Los Angeles Scoop Newspaper
By Buddy Sampson, Entertainment Editor
Christine Rosander At Tangier’s
With a voice that features a smooth vibrato, Christine Rosander has a voice that is uniquely hers. And her voice was on magnificent display at Tangier’s in Los Feliz, showcasing her CD, Smooth Ride. Her breathy style of vocals complimented a great and simple backdrop of music. If you had to categorize her, which is virtually impossible, she has traces of Anita Baker, Julie Andrews, Cher and Celine Dion in her capable vocal range.
Rosander, who had Jane Getz on piano (who has played with John Lennon, Charlie Mingus and the Bee Gees), displayed musicianship of her own, playing the electric piano on a few of the compositions of her set. She started her evening with solo piano, bass and drums. Early in the set, her third song, “Smooth Ride,” the title track of her CD, was a mid-tempo crowd pleaser.
The fourth song, my personal favorite, “Good Boy,” was dedicated to her stepson. She performed that tune on “People You Should Know,” a TV show on Time/Warner a few years ago. The fifth song, “Sailing,” was a perfect compliment to all the songs in her mellow set. Pianist Getz assisted on writing or co-writing a number of songs on the CD, including “My Heart Is A Ghost Town,” easily one of the most beautiful songs of the set. Later in her set, she performed a song called “Cattle Press,’ a sensual song about intimacy and affection. “Balm in Gilead” started with a great bass line. It was a well done song, maybe the most musical of the set. It featured wonderful playing from Getz, who penned a later song in the set, The New Route 66, an up tempo song.
She seemed to save some of the prettier songs for late in her set, including a song she dedicated to her husband. Her last tune, “My Own Little World,” was an introspective piece that encapsulated the spirit of her wonderful CD.
The music of her set painted a canvas of encouragement-with spiritual lyrics and inspired choruses. If you hear the name Christine Rosander, you should run, not walk to see her perform. As beautiful as a fashion model, with a voice like an angel, look for big things to come from this outstanding artist.