Cathy Segal-Garcia: Social Anthems - Volume 2

Los Angeles-based Renaissance woman Cathy Segal-Garcia is well-known as an innovator, trailblazer and an artist who sets her own artistic paths. As a vocalist, composer/arranger, broadcaster, educator and more, she has never shied away from risk. Social Anthems, Vol. 2 follows the first volume which also was a production with socially conscious themed material. With this effort she sends up eight tracks comprised of well-known selections and originals, all with that same orientation.

"In Your Eyes" leaves the gate with Segal-Garcia's alto delivering Peter Gabriel's poetic words over a mild rock feel. It molds into a second chorus with a vocal chorus, brief piano and vibraphone statements, all leading to a symbolic board fade. The social statement of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues/Make Me Wanna Holler" has Garcia launching over a polyrhythmic base. She moves into the tune's political/cultural message with unrestrained fury. There is integrity and honesty in how she inflects the lyric turmoil, encouraged by the action around and below. This is a very engaging track. The urban perspective continues with Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City" in a soulfully slow take with Carey Frank's B3 adding church and Mon David joining Segal-Garcia. The duo back-forth adds a significant dimension to the track. Segal-Garcia scats alternately with David as Nick Mancini's vibes and Will Brahm's guitar support. "Russians/My Russian" melds Sting's pro-peace piece and a Segal-Garcia original. The ominous nature of the message is presented with Segal-Garcia fervor, overall ensemble grandeur, and expansiveness. An organ solo and chorus, as well as a quote from Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije Suite" and martial snare reinforce the lyric.

Across the session, Segal-Garcia is deeply engaged into each of the various song types. She is chameleon-like, as she deftly moves from a rock to a jazz to a soul-blues format. One senses her penchant for lyrics and her flair for their vocal inflection. The musicians are all Los Angeles A-Listers and all provide a significant frame—and space—for her interpretations.

Vocalist Paul Jost joins Segal-Garcia in a folk vibe on Gabriel's "Book of Love." Not to be confused with the "Monotones" '50s doo-wop classic. The interplay between Jost and Segal-Garcia is expressive with both lyrically confident and neither artist giving way. It is very much a "performance" track, as their effort is at that kind of intensity level. "The Beginning of You" launches with a dark bass riff and a 12/8 shuffle feel. Segal-Garcia lets all emotion fly in this jazz-hip original. Frank's B3 solos over a pulsing march base and a Will Brahm guitar solo. The tone changes with "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes." With arguably one of the most frequent sing-along interludes of the '60s, Segal-Garcia presents the Crosby, Stills & Nash hit, as expected, in her own sweet way. With tempo a tad slower than the hit and with some re-harmonization, she enters over vibraphone and ensuing rhythm base. The stop-time adds a nice flair. The texture alters midway with tempo slowing and things more solemn. A remixed and harder-edged version of "Inner City Blues/Make Me Wanna Holler" is an included bonus track that is as interesting and hip as its prior, tamer presentation. The track has it all: drive, funk, and Segal-Garcia's electricity.

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