Extraordinary Renditions is a collection of cover songs bridging the gap between jazz and popular music. Singer Carla Zilbersmith “jazzifies” pop classics such as “Cold Sweat” and “A Case of You” and adds an edge to old classics like “Something Wonderful” and “Please be Kind”. The cd features truly unique arrangements by Michael Zilber and backed by a stellar band including John R. Burr, Jon Evans ( Tori Amos) and David Rokeach ( Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles), but it is Carla who holds the whole thing together. She has been called “a superb singer” (East Bay Express ) “ a terrific singer in any style” (SF Bay Guardian) and “a woman blessed with an astonishing voice “ (Entertainment Today)
Extraordinary Renditions also features a killer horn section on “Kiss” and “Cold Sweat” featuring Michael Zilber, Erik Jekabson and John Gove.
Imagine crossing Eva Cassidy, James Taylor and Diana Krall and you have a bit of an idea of Carla’s style. The music features haunting melodies, driving grooves and an infusion of passion uncommon in today’s jazz vocalists. What makes this cd all the more poignant is that Zilbersmith was recently diagnosed with ALS - a fatal and incurable disease so her music making years are being cut too short. It is hard not to think of this when listening to her rendition of “She Moves Through The Fair” featuring Rokeach and Evans in this haunting song about a dead lover.
The soulful sensuality of this cd reflects the passion with which Carla Zilbersmith has lived her life.
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