No sooner do I make a statement on BSH, than something happens to contradict me! I included There Are Such Things in my list of 10 favourite songs, and said that I hadn't come across the song very much, then up it pops as the first track on this enjoyable CD. Such is a reviewer's life!
The album consists of eight classic songs, some new to me, and four original songs written by Ms Allgood and/or bass player Carroll. Two tracks stand out: Noel Coward's Mad About The Boy, not the usual jolly version, but sung slowly to dreamy eastern-tinged accompaniment, with a playful bass solo. And there is a poignant For All We Know, just voice and guitar, a heartfelt ballad, with the guitar rippling 'like the ripples in a stream', straight through once, the shortest track.
The original songs are about various aspects of love and Time Found concerns the passing of time, a suitable subject to explore during the present pandemic.
The other tracks are well performed with lots of guitar soloing and interesting bass work from these Chicago musicians. The vocals are pleasantly expressive with some clever scat on a couple of tracks, but it is difficult for singers to stand out and be memorable, which is in some ways no bad thing. It means that there are simply so many good singers out there, and Ms Allgood is one of them.
The album is our singer's third studio release, said to mirror her personal journey during the last two years, during which she changed jobs and has been teaching jazz singing. Although based in Chicago, Allgood has made appearances in New York and Shanghai.
The
CD is released on April 9 on the Cellar Music Group label and
is available from the usual sources.
There Are Such Things; Enclosure; Should've Been; Memories; This Bitter Earth; Mad About The Boy; Time Found; Bridges; Try Your Wings; Light Out Of Darkness; For All We Know; Passing Glance
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