I'm Hip

SNL alum and Broadway actress, Ana Gasteyer releases her first record, full of light jazz-lounge (on the novelty side, she's calling it "Moxie Jazz") from the '50s and '60s. Fun light stuff, but she has a very trained voice in the mode of ‘50s chanteuses. Recommended stuff.

1 (2:36) (FCC: shit (said by band in background)) *** High-energy, brassy lounge. (originally ...)
2 (3:12) *** Blossom Dearie-type song [actually by Blossom Dearie -ed.] about hipness, updated to 2014 buzzwords, with angular scatting.
3 (2:18) **** Cheek to Cheek, done fairly straight as a ballad, but a minute, speeds up ridiculously-- becomes a reckless mambo.
4 (2:36) * Given a '30s phonograph intro, then Sister Kate kicks into a rockin' style. A bit of a showtunes-type-brassy rocker.
5 (3:24) A bit out of place-- soft ballad on piano that sounds like a contemporary musical. Skip, more than a bit sappy.
6 (2:48) ** The Boswell Sisters manic classic, now with goofy sound effects. A bit weird to hear this song NOT done by a trio, but it's a charming take.
7 (3:00) *** Comparison of potential husbands to department store wares; light and buoyant.
8 (3:18) ****** Gongs open: bright horns and Orientalism - quick, witty wordplay at a million words per minute. Cute and fun. Weird phone call sketch interlude. Really, really fun. 
9 (3:40) The theme to the '60s schlock classic Valley of the Days. Pretty treacly stuff, done earnestly, with a gauzy production. I'd give it a skip.
10 (3:50) **** Cool-cat snapping and soft bongos. Pleasant jazzy Peggy Lee-type thing-- OH, this is that Carrie Underwood thing. This isn't like Richard Cheese lounging up a thing; this song actually works in this arrangement.
11 (2:19) **** Fun, bouncy huckster tin pan alley tune with goofy air and s
ound effects, etc. A real goof. Clarinet solo. 
12 (3:34) Treacly, not recommended.