Women with something to sing about…
Strong voiced vocalist MaryJo Mundy gives a tribute concert to Laura Nyro at the Gardena nightclub in Hollywood CA back in April, 2018. She’s backed by Ross Kalling/p, Tony Mandracchia/g, Jonathan Richards/b , John Gannon/dr-caj and vocalists Alexis Fae Gach & Andrea Ross Greene during this enthusiastic performance. Her passionate voice runs up and down “Eli’s Coming” while capturing the hippie atmosphere of “Stoned Soul Picnic/And When I Die.” She’s bright and upbeat with Kalling on ”Wedding Bell Blues” and earnest on the gospel themed “Sweet Blindness.” Mundy does well on reflecting the worldview of this important yet sadly forgotten artist.
Lyn Stanley creates rich atmospheres on this tribute to Julie London and others during this “live” recording in Hollywood with Angeleno legends John Chiodini/g, Otmaro Ruiz-Mike Lang/p, Chuck Berghofer/b, Aaron Serfaty/dr and Luis Conte/perc. Her delivery can range from a sultry sotto voce on “Love Letters” to a laid-back cocktail hour on an oozy “Blue Moon.” Saucy and upbeat on Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac,” she lurks out the blues on a hip reading of Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell.” For the standards, Stanley saunters to timbales on “ Lover Man” and bossa’s out “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” Music for the mature.
Sisters Donna, Natalia and Antonia Vivino are the daughters of LA’s premier studio reed player Jerry Vivino. He bring the family together along with Baked Potato regulars Mitch Forman/key, Kevin Axt/b and others for an artsy mix of sounds from Broadway and the Swing Era. The vocal harmonies are cozy and sweet on the two stepper take of “Goody Goody” and an R&Bish read of “The Scuyler Sisters.” Nostalgic voices and horns saunter on “Be Cool” and a dash of wanderlust glistens on”I Can’t Get You Out of My Mind.’ A New Orleans-ish read of Randy Newman’s “Almost There” is a joy while stark melodrama is displayed on a read of Madonna’s “Live To Tell.” Lots of Broadway polish gleaming on this one.
Deb Bowman throws herself into her songs on this mix of covers and originals. The band of Eric Lewis/p-key, Steven Wolf/perc, Greg Lewis/B3, Matthew Garrison/b, Kenyatta Beasley/tp and Marla Feeney/vi-va create shadowed moods as on the languid “Willow In The Wind” and stark “Shelter Me From The Storm.” Some organic soul has her in an earnest “Where Can We Go” and she digs deep on a hip reading of Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly.” Beasley’s horn works well with Lewis on a bouncy read of Thelonious Monk’s “Pannonica.” Best of all are the intimate piano duets, with Bowman stretching over the chanson “La Vie En Rose” and a whimsical “Crazy He Calls Me.” Heart and voice on sleeve.