Tempting

Mellow choice songs with wide range of flare from dark western to jazz to Spanish, fem vocs. Former singer w/ Combustible Edison, Grenadine, Tsunami, solo 4AD mid 90’s band Licorice, JT is a singer/songwriter on par with the finest. She teams up with Calexico/Giant Sand people on this release, singing songs written by colleague Bruno. These come across like classics (who the hell is this Franklin Bruno guy?!?!) in the league of Lee Hazelwood, Nelson Riddle. Jenny Toomy has been around for a while but this CD proves that her voice has aged liked a fine wine (excuse the worn out metaphor, but it really applies), mature and sensitive yet strong. Music starts Calexico/Tucson (mariachi rips) then drifts into western and around classic jazz then into pure pop; all over the map. Every song has one thing in common: they are truly beautiful. This cd is a masterpiece, not a bad song on it, and is the best thing Calexico or Jenny Toomy have ever done, in my humble opinion. (interestingly, when Gelb/Calexico teamed up with Lisa Germano for a one-off called OP8 the result was similar, some of their best work ever).

1) upbeat spanish rhumba w/ mariachi horns, typical Calexico derivative fare but the vocs make this unique and beautiful
2) slower pretty with Spanish flare
3) slower swingy waltzy heading towards western feel, great lyrics
4) heres the classic subdued Nelson Riddle song, with piano and string accompaniment, brushed drums, ballady
5) rhumba beat with pop melodies, upright bass and brushed drums, does the classic Calexico upbeat shift in beat, swingy, sexy, with sizzle high-hat
6) soaring string melodies over simple drums, even minimal banjo, toy piano enters, vocal centered, melodic
7) swingy brushed drums jazzy bluesy
8) slow dinner cool jazz feel intensifies, super mellow a la Chet Baker, w/ cool-jazz trumpet
9) samba jazz feel with gut guitar and brushed drums, Astrud Gilberto now
10) duet w/ male vocals, comes across like a classic 50’s love ballad, upbeat swing jazz, lyrics and feel is like a classic Dinah Shore song
11) more classic jazz Nelson Riddle composition stuff, just piano, bowed bass w/ vocs
12) Calexico feel, twangy upbeat pop, hooky lyrics, epic ending to an epic cd