Search - Tuck & Patti :: Chocolate Moment

Best cd ever

brian j. lacy | empire,ca. | 01/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is the best tuck and patti cd ever.once again,it is all orginal,showcasing the evolutionary musical talents of patti cathcart.the whole cd is inspired by the tragic events of 9/11.
it is uplifting,at times quiet,and a vehicle for tuck andress to strut his stuff.how just two people can fill your mind and ears is incredible.the dynamic duo of jazz has done it again!"

A 6-string orchestra

twangmon | Nashville, TN USA | 12/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When it comes to emulating a jazz quartet with just six strings, two hands, and a volume pedal, Tuck Andress is in a class by himself. He can juggle swinging bass lines, percussive clusters, funky gospel riffs, baroque counterpoint, and serpentine melodies with ease. For 20 years, Andress has been providing solo-guitar accompaniment for Patti Cathcart -- vocalist extraordinaire and a self-confessed musical tyrant -- and in the process, he's polished his fingerstyle technique to an improbable level of brilliance. On Chocolate Moment, Andress sounds more relaxed than ever, and his complex orchestral parts benefit from the laid-back vibe. The tones he draws from his '53 Gibson L-5 archtop (which is tricked out with active electronics, run through outboard EQs for more top-end boost, and recorded direct to hard disk) are as delicate and transparent as Waterford crystal. Whether you'd describe them as awesomely full-spectrum or brutally clinical is a matter of debate, but his harmonic wizardry is not."

Lovely

Hallie | 10/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was introduced to Tuck & Patti by a friend /talented jazz musician and it's one of the best additions made to my diverse music collection.



Tuck & Patti have the wholesome quality of next door neighbors who hold the town's annual block parties. While block parties are an old-fashioned, outdated concept, so is the simple and pure soul music music the two create. But man, doesn't one miss those days... lucky for us listeners, Tuck and Patti revive the beauty not heard since the 1920's through one hell of a talented guitar player and an amazing vocalist. So, have a seat in an old, comfy, over-sized sofa, prepare a cup of hot, earl gray tea and put in their album.



Being a singer for a few years, I confess that I've tried to sing along to the first track (and my favorite), "Comfort Me." To those who try doing the same, I bid them good luck. Patti's vocals are seemingly simple; but, the combination of her range and scatting throughout the songs are so complex that while it makes it great for listening, trying to sing along is like a jazz theory course all over again. As they say, though, the sign of a skilled performer is making it all seem effortless (and Patti certainly does that!)



I also suggest listening to the lyrics, since this album was written with political commentary and other contemporary issues in mind. This makes "Chocolate Moment" especially pertinent to today's times, despite general themes of love, hope, tolerance and understanding.



While I know little about the guitar, one doesn't have to in order to appreciate Tuck's contributions. With a soft, folksey, jazzy edge, Tuck compliments Patti's voice perfectly-- he's very low-key, honest, and a graceful player.



One of the things I appreciate most about these two is the amount of respect they show each other while performing. Despite Patti possessing a very commanding voice and Tuck possessing the skills to easily outshine a 12-piece band, both actually listen to the other. Neither Tuck nor Patti out-perform the other and in that, genuinely convey the love about which Patti sings. Clearly, the two are at ease with each other which emanates to the listener. The end product is a great, relaxing, stress-free album.



While each song is certainly unique, the style between songs will not vary greatly-- unlike some artists, you're not going to get loud, fast-paced songs and then mellow the next track. All tracks provide the same sweet quality. In fact, each of the tracks in the album won't provide the listener with a good, in-depth understanding of Tuck and Patti because of the many layers between songs. As a plus, you will forever identify a Tuck & Patti song when you hear it regardless of which album you select. As a con, many might think all songs are too much the same. The more one listens, though, the more the listener discovers variety between the albums.



"Chocolate Moment" is great for anyone with taste akin to Tracy Chapman, Eric Clapton (unplugged), Anota O'Day or Nancy King.

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