|
|
Lisa B -
What's New, Pussycat? (Piece Of Pie) So - acquiring tastes is not something I cozy right up to. I had to listen to Nellie McKay five or six times before I started to get it. (Went searching out her soundtrack from "Rumor Has It..." this past week - so I can be trained, but I'm digressing.) Lisa B is a self-described "vocalist and poet." Also "performing artist." This particular disc sort of centers around cat themes. This isn't for everyone, folks. And yet, by the second time in the player, I was smiling through most of it. It's got that sort of sixties, avant-garde thing going - discordant at times, liable to just take off into spoken word, blank verse, or whatever. And yet. And yet Ms. B (for Bernstein) is clearly a Jazz student who respects the genre, with good phrasing and range. The force is strong with this one. We're dealing with creativity here on a level that will soar above many. The backing musicians are very, very good. I think it's one of those "you've got to know what the rules are to break the rules" things. Most of the disc is original - covers of the title tune, of Graham Nash's "Our House," a couple of Cole Porter songs - "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To," and "Night And Day" as part of a medley with the original "The Cat Goddess" are my favorites. I hate change. But I keep listening to the other stuff. And I'm sort of liking it more and more. Perhaps I'm rising to the material. Clearly, though - this is a try-before-you-buy outing. Check 'em out first at Ms. B's website.
- Doug Boynton |
| Pertinent Stuff: | |
