2013-01-13
This duo approximates the interplay of Over the Rhine's Karen Berquist and Linford Detweiler as their voices weave through a mix of soulful classics from Sam Cooke, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen--interspersed with some jazz classics ("Moonglow," "I Get Ideas" and "Sway"). In each, Whitworth and Smith skillfully wrap their vocals around each other so that each song has a jazz bent, regardless of the genre of the original song. While the tunes ultimately depend on the smoky singing of the duo, I also appreciated the trumpet in "Moonglow," the saxophone in "Green Grass" and other tasteful musical flourishes throughout. The unhurried feel of the set reminds me of a home concert, with all of the participants acquaintances. Someone asked these two friends, "Hey, it's about 10 o'clock. How about you two playing some favorites?" They smiled, got out their instruments and the next thing you heard were the opening bars of "Bring It On Home to Me"... 01/13 Michael J. R-Adult ContemporaryHippo Campus
Bashful Creatures
SON VOLT
American Central Dust
Nathan Kalish and The Wildfire
Waterbirds
Nick Lowe
Jesus of Cool (reissue)
Andrew Bird
The Mysterious Production of Eggs
BACKYARD TIRE FIRE
Vagabonds and Hooligans
The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.