Miss Abbey was on some other stuff when she crafted this CD. She is the voice of experience and wisdom. There is nothing superficial about "A Turtle's Dream". She wrote most of the songs, and though they would be impressive sung by anyone, she invests each lyric with staggering pathos and clarity. Standouts are "Being Me", "Throw It Away" and the devastating title song. I love "Avec Le Temps" and I can't speak French so I have no idea what she's singing but it sounds so wonderful. Apparently, this song is a much-recorded French-language standard and I've been advised by one of my snotty French friends that Abbey's French diction is very coarse, but even he loves her version of the song. Also, she does a particularly noteworthy version of "Nature Boy". A pleasant pop standard in the hands of the great Nat "King" Cole, this song has since invited a number of loopy, idiosyncratic interpretations, but again Abbey sticks to the lyric and comes up with a real winner. In creating the mood, Lincoln is aided enormously by stellar musicians, most notably Rodney Kendrick, Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Roy Hargrove, and Julien Lourau.
Tracklist:
1. Throw It Away (Lincoln) 5:41
2. A Turtle's Dream (Cugny, Lincoln) 6:28
3. Down Here Below (Lincoln) 8:48
4. Nature Boy (Ahbez) 5:04
5. Avec le Temps (Ferre) 5:38
6. Should've Been (Lincoln) 7:57
7. My Love Is You (Lincoln) 5:43
8. Storywise (Lincoln) 4:21
9. Hey, Lordy Mama (Lincoln, Simone) 7:13
10. Not to Worry (Lincoln) 5:46
11. Being Me (Lincoln) 6:17
Credits
Abbey Lincoln (vocals)
Julien Lourau (soprano & tenor saxophones)
Roy Hargrove (trumpet)
Pierre Blanchard, Vincent Pagliarin, Sandra Billingslea (violin)
Frederic Fymard (viola)
Anne-Gaelle Bisquay, Marc Gilet, John Robinson (cello)
Rodney Kendrick, Kenny Barron (piano)
Pat Metheny (acoustic & electric guitars)
Lucky Peterson (guitar, background vocals)
Christian McBride, Charlie Haden, Michael Bowie (bass)
Victor Lewis (drums)
