Search - Heather Masse :: Bird Song

Gorgeous vocals & a great variety of original songs

J. Weber | Washington State USA | 11/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone who has heard Heather Masse sing with The Wailin' Jennys knows that she has a gorgeous voice with an amazing range. And anyone who has heard her numerous appearances on A Prairie Home Companion - eight in just the last eleven months - knows how incredibly versatile her voice is. During those guest appearances she's sung music by everyone from George Gershwin to Bob Dylan, from Johnny Mercer to Iris Dement, and from Hank Williams to Franz Schubert, and she's done it stunningly. She even makes Garrison Keillor sound great in duets.



"Bird Song" highlights both Masse's gorgeous voice and its tremendous versatility. But it also shows that she's a talented songwriter. She wrote the words and music for all thirteen songs on the album with the exception of the lyrics of one song, which she co-wrote with Nicky Mehta, a fellow member of The Wailin' Jennys. While "Bird Song" is primarily jazz-influenced pop, it shows off Masse's songwriting versatility as well. It ranges from the haunting jazz-folk ballad "Chosen," to the inspirational, gospel-tinged "Over the Mountain," to the sassy and rollicking country boogie "High Heeled Woman." It slips from the sultry jazz-blues of a steaming-hot "Bathtub" into the playfully seductive pop "Mittens."



Singing harmony on seven of the songs is Aoife O'Donovan, lead singer of Crooked Still and member of the folk-noir trio Sometymes Why. O'Donovan's gentle, breathy soprano perfectly complements Masse's round, rich alto. Completing the package is outstanding instrumental accompaniment. Especially notable are East Coast guitarist Lyle Brewer and West Coast keyboard player Jed Wilson, both of whom, like Masse and O'Donovan, are alumni of the New England Conservatory. During instrumental interludes Brewer's guitar is a total joy to listen to, but during the vocals it never overpowers the real focus of this album: Masse's extraordinary voice.



So check out one of the most talented young vocalists around. Dance with a High Heeled Woman and enjoy a steaming-hot Bathtub - but put on Mittens, because Bird Song will knock your socks off.

"

This is an amazing album

William A. Duncan | Boston, MA | 11/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like Nora or Emmy Lou, you've got to listen to Heather Masse. It's a purity and natural approach to singing that they have in common. She doesn't use easy tricks to decorate a song. She sings the song for what it's about.



A couple of these are love songs of a kind you don't really hear. They're original, un-ironic and pure, just like her voice.



The more you listen to this album, the more you want to listen."

You Can Listen to This One A Lot

John Wayne | Arizona | 11/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this CD already (and I've only had it a couple days). I first heard Heather Masse when randomly listening to Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. She sang Mittens, which I was delighted to find included on the CD. I was so enamored with her enchanting voice that I went home and immediately began looking to see if she had a CD. I ended up buying 2 Wailin' Jennys CD's when I discovered she was part of this trio. Amazon thoughtfully took note of my purchase and recommended this one to me when it was due to release.



The musical styles featured on the CD range from Jazzy to Rockabilly. I can just hear Lyle Lovett doing High Heeled Woman! The first two tracks on the CD feel like lilting lullabies.



Mittens impressed me every bit as much as it did when I heard it the first time, that Sunday afternoon on the radio.



Another reviewer said it well, she doesn't overly adorn. Her phrasing is pleasant, clear, and smooth. At times she is reminiscent of Rickie Lee Jones (in Hollywood), at others she sounds a little like Jennifer Warnes (who I haven't listened to in years).



This is a good buy."