Listening to and enjoying the vocals of
Daryl Sherman seems almost natural. She's talented, for sure, but it's the joy and sensitivity she instills in each song that impresses one. It doesn't hurt that
Sherman has chosen to interpret the songs of
Richard Rodgers on
A Hundred Million Miracles, nor that she's enlisted the help of guitarists
James Chirillo and
Joe Cohn and bassist Boots Maleson. Her piano work and a number of guest appearances fill out the arrangements on an hour's worth of music from the classic American songbook.
Sherman's rendition of "You Are Too Beautiful" is wonderfully underlined by
Ruby Braff's cornet work, while her upbeat version of "Do I Hear a Waltz?" is accented by
Chirillo's bouncy lead. She's joined on vocals by
Bob Dorough for fun versions of "Everything I've Got Belongs to You" and "Sixteen Going on Seventeen." Even with high-profile support, though,
Sherman's vocals remain the centerpiece of
A Hundred Million Miracles. There's a lovely, seven-minute-plus "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered," and the album closes with a cheerful "This Can't Be Love." As one might note from these two songs, even though the lyrics of
Rodgers form the connecting thread, his writing partners -- like
Lorenz Hart -- also deserve mention.
A Hundred Million Miracles is beautifully realized and
Sherman's singing is an absolute joy. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.