Three aspects of this recording make it distinctive from other projects of
D'Ambrosio's. She is accompanying herself on piano (husband
Eddie Higgins is absent), there is no rhythm section, and great guitarist
Gene Bertoncini is the lone accompanist. Within her controlled range,
D'Ambrosio stays in an ultra-wistful mood throughout the 12 selections (four of them self-penned). The rest are typical love songs sung by a mourning dove, though a bit of
Bob Dorough's phraseology crops up now and again. The variance of each selection, slight and subtle as it may be, lies with an individual ability to bring emotions of regret or joy. The title track and "All Through the Day" are waltzes, the latter building interplay. "Long Ago (And Far Away)" has a device that crops up here and there during the set --
D'Ambrosio plays the piano the first time through the melody, then
Bertoncini joins in.
Bertoncini lays out for the cute "Knight in Shining Karma" and the wide-eyed "Motherland," and
D'Ambrosio pulls an obscure rabbit out of the hat in
Harry Warren's "Spring Isn't Everything," a song made for a movie (which was ultimately edited from the film). At their most tender together, the two merge wonderfully on "Where Are You?" with just vocal and guitar, and
D'Ambrosio takes it down further still on "No Solution," which is about as rueful and downhearted as she will get. Another romantic triumph for this artist, and while not up to the magnum opus level of "Love Is Not a Game," this is a solid effort, always keeping love in mind, knowing it's just around the corner.