Nicole Saphos (bs/vcl); John Lee (gtr); Ele Rubenstein (dms).(Review by Lance).
One of the highs (and sometimes 'lows') of blogging is the diversity of albums that arrive for review - in particular, those that have crossed the Atlantic (BSH is truly international). However, everything American isn't always 'the berries' and frequently, quite the opposite. Fortunately, there are invariably a few that justify the sender's mailing costs. This is, more or less, just such a one.
Saphos, composer, double bassist, vocalist, is a class act in all three categories. Here she intersperses her own songs along with those by Porter (Just One of Those Things); Berlin (Say it Isn't So); Monk (Ugly Beauty); Artie Shaw's Moonray ; De Paul and Raye's You Don't Know What Love is and Fiona Apple's Hot Knife.
Her own compositions: Broken Ballerina reflects on how ballerinas' careers are cut tragically short by injury and age. Doesn't Do sees the singer grappling with a heart not doing the expected. Custom Memories perhaps suggest that we only remember what we want to remember. I'm not too sure what Lady Hip's Great Escape is all about. It refers to Tiptoe, the album's title and includes the line Blink twice if you understand - I'm not blinking!
Nevertheless, the lady has an appealing voice, writes good songs and is no slouch on bass with lots of melodic touches.
Couple this with John Lee's impressive solos and Rubenstein's sympathetic drums and you have a very listenable CD. Not a party album, nor one to play when you're down but great if you're somewhere in between.
Lance.
Self released on November 18.
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