Rebecca Kilgore (vocal); Tim Jensen (piccolo,
flute); Dick Titterington (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Moak/Dan Barrett
(trombone); Randy Porter (piano); Tom Wakeling (bass); Todd Strait (drums)
Nelly Kovalev, Lucia Atkinson (violins); Hillary Oseas (viola); Hamilton
Cheifetz (cello)
There's good news and bad news with this long awaited album from Portland, Oregon, singer Rebecca Kilgore. The good news is that this recording is as good as, or maybe even better, than her previous fifty-plus. 'Becky' has such a beautiful voice, tailor-made for interpreting Dave Frishberg's clever lyrics. A tribute by one 'great' to another.
So what, I hear you ask, is the bad news? Well let me tell you it is very bad news indeed. Earlier this year she was diagnosed as having Dementia with Lewy Bodies and, as such, has had to withdraw from performing and recording. To Becky this must have been like losing an arm or a leg. The only consolation being that, with this album, she's going out on a high.
A Little Taste, co-written by Frishberg and Johnny Hodges, has flute by Jenson and trombone by Moak to complement the perky vocal.
Our Love Rolls on has Becky and the rhythm section doing justice to another fine Frishberg (words and music) opus.
Peel me a Grape, perhaps the most widely covered of all Frishberg's songs has a terrific accompaniment by the string quartet that puts the other cover versions in their place.
Little Did I Dream, one of three collaborations with Johnny Mandel, has Dan Barrett taking a tasty trombone solo. As on all of the tracks, Becky gets to the heart of the lyric.
Heart's Desire, this time Alan Broadbent provides the music to Dave's words with the string quartet happily sawing away alongside the rhythm section.
Snowbound. Frishberg composed both words and music for this one. It's an update on Baby It's Cold Outside. The big difference between the songs is that on this one the lady doesn't protest! Solos from piano and flute.
Brenda Starr. The second of the Frishberg/Mandel collaborations is about an ace reporter who's always first on the scene when a story breaks. Barrett's trombone solo also grabs the headlines.
Telephone Song. The flugel solo is by Becky's husband Dick Titterington and the song is one of only two on the album that wasn't composed by Frishberg. Norman Gimbel and Roberto Menescal were the original perps.
Ah, So Pure came from Flotow's opera Martha that I once saw performed by Hebburn Amateur Operatic Society back in the day when I was still in short pants. Happier memories are of hearing it on record by Connee Boswell with the Bob Crosby band. Becky Kilgore wisely goes with the Boswell version. Fine piano and some Dixie style trombone from Barrett.
You Are There and it's the Frishberg/Mandel team back, Becky again gets right into it with hubby Dick blowing flugel.
Eastwood Lane, by Frishberg and Dan Barrett, and it's Barrett on trombone and Porter on piano who help bring this rather wonderful album to a close. The last time I'll hear Rebecca Kilgore. A poignant moment.
Although it isn't actually released until October the title track is available now as a single and can be heard HERE. Lance
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