Album Notes

This beautiful, heartfelt CD includes a 16 page booklet with rare photographs of lyricist Dorothy Fields as well as candid studio snapshots of the artists during the recording process. Award winning jazz historian Doug Ramsey provides extensive liner notes regarding the featured songs and anecdotes about Fields' lengthy career. The entire project is not only educational and informative but is "easy on both the eyes AND ears".
Jazz vocalist Dina Blade is based in Seattle, Washington, USA and was "born to sing". Specializing in classic jazz standards from the 1930's and 40's, she has written several shows featuring composers and lyricists of the Great American Songbook (Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Dorothy Fields, etc.) touring both nationally and internationally. Dina's inimitable phrasing and relaxed, swinging vocal style may be attributed to the fact that she is also an accomplished tap dancer and guitarist. She works with all age groups, giving performances and vocal clinics as well as sharing anecdotes about jazz history.

"The stories and songs were done with such grace and skill that they brought a distant era much closer to my students."
-Jill Johnson, Ethnomusicologist, University of Washington

"Please keep on with the program you do so well. A mixture of laughter and tears does more than clear the sinuses." -Howard Miller, Senior Citizen

"The positive feedback from your performance highlighted the enormous amount of time and energy you've devoted to your craft." -Fran Wendtland, Librarian


Recent reviews for "I'm In The Mood For Love":

"...the recording quality is obviously first class, the piano is crystal clear, your voice sounds like you are in the room ... in fact, it is one of the only albums that sounds better in the room than on my very good headphones. And I have to say that you both give stunning, understated performances that display the kind of casual artistry that I so admire in great musicians who aren't out to prove anything." -Daniel Steinberg (pianist, flautist, and choral director) Mountainview, Calif.

"Your phrasing is exquisite. I am blown away by this CD!" -Steve Albin, jazz fan, Montclare N.J.

"Adventurous yet accessible, there's love and joy in Dina Blade and Bill Mays' warm improvisations of these melodies and Dorothy Fields' "spoken language" lyrics. This album is simply a gem of jazz singing and piano. Somewhere, Dorothy is beaming! -Nick Gerard,
Music Host, K-Surf Radio, Los Angeles and San Diego

"This is a rather addictive recording in which Dina Blade performs intimate versions of the best-known Fields' songs, accompanied only by Bill Mays. The most striking apect of the recording is Blade's direct, confiding style. She clearly has great respect for both lyrics and music, and her fine voice is complemented by clear but unforced diction. She has confidence to take some of these tracks very slowly indeed! A highlight is an insinuating version of "Big Spender", which takes 5 seductive minutes. She performs some rarely-heard verses-both "Don't Blame Me" and "Lovely To Look At" include two verses. The interesting booklet which comes with the CD contains some pictures of Dorothy Fields which I've never seen." -Jon Aldous, London (host of the Dorothy Fields Website)