Take To The Sky

KAT EDMONSON: Take to the Sky
Convivium, 2009

JAZZ VOCALS – The first thing you’ll notice about Edmonson is her unusual voice, reminiscent of Billie Holiday by way of Blossom Dearie, but with a distinctive intimacy and a wistful/coy character all her own. The second thing is her repertoire, which includes great takes on the usual standards but also covers pop songs by The Cure, The Cardigans and John Lennon. This is different, and well worth a spin.

* * * * | Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10

1. 5:12 – slow piano pulse and deadpan vocal; rises gradually… very cool
2. 4:10 – Cure song done as a slow cha-cha… why does this work?! It does.
3. 3:51 – Cole Porter classic turned into a hip, bouncy strut w/nifty percussion
4. 4:17 – mysterious Henri Mancini film theme, stark and moody
5. 4:02 – Cardigans: whispery vocals & low horns; then a sexy Cuban dance
6. 5:11 – hushed feel, suspended pulse: vocal wraps around delicate trio
7. 2:27 – relaxed bounce, makes a jazz standard sound like a pop song
8. 4:55 – 1960s girl-group classic as a slow drag: walking bass, cool trumpet
9. 4:39 – verrry slooow John Lennon ballad, tender with lots of open space
10. 3:33 – slow and quiet a cappella tune, sweetly haunting

[ Fo ] 01/17/10