring',  to the stirring 'Crazy He Calls Me', and not to mention the joy in 'I've Got the World on a String',  April and her excellent band really deliver.   I put this on my ipod and I play it a lot.  Love it!!
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Why do certain things get released into the world at certain times?  Who knows.  But in these turbulent times, April Hall’s new album “Fun Out of Life” was launched at just the right time.

When I first started  listening to it, I felt I was being brought back to another era where life was different.  Where you imagined you walked into a club and the songs being sung lifted you, gave you hope, and somehow you take them with you out into your life.  I realized midway through the album that I was wrong.  Hall wasn’t taking me back, no, she was bringing the past to me — into the present — and giving the songs new life in the process.

Hall’s singing is superb.  She has a smooth delivery but knows how to rough it up when needed, but it’s always filled with life.  She’s done all the arrangements on the album and selected a phenomenal group of musicians for her orchestra.  It seems to me the order of the songs are no accident.  Right from the first track, with “I’ve Got the World on a String”, she’s setting the stage of what’s to come.  She’s telling us in her title what she wants us to have by the end her album.

As you listen on, you find yourself tapping your feet for joy when she sings “Boogie Woogie Blues”, then you could just cry by the time she gets to the end of a touching rendition of “You Must Believe in Spring”.  She sings  it so beautifully, and the guitar on the piece adds to its emotion.  Hall moves on to a peaceful open interpretation of “I’ve Got the World on a String”.  She takes her time in the song to make sure we grab hold of life.  Just great!

Oh yes, this album has come out at exactly the right time.  When you finish listening to it you can’t help but want to get some “Fun Out of Life”.
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Great vocal technique and a wonderful, heartfelt personal style. April Hall sings these songs with the depth of feeling and nuance they deserve, and she is seriously swinging at the same time. Highly recommended!
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