Search - Jessica Molaskey :: Pentimento

I'm just wild about Pentimento

06/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the opening track, "Oh You Beautiful Doll," to the last bars of "Sail Away," Jessica Molaskey has earned more than five stars for an electric recording of some of the most well-known jazz standards, as well as two originals ("I tried Too Hard for Too Long" and "Sail Away"). Both Molaskey and the Pizzarellis (her husband John's trio accompany her as well as Johnny Frigo, Ken Peplowski, Larry Goldings, Ray Kennedy, Tony Tedesco, and Jesse Levy) show their distinct passion for music of the Jazz Age and strong ties to their pasts. There is a re-discovering, as Molaskey puts it in her liner notes, of the cheerful songs on the recording (written at the time of the Great Depression) that shows a darker underbelly to them because of what they don't say.

There is a charm to Pentimento that I rarely see in recordings anymore, a certain je ne sais quoi that puts this album over the heads of others and earns it my highest recommendation. Jessica's beautiful voice revives an era all but gone, and John Pizzarelli's cameo appearances are a welcome addition. Don't hesitate to buy this album, I guarantee you won't be disappointed."

Music we need now

Stephen M. Noonan | New York, New York | 09/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While driving into town one Sunday afternoon this summer, I heard the most spectacular version of "Waiting for the Train to Come In" on the radio. Almost wrecked the car reaching for a pencil with which to write down the name of the singer. No paper. Jonathan said her name and I repeated it over and over and remebered it all the way through the Lincoln Tunnel. Then my memory failed. Raced uptown to the record store to get it before it was gone forever. Aisle after aisle, ignoring my favorite cabaret singers, lest I be distracted. I Finally found it - Jessica Molaskey. This album is a magnificent gift of music, one that demostrates the grace, charm and wit that Ms. Molaskey brings to these classics of the American songbook. I felt as if I were hearing many of these songs for the first time, hearing new depth, joy and meaning. I will not forget Jessica Molaskey's name again and will wait impatiently until her next gift of music reaches us."

Pentimento - Gets to The Heart

Robert Ray | Decatur, GA. United States | 09/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In her long-awaited solo turn, Broadway performer and song stylist, Jessica Molaskey scrapes away decades of "Vegas-style arrangements, sloppy piano bar interpretations and even sing around the piano renditions, that first introduced us to theses Depression Age Jewels, by getting right to the "Heart"...or perhaps one should say "by getting right to the bare bones".Brava to a singer who's voice can bounce off the back wall of any Broadway house for choosing to let the the melancholy, the hopefullness and even the ... of a bygone era shine through...augmented by nothing but what must be "the purest, the truest and most unaffected" vocal performance on any CD in years.One can just imagine an unflappable-Flapper from the wrong side of the tracks, moving from gangster to gangster in an effort to survive. Constantly being knocked down and dissappointed - but always getting back up and heading toward another door, even if to only meet - the next gangster. YES...Miss Molaskey makes you hear all of that and more in classics like, "I"m Just Wild About Harry" and "You Made Me Love You". Miss Molaskey's inner heroine is truly a "Beautiful Dreamer".Jessica's talent as a singer/actor allow us to hear a standard like "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" as it was intended. Not as an "Ain't Misbehavin" style rendition but a heartbreaking anthem to the times - with an ironic twist of humor."Sail Away", written by Molaskey and Guitar Virtuoso - Hubby, John Pizzarelli is destined to be a "blue chip" song recorded by "Everyone". They will probably be able to retire on that one!Let's just hope they don't stop making music, both seperately, and as a team.If you have a Grandparent who perhaps lived through the Depression, please let them hear "their" music one more time or if you have a teenager who you'd like to know a little bit more about this special time in Americana - forget the History book.
Just give them a chance to listen to "Pentimento" - it gets right to the "Heart of the Matter"."