Cloudburst/Getting Married Today (with John Pizzarelli, vocals)
Growing Pains
All That Jazz
Right as the Rain
You're a Builder Upper
Cradle and All
Goodnight My Someone (with Larry Goldings, piano)
Her debut album, Pentimento, put a jazzy spin on Depression-era standards; the Boston Globe proclaimed, "Slide over, Jane Monheit, and make room on the retro-vocals bench; Jessica Molaskey has arrived!" Her next CD, A Good... more » Day, took off from the song stylings of Peggy Lee; Jazz Times cheered, "She fills each breath with a sensuous charm and a torchy hint of k.d. lang twang." But Jessica Molaskey is a Broadway baby at heart, with scores of shows to her credit. Now, for the first time, she turns her attention to a dozen great theatre standards and, with guitarist-husband John Pizzarelli at her side, infuses them with her own jazzy style and sass. It's 42nd Street meets 52nd Street, as she puts it in her liner notes. You've heard these songs before, but never with the twists devised by Jessica and the Pizzarelli clan..Songs include: I Can't Say No, Guys and Dolls, Make Believe, Step Sister#s Lament, Glad to Be Unhappy, Hey, Look Me Over, So Many People, Cloudburst/ Getting Married Today, Growing Pains, All That Jazz, Right as the Rain, You#re a Builder Upper, Cradle and All, Goodnight My Someone« less
Her debut album, Pentimento, put a jazzy spin on Depression-era standards; the Boston Globe proclaimed, "Slide over, Jane Monheit, and make room on the retro-vocals bench; Jessica Molaskey has arrived!" Her next CD, A Good Day, took off from the song stylings of Peggy Lee; Jazz Times cheered, "She fills each breath with a sensuous charm and a torchy hint of k.d. lang twang." But Jessica Molaskey is a Broadway baby at heart, with scores of shows to her credit. Now, for the first time, she turns her attention to a dozen great theatre standards and, with guitarist-husband John Pizzarelli at her side, infuses them with her own jazzy style and sass. It's 42nd Street meets 52nd Street, as she puts it in her liner notes. You've heard these songs before, but never with the twists devised by Jessica and the Pizzarelli clan..Songs include: I Can't Say No, Guys and Dolls, Make Believe, Step Sister#s Lament, Glad to Be Unhappy, Hey, Look Me Over, So Many People, Cloudburst/ Getting Married Today, Growing Pains, All That Jazz, Right as the Rain, You#re a Builder Upper, Cradle and All, Goodnight My Someone
CD Reviews
Molaskey Sings and Broadway Swings
Robert Ray | Atlanta, GA | 10/21/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"On her 3rd CD effort, Jessica Molaskey reaches back to her Broadway beginings and puts a Spin, a Shine and a Swing on such old chestnuts as "I Can't Say No", "Guys and Dolls", "Hey Look Me Over" and my persoanl favorite, "Stepsister's Lament".
And when she joins with hubby/producer/guitarist John Pizzarelli, the two go after the brilliant arangement of "Cloudburst/Not Getting Married" as if they were trying to set an Olympic record for "lyrics per minute." It cooks!
Her rendition of "All Tha Jazz" is reminiscent of the Depression Era pathos that surfaced in her 1st hit CD, "Pentimento"...only this time Molskey gets to show off a touch of that marvelous high-belt voice that has keep her employed on Broadway for years. But make no mistake - this is no "I can outsing all the other Divas"...no this is pure Hip, pure Cool and pure Jazz.
"Cradle and All" not only proves Molaskey's prowess in turning a phrase, but is to this writer the most poiginant omage to adolescent dreams and family disappointments to be penned since A Chorus Line's "At the Ballet".
"Make Beleive" hasn't been out of my CD player for a week - give it a listen - you won't be sorry!
"
Great CD
Anonymous | Charleston, IL USA | 04/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"And a terrific singer! I'm so glad to have learned about Jessica Molaskey and am enjoying all three of her CDs. She has a delightful style - a singer who "acts", or vice-versa. It's a quality that made Barbra Streisand so special and extraordinary - well, that and her fabulous voice. Jessica Molaskey can do those things and she can really swing, too and has a sweet jazzy side. Her husband, John Pizzarell and father-in-law Bucky have long been favorites,but Ms Molaskey is a new discovery for our family and we like her! Bucky's other son/John's brother is also a standout musician in the "family business" - what fun family gatherings must be in that family!
