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ASPHALT TANGO
GABI LUNCA/Sounds from a Bygone Era v. 5: A sweet look back at a gypsy singer from the 50’s whose fortunes rose and fell with which ever way the political winds were blowing. A diva of and for her times, it’s almost like she was doing a Romanian version of tango. Whether or not you follow what’s going on, the music and vocals are passionate and emotive and the sound does evoke the period it’s from. Over all, this is another worthy entry in this series.
1508
ATHENE
JOANNA LEACH/Century of Domestic Keyboards 1727-1832: A throughly enjoyable album that probably should have been an audio video package but finds Leach playing for the clear joy of it using the journey through the past as a pretense to kick it out period style on pieces she enjoys. A tasty work with a nice concept as it adds an authenticity to the work, this gives you the chance to hear Mendelsohn, Mozart, Bach, Handel and others as they might have been heard in their time.
23026
COLUMBIA/RED INK
KATHY GRIFFIN/For You Consideration: Now that the funny lady is cleaning up awards in all media, she says she made a comedy album strictly to enter it and win a Grammy. She just might pull it off. The main competition has been coming from books on audio in recent years and here, Griffin pulls out the stops to gets the laughs flying. Picking up the mantle from Sandra Bernhard, Griffin is in the moment and in your face, turning the microscope on herself as much as her victims. Did I mention she’s uproarious as well? The redhead is red hot and this is the comedy comet of the season, probably a sure bet to finish her stated mission.
HIP-O SELECT
BO DIDDLEY/Roadrunner-Chess Masters: It’s hard to realize how ground breaking these sides were at the time. The civil rights movement was dawning and here was a black man that was being allowed to produce his own records. And they were successful on top of being ground breaking. In the context of the times, this was pretty heady stuff. In the annals of pop culture, it’s essential rock. Whether gunslinging or road running, Diddley was laying down the Bo Diddley beat as only he could before it became the co-opted rock signature causing him endless grief over beats not being subject to copyright. Essential and elemental, this survey covering the next few years in his hit streak is a killer.
(Chess)
LISA REEDY PROMOTIONS
MEGAN BIRDSALL/Little Jazz Bird: Hard working young over achiever throws herself into jazz and comes out with something your typical Type A personality can be proud of. Not letting the DIY nature of the project daunt her, she rounds up some serious jazzbos and delivers a song list from various stops along the jazz trail with a class and style that’ll serve her well. A tasty jazz vocal find from a dancer that sings as well as she hoofs. Check it out. She serves up a solid dose of Kansas City.
Volume 31/Number 237
June 24, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record
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