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Janis Siegel - A Thousand
Beautiful Things (Telarc)
Released April, 2006
No offense to Cheryl Bentyne (or Laurel Masse), both fine singers in their
own right, but for me, Janis Siegel is the female voice of the Manhattan
Transfer.
Her solo turns (this is the ninth) are mostly experimental things - at
least that's what they appear to be.
For the longest time, I wished that Ms. Siegel would simply record a disc
of straight-ahead standards, much like the group's work, and quit trying
to do odd
stuff.
And when she did one just like that ("The Tender Trap"), I listened to it,
said, "That's very, very nice," and put it aside. On the other hand, I've
listened to some of these "experiments" again and again.
And that's probably what will happen to this one, too. Most are minor pop
songs, in a number of styles, but most with a Latin beat.
It's an eclectic collection.
The opening "Hidden Place" is a cover of a Bjork tune, of all things. If
you're not familiar with Nellie McKay, you won't appreciate Ms. Siegel's
version of
"Suitcase Song," a real treat - in that it makes lyrics like "Recuperate
with soy bologna" sound playful, instead of angry. Yeah. You really have
to be
there.
Also treats are Suzanne Vega's "Caramel," and Erin Moran's haunting
original "Did You See The Moon Tonight."
There's nothing that jumps out. What's left after you finish the desk are
the rhythms.
And Janis Siegel's voice.
I think you'll like it - on about the second or third trip through the
player.
This is recommended for your collection, even if you're not a Manhattan
Transfer fan.
  Two
and one-half microphones (out of four)
- Doug Boynton
(04/08/06) |
