JESSICA MOLASKEY — Pentimento (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

According to Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary, pentimento is defined as "the presence or emergence of earlier images, forms, or strokes that have been painted over." Musical theater star performer Jessica Molaskey's album of the same name gives a jazzy musical twist to this definition by updating songs from the 1920s and '30s. The play list is made up of those wonderful songs that people were enjoying during the pre-Depression flapper and Depression eras. Often their lyrics reflected the social and economic mores of the time, such as "We're in the Money"; others are just lovely songs from a bygone era, some of which have survived quite well to this day. These were the staples of many vaudeville and music hall performers and Tin Pan Alley song pluggers. Molaskey is joined by a stellar cast of musicians as she freshens up these vintage melodies, giving them a somewhat modern sheen, but not enough to completely mask their authenticity as classic American popular songs. The all-star band includes Ken Peplowski with his middle-register clarinet, Larry Goldings, and veteran Johnny Frigo. This group is augmented by Molaskey's husband, guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli, and his father, Bucky Pizzarelli. Molaskey delivers this wonderful material in an ungarnished, straightforward, clear, and pretty voice. She also has a way with taking these oldies and giving them a new look by simply changing the pulse. This happens on "I'm Just Wild About Harry," which is done as a plaintive ballad instead of the usually fast tap-dancing pace of its Broadway introduction in Shuffle Along in 1921. Even more than the pleasant warm feeling of nostalgia this fine album produces, it is a fun album of good music performed by excellent practitioners of their trade. Highly recommended for everybody who enjoys good music. Dave Nathan  
Tracklist :
1 Oh You Beautiful Doll 2:44
Nat D. Ayer / Seymour Brown
2 I'm Just Wild About Harry 3:02
Eubie Blake / Noble Sissle
3 Ain't We Got Fun 3:06
Raymond B. Egan / Gus Kahn / Richard A. Whiting
4 What'll I Do 3:31
Irving Berlin
5 Medley 3:22
Al Dubin / Harry Warren
Jessica Molaskey feat: John Pizzarelli
  6 Waitin' For the Train to Come In 2:29
Martin Block / Sunny Skylar
7 Red, Red Robin 2:42
Harry Woods
8 By the Beautiful Sea 1:57
Harold Atteridge / Harry Carroll
9 I'm Always Chasing Rainbows 2:49
Harry Carroll / Joseph McCarthy
10 Oh, How I Hate to Get up in the Morning 2:46
Irving Berlin
11 You Made Me Love You 4:12
Joseph McCarthy / James V. Monaco
12 I Tried Too Hard For Too Long 1:50
Jessica Molaskey / John Pizzarelli
13 When I Lost You 1:05
Irving Berlin
14 Look For the Silver Lining 1:55
Buddy DeSylva / Jerome Kern
15 I Can't Give You Anything But Love 3:18
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
16 Beautiful Dreamer 1:37
Stephen Foster
17 Sail Away 2:57
Jessica Molaskey / John Pizzarelli
 Credits :
Johnny Frigo - Violin
Larry Goldings - Arranger, Piano, Piano Arrangement
Jesse Levy - Cello
Jessica Molaskey - Arranger, Composer, Vocals
Ken Peplowski - Clarinet
Bucky Pizzarelli - Guitar, Ukulele
John Pizzarelli - Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Producer, Ukulele, Vocals
Martin Pizzarelli - Bass
Tony Tedesco - Brushes, Percussion

JESSICA MOLASKEY – Sitting in Limbo (2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Jessica Molaskey came up with a list of "limbo songs" for her fourth CD, describing them as pieces where someone is trying to figure out the difference between what seems to be taking place vs. what is actually going on. With a fine band that includes her husband, John Pizzarelli, on guitar, bassist Martin Pizzarelli, and drummer Tony Tedesco, with either Larry Goldings or Larry Fuller on piano, plus several appearances by saxophonist Harry Allen, she offers thoughtful interpretations of material drawn from the pop and rock of several decades, a few standards, and a pair of originals. She works magic with the unpromising soul hit "O-o-h Child" -- a simplistic ballad with a trite two-line lyric -- by slowing its tempo, accompanied solely by Goldings' thoughtful arrangement. Her humorous side comes out as she and her spouse interpolate "I Want to Be Happy" and "Sometimes I'm Happy" in a playful, sometimes conversational setting. They also jointly wrote the subtle but amusing ballad "Knowing You." This veteran Broadway singer/actress continues to shine in the spotlight, whether in the studio for a recording date or on-stage. Ken Dryden   
Tracklist :
1 Sitting in Limbo 3:58
Gully Bright / Jimmy Cliff
2 Heavy Cloud, No Rain 3:09
Jessica Molaskey
3 Summer, Highland Falls 4:16
Billy Joel
4 Ooh Child 3:00
Stan Vincent
5 I Want to Be Happy/Sometimes I'm Happy 2:13
Clifford Grey / Vincent Youmans
6 There Will Never Be Another You 3:12
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
7 Knowing You 4:31
Jessica Molaskey / John Pizzarelli
8 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter 3:31
Fred E. Ahlert / Joe Young
9 The Circle Game/Waters of March 4:48
Joni Mitchell
10 Walkin' After Midnight 3:35
Don Hecht
11 Hearts and Bones 4:11
Paul Simon
12 Morning Has Broken/I Woke Up One Early Morning 4:26
Eleanor Farjeon / Jessica Molaskey / John Pizzarelli / Traditional
Credits :
Bass – Martin Pizzarelli
Drums – Tony Tedesco
Guitar – John Pizzarelli
Piano – Larry Fuller (tracks: 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10)
Piano, Organ – Larry Goldings (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12)
Saxophone – Harry Allen