I cannot stop playing Within the Heart of Me.  Each song is a jewel of phrasing, sound and style.  Jeff's ability to create special meaning out of standards, song selections and infusion of feeling with each selection are a joy to listen to.  Paul Greenwood's art in creating unique and fresh arrangements is notable.  The instrumentals are perfect support to each song's message.  Bravo!
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Everything from the amazing instrumentals to the charming musical arrangements to Jeff's special phrasing that makes each song unique has created a little island of perfection - it all adds up to a beautiful,lovely work of art.  I felt like I spent a lovely afternoon with a marvelous singer named Jeff Ide. How pleasant for me!
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The long-awaited arrival of Jeff Ide's debut album, "Within the Heart of Me"  exceeds all expectations.  The album warmly demands that the listener hears each lyric of the moving, heartfelt interpretations and arrangements.  Jeff bares his soul and his heart.  You can feel his joy, his optimism, his sincerity.  His tenor voice floats and wafts, transcending the emotions of each track.  The arrangements of each piece bring a freshness to familar tunes and introduces us to new numbers with a smile and a wink.  Jeff's back-up band is in perfect tune with his easy style.  Paul Greenwood, at the piano moves us into another element, Michael Blanco's bass gives adds substance, Sean McDaniel's percussive swing is gently with-it, and Rick Molina's guitar adds another voice not to be ignored.  Each track goes somewhere, circles, hovers, returns.

I especially love Jeff's haunting version of "One/Single" which tears at my heart as it cries out and builds to a climactic finish then leaves me feeling . . . just . . . feeling; "Nature Boy" sums up the album with dreamy hopes as the music embraces the listener with the dramatic arrangements and Jeff's voice, smooth as silk and rich as velvet.
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