“THANK GOD A JAZZ SINGER FINALLY COVERED “CALIFORNIA DREAMIN” AND DID IT A
RIGHTEOUS!!! I've been waiting for that for four decades! Donna Deussen knocks it screaming out of
the ballpark. John Philips, were he still with us, would be exultant. Ah, but let's not stop at Johnny
'cause the very next cut is Steely Dan's “Do Wrong Shoes”, and Don Fagen's gonna go into raptures
when he hears this version. As I've been noting for some time now, it's well past the moment the
successors to The Great American Songbook were covered, and that sentiment's slowly spreading to
the jazz world, Deussen making excellent contributions (her take on Joni's Both Sides Now isn't
radicalized but it's very very sweet, even to the point of multi-tracking a duet with herself, and I love it
when singers do that). Deussen's version of “On the Street Where You Live” is OUTSTANDING (geez, I
better knock off the capitalizations or the whole review is going to be nothing but!), taking the chestnut
sprinting down to the end of the pier and jumping off to dance the Lindy Hop with amped-up mermaids,
swingin' and then some. You have not, I guaranfuckingtee, heard the hoary ol' chestnut done like this
before. Deussen is an extremely confident singer; I don't think it's possible for her to make even the
most minor mistake or for a microsecond quaver in her choices. You can tell she knows exactly what the
next 10 moves are going to be while simultaneously permanently in the pocket, forever in the moment,
and then projecting forward to where everything should lead. It's a CRIME that this is only Deussen's
second slab. She should have 10 out by now, be soundtracked in movies, appear on TV, and find herself
featured in Playboy Jazz Fests. Take my word for it, y'all, this is one of the country's most talented
singers, one of the best I've EVER heard. On the Street is a definite in the year's 30 Best.” - Mark S.
Tucker / F.A.M.E. (Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange) (Apr 6, 2015)
Read more
“THANK GOD A JAZZ SINGER FINALLY COVERED “CALIFORNIA DREAMIN” AND DID IT A
RIGHTEOUS!!! I've been waiting for that for four decades! Donna Deussen knocks it screaming out of
the ballpark. John Philips, were he still with us, would be exultant. Ah, but let's not stop at Johnny
'cause the very next cut is Steely Dan's “Do Wrong Shoes”, and Don Fagen's gonna go into raptures
when he hears this version. As I've been noting for some time now, it's well past the moment the
successors to The Great American Songbook were covered, and that sentiment's slowly spreading to
the jazz world, Deussen making excellent contributions (her take on Joni's Both Sides Now isn't
radicalized but it's very very sweet, even to the point of multi-tracking a duet with herself, and I love it
when singers do that). Deussen's version of “On the Street Where You Live” is OUTSTANDING (geez, I
better knock off the capitalizations or the whole review is going to be nothing but!), taking the chestnut
sprinting down to the end of the pier and jumping off to dance the Lindy Hop with amped-up mermaids,
swingin' and then some. You have not, I guaranfuckingtee, heard the hoary ol' chestnut done like this
before. Deussen is an extremely confident singer; I don't think it's possible for her to make even the
most minor mistake or for a microsecond quaver in her choices. You can tell she knows exactly what the
next 10 moves are going to be while simultaneously permanently in the pocket, forever in the moment,
and then projecting forward to where everything should lead. It's a CRIME that this is only Deussen's
second slab. She should have 10 out by now, be soundtracked in movies, appear on TV, and find herself
featured in Playboy Jazz Fests. Take my word for it, y'all, this is one of the country's most talented
singers, one of the best I've EVER heard. On the Street is a definite in the year's 30 Best.” - Mark S.
Tucker / F.A.M.E. (Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange) (Apr 6, 2015)
“The blending of talents featured on On the Street Where You Live, the new recording from jazz vocalist
Donna Deussen and guitarist Paul Weitz’s trio, is deeply satisfying. It’s also very organic, with the
album feeling like it came together over black coffee and the recording taking place between sure
friends. In essence, that is the story. “Several of the arrangements came while sitting around Paul’s
kitchen table, just throwing out ideas and experimenting with different sounds and rhythms,” says
Deussen. “We’d just sit there and record something on Paul’s little Zoom recorder, until something
sounded right.” On the Street Where You Live is a tremendous example of what happens when a unit
connects and the music is found on the same page. There’s no sense of ego and no insufferable
“performance.” Instead, Donna Deussen and Paul Weitz’s trio manage a remarkably pure and superbly
fresh record. This is “kitchen table jazz” at its finest.” - Jordan Richardson / Something Else Reviews (Jan
30, 2015)
“Deussen's scat singing is full-throttle. She scats as naturally as she sings... Weitz's crack trio combines
with Deussen's voice is like a perfect fall pie crust, rich and comfortable. A spare and humid coupling of
“Black Coffee” with “Night in Tunisia” highlights the recording with the most inventive of arrangements.
Deussen dances with Wayne's tenor saxophone, bouncing phrases off the horn-man like an inspired
handball player; the singer has the upper hand. On the Street Where You live is beautifully completed
and realized... Deussen never over-sings. Very good show, here!” - C. Michael Bailey / All About Jazz
(Oct 8, 2014)
ON C. MICHAEL BAILEY'S BEST RECORDINGS OF 2014 LIST: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/c-michael-
baileys-best-recordings-of-2014-beat-kaestli-by-c-michael-bailey.php
“Donna Deussen has a warmer than Tierney Sutton tone to her voice, and teams it up well with
guitarist Paul Weitz and his cast of Matt VanBenschoten/b and Gus Duffy/d. They do some clever things
with 60s pop tunes like “California Dreamin’” and “Both Sides Now” giving a bit of flair to the folk tunes.
Deussen sounds assured on the intimate take of “The Very Thought of You” and gets a bit spry with
Duffy who shifts gears like a Ghia during “On the Street Where You Live.” Her tone can exude
confidence and sass during a strutting “Sister Sadie” which features a gleam in Deussen’s eye. Fun and
inviting session.” - George Harris / JazzWeekly.com (Sep 25, 2014)
“Two Thumbs WAYYY Up! This is easily one of the most enjoyable CD's I've heard all year...I hear a lot
and don't get the urge to write about many, but I just have to spread the word on this one. Donna gets it
ALL exactly right; her pitch, rhythm, and most importantly her feel for these songs is right on target as
she sings in a variety of styles. Her voice is always pleasing, and she gets vocally creative without
wandering into diva territory. Her backing trio is powerfully subtle, lending support and flexing their
own muscles while staying true to the composition. Great production (also by Ms. Deussen) makes a
perfect blending of all the elements. Highlights? Every track! I'll be spinning this one a LOT, and
recommend it very highly.” - Bob Muller, Cdbaby.com
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