"Twisted"
Annie Ross
Jasmine, 2008
(Review by
Jeff Berkwits)
Though not generally recognized for her solo
performances--she's best known for her work with vocalese trio Lambert,
Hendricks & Ross--on this platter Ross offers
memorable renditions of both classic pop standards and less-familiar fare.
It's a somewhat odd package, exhibiting different singing styles across
26 melodies, but it's nonetheless a worthwhile showcase for this relatively
unheralded songstress.
The enchanting chanteuse adopts a haunting,
heartfelt tone for tunes like "Cry Me A River" and "I Didn't Know About
You," even as she takes on an intoxicatingly sexy intensity for such numbers
as "I'm Beginning To Think You Care For Me" and "Only You (And You Alone)."
Ross
exhibits similarly appealing blues chops on "Mama (He Treats Your Daughter
Mean)," along with impressive scat skills on "Annie's Lament" and dashes
of humor on both the title track and "The Fish." The sound quality varies
from selection to selection, with the difference especially noticeable
when comparing the two distinct (yet equally engaging) versions of "Between
The Devil And The DeepBlue Sea."
With one or two exceptions the disparities
don't significantly impact the music, rendering the collection, which documents
eight separate monaural recording sessions between 1952 and 1956, perfect
for either a bachelor pad bash or simply a quiet evening alone.
Buy this album from
A long-time aficionado of retro music and film, Jeff Berkwits
has covered vintage sounds for numerous publications and websites including
Bachelor
Pad Magazine, Filmfax, Outré, and
Amazing Stories.
He regularly comments on classic melodies and movies via Twitter at www.twitter.com/reviewdujour.
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