This CD, and her others, are great - you find yourself dancing, singing along,or being quiet and listening closely, just really enjoying music. By the way, I think Jessica Molaskey's version of "Goodnight My Someone" is stunning."
An actress who sings jazz well
Rick Cornell | Reno, Nv USA | 04/08/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are two categories: jazz singers who do Broadway tunes; and actresses who sing jazz. Examples of the former category would be Janis Siegel ("Sketches of Broadway") and Mel Torme ("Swings Shubert Alley"). Examples of the latter would be Lena Horne, and more recently, Jessica Molaskey with this album.
Frankly, I'm partial to the former category, basically because the arrangements are more interesting. (Listen to Tierney Sutton's "Show Me", for example, or Rene Marie's "Where or When", and you'll hear what I mean) But Jessica Molaskey, who for years has been a singing actress, is at the top of the latter category and creates a very fine album with "Make Believe".
Frankly, I'm stuck between a "high four" and a "low five" with this; but I wouldn't be if every cut were as good as the album's highlight, or a medley featuring Jon Hendricks' "Cloudburst." Here, John Pizzarelli does the vocalese honors of the famous jazz song, while Ms. Molaskey matches him lickety-split lick for lickety-split lick on Sondheim's "Getting Married Today." Together, they make the tune a wonderful "Do/Don't Get Me to the Church on Time" duality at warp speed. A terrific performance of a terrific arrangement.
But there's other good stuff here, too. "So Many People" and "Cradle and All" are wonderful ballads, while "Stepsister's Lament" and "You're a Builder Upper" are witty uptunes. And Ms. Molaskey shows her considerable dramatic chops with reads of Ado Annie's "I Cain't Say No" as the set-opener, and Marian the Librarian's "Goodnight My Someone" as the set-closer.
So, here's the bottom line: if you like show tunes, you should love this. If you like jazz singers, this one will grow somewhat on you. Either way, it's worth at least a listen. RC
"
Fun, sweet, entertaining
Cynthia S. Froning | Longmont, CO United States | 03/08/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I typically have little patience with Broadway vocals, but three things make this CD appealing to me: the original interpretations of the songs, the jazzy backup of husband John Pizzarelli and group, and the utter charm of Jessica Molaskey. "Hey, Look Me Over" and "All That Jazz" are my favorite songs on the album, offering fresh but not forced takes on two classics. Molaskey has a sweet voice and a charming delivery. A fun CD."
A cool Broadway-jazz CD
JLF | Manila, Philippines | 02/21/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My first Jessica Molaskey CD is "A Good Day". That particular CD stayed in my player for a long time. The arrangement is very understated and cool. The touch of John Pizzarelli is very obvious.
Prior to listening to the Cd, and seeing the selection, it was difficult for me conceive WHAT ELSE can they do with most of the songs (difficult to listen to the preview). Except for the original composition, most of the songs are pretty set. For instance, the Sondheim songs are pretty straightforward. It would be difficult to restructure it and the same time, maintain the songs' original intent.
However, I was in for a surprise. Most of the songs sound original. The arrangement gave the songs a new lift. And most of all, the instrumentation made me listen and concentrate on the lyrics. I was gladly surprise with the interpretation of So Many People, such simplicity and sincerity. Cloudburst/Getting married today is a perfect marriage of songs and singers. The craziness of the two songs are perfectly merged. Also, the interpretation of J Molaskey is very good. The comic timing is not pushed.
Another favorite as well is Stepsisters' Lament. In this song, the singer revealed a range I havent heard from her other recordings. I became familiar with J Molaskey with Songs for A New World, and I must say that the sound engineer of the CD performed a grave disservice to her. In this CD, her simple acting and no-drama style of singing is perfectly captured.
In terms of instrumentation, I must say that the greatest surprise for me is All That Jazz. I think it is the perfect approach to tackle the message of the song.
It would be very fair to say that many singers are perhaps better than J Molaskey (e.g. Ann Hampton Callaway, Janis Siegel), but she compensates her shortcoming with comic sense. Also, it does not hurt to have the support of the wonderful Pizzarelli clan (she herself acknowledges them on the liner notes).
This is a very good CD. One of the best jazz CDs around.
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1