BELINDA UNDERWOOD – Uncurling (2004) FLAC (tracks), lossless

The debut album from Belinda Underwood, a Portland-based bassist-cum-vocalist, is a surprisingly excellent start, especially for what's essentially an independent release. Underwood exudes authenticity here, moving between upright bass and vocals (and a stretch on the baritone ukulele for good measure). She's slinky and sultry without diving into overblown Eartha Kitt-esque aesthetics. Her voice is breathy, and while her phrasing seems a little slow at times, it's generally used to draw you into the next notes. Her bass playing is similar in its aesthetic, though with a different pitch and timbre. The key to this album is Underwood's choices of pieces -- a half-dozen standards that she re-creates in her own style, and a half-dozen originals that show off her poetry and composition abilities. "World Peace Blues" shows off her scatting abilities at the same time as her apparent love for Marvin Gaye. "Say My Name" shows off a more melodic instrumental side with the ukulele put beside her smoky rendition of a love song. The starting track, "Born to Be Blue," is an old one, but she can put the pathos into it just as well as the old Velvet Fog could. This one might take a little effort to find, but it'll pay dividends once you do. Adam Greenberg  

Tracklist :
1 Born to Be Blue 4:44
Mel Tormé / Robert Wells
2 Uncurling 5:00
3 Trees 6:34
4 Later Baby 3:00
5 How Deep Is the Ocean? 4:04
Irving Berlin
6 World Peace Blues 4:17
7 Say My Name 4:07
8 You're Everything 4:04
Chick Corea
9 You Don't Know What Love Is 5:19
Don Raye
10 Unspoken Thought 4:38
11 Invitation 5:36
Bronislaw Kaper / Paul Francis Webster
12 There Will Never Be Another You 3:28
M. Gordon / Harry Warren

Credits
Phil Baker - Bass, Bass Instrument
Dan Balmer - Guitar
David Friesen - Bass, Bass Instrument, Guest Artist
Clay Giberson - Piano
John Gross - Sax (Tenor)
Jason Levis - Drums
Airto Moreira - Drums, Guest Artist, Percussion
Belinda Underwood - Arranger, Audio Production, Baritone Ukulele, Bass (Acoustic), Cover Art, Double Bass, Layout Design, Main Personnel, Primary Artist, Producer, Ukulele, Vocals
Chad Wagner - Piano
Martin Zarzar - Concept, Drums, Percussion