I could finish the review there, but I'd be sacked by Lance!
Pennies From Heaven is nothing like Sinatra. First we have Tomlinson drumming up a storm, then a bit of swing and angular vocal scatting, drum and bass exchanging fours, then back to the head to finish. Young is featured on Frishberg's satirical I'm Hip with a deliberate off key effect, and amusing lyrics such as 'I even call my girlfriends man'.
Say It Isn't So is pared back and groove-based which brings out the pathos; On The Street Where You Live begins with a calypso style introduction, so unusual. There are three original songs, whose lyrics are effectively sparse but full of meaning: For a Fool is a pleading love song, Rose That Spoke is short and sweet and Birds Are Beautiful simply repeats that idea to the accompaniment of the soaring tenor sax.
The title track ends the album, beginning with just voice and bass suggesting a feeling of loneliness, then after a piano solo, we have the killer line which ends the song, performed poignantly, 'Break my heart in two'.
This is Ms Fosker's debut solo album although she was featured on the extended play Walking Blind with Soweto Kinch. A graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, she aims to produce music which is related to both pop and jazz, as shown by this CD which has a very contemporary feel. I'd love to see her at The Globe sometime soon.
Having
already played at leading events such as Cheltenham Jazz Festival and honed her
craft alongside such artists as Anita Wardell and Norma Winstone, it comes as
no surprise that, in 2020, Lucinda Fosker was awarded a Jazz South commission.
The album is available now from the usual suspects. Link.
Ann Alex
Pennies
From Heaven; I'm Hip; Say It Isn't So; On The Street Where You Live; For a
Fool; Rose That Spoke; Don't Explain; The Very Thought Of You; Birds Are
Beautiful; I Get Along Without You Very Well.
2 comments :
Ah - I Get Along (Without You Very Well) is such a gorgeous song, with those poignant lyrics. I remember my young grandson listening to this, on one of my 1950's Chet Baker recordings - he was only 4, but listened so carefully - after the song finished, he turned to me and said 'Nana, this is a really sad song'. It is indeed - young Sam was quite right.
Patti, Sam sounds like a very perceptive child, how clever. I'd like to bet that he will/ has gone on to do something creative.
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