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Hilary Kole: Haunted Heart
ByHer delivery of "Better Than Anything," (heretofore owned by wonderful Irene Kral), is breezily knowing. Tedd Firth (piano) and Mark McLean (drums) make for swinging easy company throughout the set. With Alec Wilder and Loonis McGlohon's "Blackberry Winter," it's the American art song at its no-frills finest, evoking the straight- to-the-heart sound of the late Nancy LaMott.
The range of what she can do with a lilting, warm soprano is evident as Kole tosses off "You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in," warbling Oscar Brown, Jr.'s bit of Freudian storytelling, "The Snake." That segues into a dark night take on Tom Waits' toughly nostalgic "Old Boyfriends." Particularly fine on musings from the trenches of love, if Kole's shrewd, swinging take on "How Am I To Know" isn't enough, just wait for her battered but still standing rendition of Irving Berlin's "What'll I Do."
Kudos to all, including producer John Pizzarelli. This is a memorable first effort.
Track Listing
It's Love; There's A Small Hotel; 'Deed I Do; I Didn't Know About You; Better Than Anything; Like A Lover; Blackberry Winter; The Snake; Old Boyfriends; How Am I To Know; What'll I Do; You For Me; Haunted Heart.
Personnel
Hilary Kole
vocalsHilary Kole: vocals; Tedd Firth: piano; Paul Gill: bass; Mark McLean: drums; John Pizzarelli: guitar.
Album information
Title: Haunted Heart | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Justin Time Records