This is the most recent album from Sweet Megg which is a lively collection of standards from both jazz and country, which explains the cowboy hat Megg is wearing on the album cover. The hat put me off but I needn't have worried as the album is such fun and suitable for your next party, despite the title. Mostly heartbreaking songs sung with swing and flair, plus an original by Megg herself and Justin Poindexter, Little Bit (a little bit of me just needs a little bit of you).
There was so much song information supplied that I could have cheated and reviewed without listening, but I'm glad I listened as Megg's voice has a bigwide range, delicious low notes on Kris Kristofferson's Once More With Feeling, through to the softer sweet intimacy of Ellington's In a Sentimental Mood. Then the band does a neat link into Leaving on Your Mind, which has the same tune to begin with as the previous song.
And that just about sums up the whole album, well integrated shortish songs with numerous skilled solos, too many to mention, each player gets his turn, even if it's just four bars. For instance, the title track opens with trumpet, our singer sounds as if she's having fun despite the sad lyrics, then comes solos from guitar and violin, with a distinct western swing feel.
An ensemble of the brass instruments gives a very New Orleans sound to Once More With Feeling. I Wonder Where You Are Tonight is sung with a sadder feeling, enhanced by contributions from lap steel, piano and fiddle. Honkytonk piano crops up on Someday Sweetheart and sax and violin play flirtatiously on Please Help Me I'm Falling, which matches the lyrics.
Our singer grew up in New York City and studied to be a singer/songwriter with an emphasis on jazz harmony. She later studied jazz in Paris then returned to the USA to become a professional jazz singer, toured with Postmodern Jukebox, was influenced by such people as Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith and also Patsy Cline, leading to an interest in country music. She moved to Nashville in 2021 where she teamed up with the musicians on this recording.
The album is available at turtlebayrecords.com and on all platforms. See www.sweetmegg.com. Ann Alex
Bluer Than Blue; Once More With Feeling; I Wonder Where You Are Tonight; San Antonio Rose; Someday Sweetheart; Please Help Me I'm Falling; Little Bit; In a Sentimental Mood; Leaving On Your Mind; It's All Over Now; Lonesome Hearted Blues; (Remember Me) I'm The One Who Loves You
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