The latest recording from this Los Angeles
based singer/songwriter, whilst firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, also takes
in elements of blues, folk, and pop. Ms Grace, originally from Tuscon, Arizona,
has performed internationally as well as in America.
The music on Tie Me to You arose out
of changes to her life when she ended her marriage, began another relationship
and re-assessed her identity.
The album was recorded as simply as
possible without elaborate arrangements and some songs were done in single
takes. Larry Goldings has been Grammy-nominated and has worked with James
Taylor and Norah Jones. The other musicians are also well experienced: Piltch
has worked with KD Lang, and jazz bassist Oleszkiewicz has played with Pat
Metheny.
The CD covers a wide range of music: three
originals, four standards, a blues, a Beatles’ song and a cabaret type number.
Ms Grace uses her voice appropriately for the material: the title track is a
slow sweet-voiced song, quite a folky tune, simple and direct, with the violin
adding to the mix. Where or When is sung in contrasting style, in a
conversational voice, to flowing accompaniment from Goldings on, I think, the
tuneful glockenspiel. Everywhere, an original, has a country feel.
My favourite track was John The
Revelator, a blues sung to a light drum beat from somewhere, although no
drums are listed in the information. Berceuse is cabaret, The Thrill
Is Gone, a sensitive ballad and Embarcardero,
a tango, a love song which compares
a love affair to the sea. Love for Sale is low key, sad and quiet; What'll
I Do? is a ballad with a skilled piano solo. The album is rounded off with
a happy Beatles song, Follow the Sun, just sweet voice and piano.
Most of the songs were done at a slow pace
and I would have welcomed a bit more liveliness on some numbers. For example it
would have been good to end a bit more jubilantly on the Beatles song.
Enjoyable on the whole.
Ann
Alex
The CD is currently available in stores and
online (Monsoon Records).
Kathleen Grace (voice, guitar); Larry Goldings (piano, keyboards, organ, pocket piano, glockenspiel); David Piltch (bass, tracks 1,3,4,5,8,10); Gabe Witcher (violin, tracks 1,3,7,8); Darek Oleszkiewicz (bass track 7).
Tie Me To You; Where or When; Everywhere; John
The Revelator; Berceuse (Valsa Para Uma Menininha); The Thrill Is Gone;Embarcardero;
Love for Sale; What'll I Do? I'll Follow The Sun
2 comments :
I might even check this one out - I'm intrigued by the thought of this take on John the Revelator - the sound of this singer's voice, with a 'light drum beat' ......... when you consider the mind blowing impact of the original recordings, by Son House and Blind Willie Johnston.
Yes Patti, I've heard 'stronger' recordings of this song which I love. Local group the Hokum Hotshots do this rather well with Pete Mason singing.
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