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
