EP Review: Patricia Morris: Between New Year And Valentine

(Review by Ann Alex).

Patricia Morris is a singer/songwriter and also a published poet, and this is a rather good EP.  Her poetical gifts are shown in the quality of her lyrics, such as ‘When I hear Billie Holiday I understand the blues’.  She has written all 5 tracks, 2 of them in collaboration with Bo Hewerdine, who has written for Eddi Reader.  Ms Morris has a rich, bluesy, expressive voice although possibly only one track can really be called jazz, but the EP is nonetheless hugely enjoyable.  A rundown of the tracks will illustrate it best:

Little Bird (Morris/McGlynn)  A Latin rhythm with good piano and the rhythm emphasised by a hand drum.

The Sun, The Moon, The Stars (Morris) a love song introduced by a folksy guitar.

Billie Holiday’s Voice (Morris/Hewerdine)   My favourite track, a haunting tune with the saxophone featuring, a homage to the lady herself.

Between New Year And Valentine (Morris/Hewerdine)  A jazzy slow ballad with an effective piano solo, which Billie Holiday could well have sung.

Life Goes On (Morris) A strong song in the Edith Piaf mode, with an insistent beat, indicating life’s journey, with the whole band except the sax.  An effective way to round off the disc.

The musicians are more than competent but they don’t get the solo opportunities they would on a more jazz orientated disc. The singer definitely has the limelight, which, as it is being released under her name, I believe was the intention.

Ann Alex.
Released early May on the Patricia Morris label, Cat No. BR002PM, Between New Year And Valentine is available for download or streaming.

Patricia Morris (vocals); Rohan Armstrong (double bass, electric bass); Neil Burns; (keys);

Egon Callery (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Sean McCarron (saxophone);  Gary Raymond (drums, percussion); Andrea Cunningham (backing vocals).