ILONA KNOPFLER
Some Kind Of Wonderful (Mack Avenue Records)
Reviewed by Ron Saranich

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It's been difficult finding my copy of Some Kind Of Wonderful in order to review it. My wife keeps borrowing it to play on her stereo. Loves the cd, perhaps because it's a great compilation of jazz-influenced versions of classic American rock and top-40 pop from the 60s and 70s. Most of it works stunningly; nothing really misses the mark.

Knopfler is a Parisian born vocalist with great musical interpretive skills. Even when she sticks close to the original recording, she has a way of making it seem as if the song were written just for her. Witness the Beatles classic "Something." It's the first version I've liked almost as much as the original. Then there Knopfler's passionate presentation of Neil Sedaka's "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do." An instant classic, Knopfler's treatment is formidable, emotionally raw while flawlessly articulated. I can't seem to get it out of my head. Her version turns up the romantic heat.

So, not quite pure jazz, Some Kind Of Wonderful is still packed full of great music, enough for even the most diehard of jazz lovers to enjoy over and over. Songs such as "Moondance," "Alfie," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," "Unchain My Heart," and "It's The Time Of The season" simply shine. Considering this is her debut recording, she is someone to watch in the years to come.

© 2003 - Ron Saranich