There’s only one reason I decided to spend a buck on the new Kelly Clarkson single. Keep reading. I’ll tell you.
But first, let’s talk about the week in Washington. Oh, my. What a shindig it was. It’s said they spent 160 million dollars on the big party on the mall this week. Who’s “they?” You and me, gentle reader.
Insert grumble about hard times/economic crisis here.
And they were still cleaning up when I went to work Wednesday morning. All those guys from Manpower slinging crowd control barriers and brooms around. By Thursday, most evidence of a party (at least in my DC work neighborhood) were gone. And I won’t even talk about “string-synching?” What would you call that?
But hey, we got to see Sister Ree in fine form, even if she wasn’t pleased with her performance.
I promised that I’d start cleaning off the desk this week. Unsolicited discs fly into the mailbox from crackerjack publicists who see a good thing here all the time; for any number of reasons, it sometimes takes me too long to say a nice word about the good ones. Frequently, I need to listen more than once to fully appreciate them, and the time to do that is something that can be in short supply. These next few fall into that category, and all are recommended.
Leonisa Ardizzone Quintet
The Scent Of Bitter Almonds
Released – December, 2008
Perhaps one of the hardest-working women I’ve run across. Ms. Ardizzone is a parent; a teacher and educator, writer…well, she’s got a busy resume. Go. Google. You’ll see. But she says it’s music and entertaining that “feeds her soul.”
This is a nice sophomore offering from Ms. Ardizzone, now fronting a Quintet. It’s a nice mix of standards and new material – material she says “reflects a personally tumultous year…” I listened to the lyrics of this set, and just tried to imagine. It can make you laugh, or cry.
At any rate, Ms. Ardizzone once again hits the mark, surrounded by a great backing group – Chris Jennings on guitar, Justin Hines on percussion, Bob Sabin on Bass, and Jess Jurkovic (the new guy) on piano.
Ms. Ardizzone’s voice won’t overpower; instead, she stays well within the envelope, blending seamlessly with the rest of the group. They’ve been together for more than a while, and that kind of familiarity with each other shows. She says she considers herself “part of the group,” and that’s what it sounds like here, out of the big speakers, on the end-user side.
Engaging and endearing – through her choice of material and her way with a lyric, you’ll feel like you’ve made a new friend.
Good stuff.
Carol Fredette – Everything In Time(Soundbrush)
Released – February 10, 2009
A veteran cabaret performer, It took me a second listen to realize that the perfection in Carol Fredette’s voice is simply in its imperfection. Her voice, in a different way, reminds me of Jeri Southern, a vastly underrated songstress from the 1950s. Where Ms. Southern was at her best in the role of what John Bush, the reviewer at AllMusic, calls the “downhill romantic life of world-weary everywoman characters,” Ms. Fredette is at her best with lyrics that allow her to show the woman who’s seen it all, but remains optimistic.
A fine interpretive singer, Ms. Fredette’s way with lyrics ultimately won me over. An almost goofy “Without Rhyme Or Reason” opens the disc – the rest of it swings gently through mostly Brazilian beats. My favorites included the Kern/Fields standard, “(This Is) A Fine Romance,” as well as Jobim’s “Vivo Sohnando (Dreamer),” and Jon Hendricks’ “O Pato (The Duck),” which you really should hear to fully appreciate.
Great backing band – which includes Barry Danielian on trumpet, and Aaron Heicke and Bob Malach on sax. Horns always make the band sound bigger, to me. Bass player David Finck produced and arranged.
Yep, it grew on me. Ms. Fredette kicks off this winsome disc with a party at Iridium in New York on the fourth. Should be a heck of a party.
Linda Kosut – Long As You’re Living
(Jizel Music)
Released – June, 2007
A few months ago, I wrote about an artist who produced a disc dedicated to the work of Oscar Brown, Junior – described by Wikipedia as a “…singer, songwriter, playwright, poet, and civil rights activist.”
I got a note from San Francisco-based singer Linda Kosut, who also produced a tribute to Mr. Brown, adding, “I was supported in this effort by Oscar’s family and in particular his fabulous daughter, jazz singer, Maggie Brown, who sat in at shows of mine in both San Francisco and of course, Chicago; his publishers at Carlin America Music; and a long-lost collaborator of Oscar’s, Mr. Norman Curtis. The journey was outstanding. And I suppose the greatest accolades I received were from my peers, who before I started this amazing project, knew nothing of Oscar.”
Ms. Kosut’s deft handling of the variety of material that’s here – from dark and bluesy – the opening “A Tree And Me” – to lighter material, such as “Mr. Kicks” or “Hazel’s Hips,” shows the many facets not only of Mr. Brown’s work – but her own talent. The transitions are seamless, and her way with a lyric makes Mr. Brown’s words come alive.
It was an acquired taste. But once I acquired it, this disc went into heavy rotation on the ‘pod.
Okay – let’s talk about Kelly Clarkson’s new single release, “My Life Would Suck Without You.” I don’t know too many artists who can make a rhyme with the word “dysfunctional,” but she pulls it off here. The title of the song sort of hits the mark – this is a catchy tune about a very sick relationship. But hey, Dick – it’s got a good beat, and it’s easy to dance to. I’d give it a 98. Truth is, it’s better than most of this genre, and it’s probably going to sell a bazillion copies.
But the real reason I popped a buck – was to be able to put the photo of Kelly Clarkson with a sucker on the cover on the front page…just like the Los Angeles Times. If it can work for a newspaper owned by a crazy man that’s sinking in its own debt, maybe it can work for me.
Come on back later in the week. Renee Olstead’s new disc is released on Tuesday, and I’ve been finding some nice talent lately on MySpace.
Till then, see ya.
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